Are you self-filling? Are you considering self-filling?

I would like to know how this works:smile2:

I'm not sure where to find it, but there was a long thread about this and the pros and cons. My doc had a really hard time getting to my port today so I definitely wouldn't consider it, but some people have had no problems.

I am on the fence on this one. I am just really curious.

I had no idea there was even such a thing!!

I personally wouldn't risk it unless I was a nurse. Mistakes can be very costly.

I never heard of it - knowing me - I would be injecting saline into my belly - not the band!

I wouldn't, and that's because I think I'd use that to "tinker" so I could eat more. I wouldn't mind physically doing it (nursing student...I'm a tough monkey! LOL) but feel that the temptation to mess with it would be almost overpowering to me.

I must admit I've thought about it... but I'm a health professional who does this sort of thing to other people.. and I've done other things to myself (like draw my own blood, remove stitches, remove skin lesions, etc) in the past, so I know I can do it with appropriate sterile technique and no squeamishness. My doc is 3hrs away, so I will be tempted, mostly out of convenience, not to circumvent my docs plan or allow me to eat more (if anything, I'd want to go in the opposite direction). I don't think your average user, without knowledge of technique, should mess with this, so I'm glad most folks said 'no way!'

I wouldn't, but I would understand why people who have really long drives would...

I love watching medical shows and seeing other people having procedures done, but I just don't think I could inject myself with a big needle. However, this topic is just fascinating to me. I just started reading about it on a couple of other threads.

there have been a few nurses here that have done emergency "unfills" on themselves. believe a huber needle is needed to perform this.

me - i'm a chicken ^%$#. i can handle needles so long as i don't see what they're doing.

I use my meat injector to self fill all the time. I fill it when I need to and unfill it when I wanna party. Whaooo

I fill it with whatever I have on hand. In Nov. I had the garlic butter sauce for the turkey, so I just went ahead and used it. Why waste?

First I rub an ice cube on my port area, then I rub some oragel on it. Then I let my hubby inject me cause I just can't do it myself.

I do admit the needle is way big. One time I actually had to give myself one stitch to close the hole on my tummy. I used some dental floss.

The tip of needle the doctor uses for fills is bent. I did have to take the meat injector needle and bend it before I used it. I took it outside and pushed it down on the cement till it bent.

This self fill method is really working for me. For Christmas I filled it with rum sauce from my bread pudding.

Hope you are kidding as these bands can leak... and that could be deadly.

yikes a little dangerous don't you think??? pretty soon there will be people telling their story how they banded themselves.. Come on why risk this important part of your lap band go in and see the doctor and do things right..

yikes a little dangerous don't you think??? pretty soon there will be people telling their story how they banded themselves.. Come on why risk this important part of your lap band go in and see the doctor and do things right..

I agree. Plus, if you are covered by insurance and screw something up, they are likey not to cover fixing it because it wasn't done by a licensed, proper medical professional.

I can see it now...on the front page of the Enquirier.....

How I used Duck Tape, a paper clip and a straw to lap band myself!!!!

<Yet another use for Duct Tape>....who here has seen Idocracy :grouphug: