It was/is AWFUL!! No joke! I live in Ga and the closest fill center is in Roswell. I was at 1.9cc in a 4cc band with my first fill. I went back and the NP put in .8cc to make it 2.7. I waited and drank water to see if I was ok, then the water got stuck, so I had her take .2cc out to make it 2.5cc. I could feel the water trickling thru the band so I thought I was good-boy was I wrong. I suffered thru the rest of Saturday and Sunday. Woke up this morning and couldn't get anything down. I called the center and the doctor (who commutes to Roswell from Moultrie) said she was back home and leaving for Texas tomarrow. Well, I jumped in the car and headed 4hrs away to Moultrie. Now this is after I tried to unfill myself with one of my Hubbys insulin needles. Well yeah, duh! The insulin needle is to small and to short to reach the port. But hey I was desperate. So I got to Moultrie and she took out .4cc more to make me at 2.1cc. I think I might need more taken out but I had to pay for the fill so I didn't want it all out. I asked her to give me a needle so if I needed more out before she got back I could do it. Well, of course she said no.(another duh!) So, if anyone asks me if I would do my fills/unfills myself, the answer would be HELL YES! I know there has been debates over this, but after suffering the way I did, I don't think for one minute I would hesitate to do my own unfill at least. And hey if I could do that, I might just do a fill. Yeah, I know that you all are going to criticise me about it, I guess I'll just have to listen to your rants.

lol..mbanja. The insulin needle thing is just too funny. :biggrin1: I take insulin in the stomach area and my daughter is always kidding, telling me not to inject my insulin into my port. (although I did think maybe saline solution might be ok..she should never have said that :heh:) j/k

It was/is AWFUL!! No joke! I live in Ga and the closest fill center is in Roswell. I was at 1.9cc in a 4cc band with my first fill. I went back and the NP put in .8cc to make it 2.7. I waited and drank Water to see if I was ok, then the water got stuck, so I had her take .2cc out to make it 2.5cc. I could feel the water trickling thru the band so I thought I was good-boy was I wrong. I suffered thru the rest of Saturday and Sunday. Woke up this morning and couldn't get anything down. I called the center and the doctor (who commutes to Roswell from Moultrie) said she was back home and leaving for Texas tomarrow. Well, I jumped in the car and headed 4hrs away to Moultrie. Now this is after I tried to unfill myself with one of my Hubbys insulin needles. Well yeah, duh! The insulin needle is to small and to short to reach the port. But hey I was desperate. So I got to Moultrie and she took out .4cc more to make me at 2.1cc. I think I might need more taken out but I had to pay for the fill so I didn't want it all out. I asked her to give me a needle so if I needed more out before she got back I could do it. Well, of course she said no.(another duh!) So, if anyone asks me if I would do my fills/unfills myself, the answer would be HELL YES! I know there has been debates over this, but after suffering the way I did, I don't think for one minute I would hesitate to do my own unfill at least. And hey if I could do that, I might just do a fill. Yeah, I know that you all are going to criticise me about it, I guess I'll just have to listen to your rants.

Lap-Band ports require the use of Huber type non-coring needles to avoid damage to the septum. Use of a standard needle could damage the septum by cutting a core out of the septum, which would cause a port leak which would require surgery to replace the damaged port. You may want to inform your doctor about attempting to unfill your band, as they may want to verify that the port is undamaged.

Yeah, I told my doc, everything is aok. Plus, the insulin needle was too short to reach anything. It didn't even come close.