How to Fill the Lap Band Port

Lap band surgery is a type of gastric bypass surgery that involves the formation of a pocket above the stomach smaller than the stomach, which will make you feel full faster and keep you feeling satiated longer. It is adjustable and can be filled with saline or have saline removed as your dietary needs change during the course of your weight loss program. You must go for regular fills done by professionals with X-ray equipment according to the program recommended by your surgeon.

Instructions

• 1

  Get a good night's sleep before you go for the filling. If you are well rested, the filling procedure will be more comfortable.

• 2

  Discuss with the physician doing the fill any difficulties or discomfort you might have felt since the last visit. If the port is too full, you might have difficulty keeping food down and if it is not full enough, you might feel hunger pangs and have trouble sticking to your diet plan.

• 3

  Do not eat for at least 4 to 6 hours before having the fill done. This will enable the fluoroscope to better determine how much saline will need to be injected into the port.

• 4

  Avoid having a fill when you have your period, have any type of illness such as a cold or flu or you are in the midst of an allergic reaction to pollen or a food substance. These cause your body to swell, and an accurate reading cannot be determined.

• 5

  Report any changes in your health such as pregnancy or drastic weight loss to the physician performing the fill.

• 6

  Avoid pasta, bread and rice after the fill for a few days. Drink fluids and try to stay on a liquid diet for at least 24 hours to make sure the liquids pass through the port.