Hi,

I was just wondering has anyone ever tried to do a self fill? I mean just take a syringe some saline and fill yourselves? What would the risks be?

Um.... no. I wouldn't.

That would definitely not be advisable. Could one do it, possibly, but would it be a smart move, NO. You could damage your port, overfill yourself or possibly a number of other things. Not to mention if you do try your own fill and cause damage, you are liable, not your doctor.

Ummm......no

Are you a doctor, P.A. or nurse? I'd say no to begin with anyway but would have to say hell no if none of those three.

OH MY - I couldn't even give myself allergery shots a few years back ---

Not for me

First of all, they use a special kind of needle called a "Huber" needle. You'd have to have a way to get a couple of them and the saline and syringes. My doctor uses lidocaine too. But even if I had the stuff, I'd be reluctant. If you miss the port, there's a chance you could damage the tubing, which is not self-sealing. The technique of filling is not all that difficult, but knowing how much fill seems to be another story. Nah, I'll pay the $300 and travel 2 hours. After all I went through to get the band, it seems foolish to take chances with it now.

i had this same question in a desperate moment, tried looking into it as much as I could. I heard there is a special needle too, not to mention, what if you got all infected or over-filled, whether by port or band, and they had to suck all water out of the band in the hospital, or worse, remove it?

I am also interested in self fill because I currently live 12 hours away from my doc. and the one down here will not fill a band that he didnt install without an $1800 fee for one year service.I am a former er tech and EMT and have no issue with port injections I just need to find source of huber needles. I have not had an adjustment in 18 months and i have little or no restriction. I wiil not pay $1800 for what might be 1 or 2 fills in a year. I am self pay and recently paid a fine surgeon $750 to repair an inguinal hernia, which requires a lot more expertise than a port injection.

I was banded 2 1/2 years ago and lost 100 lbs. but have recently gained back 20 and I am getting desperate

I am also interested in self fill because I currently live 12 hours away from my doc. and the one down here will not fill a band that he didnt install without an $1800 fee for one year service.I am a former er tech and EMT and have no issue with port injections I just need to find source of huber needles. I have not had an adjustment in 18 months and i have little or no restriction. I wiil not pay $1800 for what might be 1 or 2 fills in a year. I am self pay and recently paid a fine surgeon $750 to repair an inguinal hernia, which requires a lot more expertise than a port injection.

I was banded 2 1/2 years ago and lost 100 lbs. but have recently gained back 20 and I am getting desperate

Maybe you could get that surgeon that you used before to give you a fill under flouro. He would have access to the needle's and he would have the expertise in accessing ports. Just a thought.

Maybe you should see if there is a fill center near you. I don't think those are very expensive. Think of what you would be paying if you messed it up.

sty,im a nurse ,,i access ports with a huber needle all the time and even i wouldnt consider this,,,,dont do it

Also, it's not saline that is injected but a viscose radio-opaque fluid, very thick and difficult to draw or inject.

Also, it's not saline that is injected but a viscose radio-opaque Fluid, very thick and difficult to draw or inject.

Some docs use the omnipaque fluid you are refering to but I believe the majority do use saline. Still, personally I would never do a self fill unless I was a well trained nurse with prior experience accessing ports and preferrably experienced in giving fills to other patients. Even then I think I'd be reluctant unless perhaps I had access to a flouroscope that I could use on myself while doing my own fill.

I was totally intrested in doing my own fills, my husband is type one diabetic so I have become used to needles and I am not afraid of them anymore. I researched it but found little subject matter other than "Don't do it" threads and I haven't found anywhere that you can buy the supplies. After much consideration I agreed that it would not be a wise choice due to my not knowing exactly where my tubing is in my body, I mean I have a general idea but with a needle I am not so sure I would be able to avoid the tubing if I missed the port. I also did research and found that port access kits including huber needles are sold on ebay, but the items are regulated by the FDA and proper medical identification is require and verified before the item is shipped to you. Even if I could buy the kit on ebay it still doesn't come with the saline, which is also regulated by the FDA and you would have to have a perscription or proper medical ID to purchase that as well. I tell you though, after being too tight once, I wish I'd had a huber needle cuz I would have taken the fill out myself. But, I didn't and ended up making a 500 mile emergency drive (with a 10month old, guess how fun that was) to get an unfill.

there's saline in mine,,,i watched him do it,,,,i dont think i would let them put anything else in there,,,what if it leaked,,,,,