The following site is a good source for information for a nurse or a doctor to do fills correctly. I had to do it myself but I was forced to. For information purposes only. There are 15 pages.

http://lapbandtransformation.com/adj1.htm

You might also try to put 5 fingers of your less dominant hand around the port, feel it, as the patient bends, you will find the port better, press your fingers around the port in circle, you will feel the circular quarter shape, just about a quarter size, level it, so that with your right hand you can insert a noncore needle in the midlle of the septrum perpendicularly, insert till you hit the metal part of the port, just about an inch, do not use force, VG bands are low pressure ports, inject the saline with little force. For 4cc bands you might need a little more force because they are under pressure,use much less saline as the doc instructs. The Needle is for single use, properly dispose it.

Disclaimer: For nurse and praticiners education only, patients need to know what professional do, isometime they mess up, and quite often poke around a lot.

Thanks for the information. I would never do my own fill, but I appreciate the link to the photos of how a fill is done, especially since I have not had one yet. If someone choses to take this information and use it unwisely, that's their problem, and not kbattal's fault.

Many of us in this forum have the good fortune to be living in America with good health care. If we don't like or agree with our doctor, we have the option of finding another doctor. So let's not be so critical of those who don't have our advantages. It's easy to judge when we're not in that situation ourselves.

WELL SAID!

I searched the internet how to do it, and what are the risks involved with it. I did my own fill. I still think it is not too risky for me. Will I do it again? I might, but I will search a private clinic to do it first. Will I drive 400 miles to do it. I might if only they have proper radiologic equipment.

Dorin

my insurance has just advised me that they will cover only one fill every 6 months. I can't wait 6 months. I am very tempted to do my own. I have met people that do their own. It scares me to think of it, yes, but my band will not work for me if I only get a fill every six months.

That sux only being able to get a fill every 6 months! My Dr prefers to add a little at a time,(which is good)however if I had to wait 6 months between each fill, it would take years to get to where I actually feel like the band was working.

I personally wouldn't do it myself because I feel the risks are too great. However I know in some other countries they have different ideas about medical procedures, so I'm not going to judge.

However, I can't think of where a person would go to get all the tools you need. I certainly wouldn't trust ordering it on the internet. For instance, if you get a "Leak" and the saline you've used isn't sterile, who knows what you just put in your body! Dishonest distributors could gather the Water right out of their toilet and you would never know!

be mindful that not everyone has the same resources as you do, he's doing the best he can with what he has. If YOU dont agree just dont attempt it.

I can see why someone in Romania would want to do it themselves. I can also see why someone with no insurance would want to as well. I would not advocate it. I am not even sure I think his post should stay up, but it is good info to have to check if your healthcare person is doing it right. Many people have medical experience and would feel comfortable trying this themselves. My mom got a horrid UTI in the hospital from a nurse..so it isn't always a guarantee. I say: be careful!!

I reported this thread in hopes that it will be removed. The starter of this thread is an idiot to even post such crap. You my friend have no right to post for someone how to fill your own band. I am a medical professional access porta caths every single day and would not in no way fill my own band. Do you think your surgeon would even touch you ever again if he knows you filled your own band. Do you think that if anything goes wrong while you are doing it that any medical professional would touch you knowing that you caused your own stupid problems. Get a life in Romania we have plenty of resouces in the US we dont have to fill our own ports. Now I am really pissed that this has went on this far. I hope it gets removed forever.