Self-Fill are you doing this?

[TQUAD64 9]

My Dr is giving me a needle in case of an emergency when I travel to West Africa in April. I just don't know if I could use it. I have to get detailed instructions from him next visit.

Wow, West Africa! What an amazing opportunity. Let's hope you will not need to do an emergency unfill. I hope you have a safe trip. :thumbup:

[Carrie_C 9]

If I was trained to do it, I probably would. But only if I really knew what I was doing.

[AKAYLA98 0]

I was not aware that this was even an option! I am a nurse who works on the unit that specializes in WLS and I would not feel comfortable doing myself. I could see trying to do someone else, but there are too many things that can go wrong. What if you can't find the port? What if you over fill? What is the risk of infection? What if you are not in the correct area and you start injecting saline? I would advice against this practice and I could not imagine why any GOOD doctor would suggest or allow this!

[ShrinkyDink 0]

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.

Hehehe this made me giggle

Seriously though, I'm an RN and not the least big squemish and I wouldn't even consider doing a self fill. Besides the risk of infection or injury, the risk of damaging the port or tubing is huge. Nicking that tubing would be a very expensive mistake.

If I were traveling to a place where an emergency unfill by a professional wasn't an option, I'd have all my Fluid removed before the trip to be safe. I'd rather gain a few pounds and spend a few weeks building my fill back up after I got back than risk doing this on myself.

Edited January 11, 2009 by ShrinkyDink

[TQUAD64 9]

Infection is a big risk, along with doing damage to the port. Plus, what if you do a self-fill and something goes terribly wrong?

One would think that the insurance company would not pay the expenses associated to damage caused by self-fills.

[BillOh 15]

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

Anytime a needle is stuck in me, I have to look the other way. I guess that clarifies my opinion of this, though I hadn't heard of it till now.

[BillOh 15]

Way too dangerous.

She should have said that post for April 1st.

[Minxz 0]

I would be afraid of damaging the band.

[TQUAD64 9]

Anytime a needle is stuck in me, I have to look the other way. I guess that clarifies my opinion of this, though I hadn't heard of it till now.

Me too Bill. When I donate blood at the blood bank, I close my eyes. When I have to do blood lab work, I look the other way. I don't like seeing needles going inside me.:cursing:

[Carrie_C 9]

I can give other people shots and draw blood all day at work, but it's a different story when I'm the patient. I can't stand it.

[skinipete 0]

Mango...I was sure your cheese had slid RIGHT OFF your CRACKER!!!!

Ninner...so how pissed was your mom when you wrecked her couch. Good thing you didn't inject with red wine...that is a stinker to get out!

[NJMOMof2 17]

Rum sauce from your bread pudding? ?? That HAS to be a joke. Leave it to the professionals.

[Donnainva 0]

I love new uses for duct tape

thanks!

[Cortney75 0]

I am not saying I would do self fills, but for everyone that comments about training, insurance allowing, and hazards (infections etc)

If you are trained well you should have no problem doing self fills. If you have to pay co pays etc to have the doctor do it or self pay at 150 to 200 a fill this could be very cost effective.

I say all this because my husband is in kidney failure and does home hemo dialysis. We are both trained how to stick him with his needles into his port, set up and disconnect his machine and emergency situations.

Now to me if insurance will cover this, that is life threatening if we do anything wrong (in the beginning I had to call 911 once due to it) I don't see why insurance would have an issue covering self fills. (Benefits them as no doctor visit charge etc)

Obviously you have to know yourself and what you can and can not do. If you are going to sabotage yourself and un-fill here and there to eat more and then fill back up than you would not want to do this.

But if you think you could handle this or that your spouse or someone else could for you than why not go for it.

I think if I did it I would have my husband do it.

Just like the band is our tool we have to use it right to work, I just see it to be more empowering and taking my own success into my own hands.

Just my thoughts. :tongue2:

[Donnainva 0]

If I inject it with helium will I

a) weigh less or

talk funny?