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Flying with the band



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It has been 2 years since my band placement.

So, I go in for my last fill, and the woman tells me, "You know you are never to eat on days that you fly. never ever". So I am like, well no one has EVER told me this before and guess what, I have been a flight attendant for 20 years! I fly every week for 3 days straight. She goes on to tell me that she is aware of another flight attendant that is switching from the band to sleeve because she "is having so many problems".

I don't know what to make of this. Granted I haven't been really successful with my band because I wasn't filled enough for over a year, hence the reason I went in for the recent fill. I am now trying to figure this all out again and I don't wanna screw this up.

Why doesn't she want me to eat while flying? I was so stunned that I forgot to ask her. Why had no one brought this up to me in the first place?

What foods do you travel with? I am at a point where I need to pack everything because I have been unsuccessful with hotel foods and find myself in "stuck" situations due to the limited selection on the menues. I need to pack 3 days worth of food. A lot of crew members do this, just non that I know with lap band. I carry an insulated lunch bag with ice packs in it.

Fire away...

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I've only heard this from "BandedWendy" on YouTube. She traveled for work and on days she flew in the early years I think it bothered her. You may want to check her out. I don't remember exactly when she was having issues, but I'm pretty sure it was after the 10th week banded and up to a year after that. Hope this helps!

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If it were me I think I would be asking a surgeon to explain this one. I read a book by a lap band success whose job was flight attendant and guess what? She ate all the time but packed her own food just as you do. It doesn't make sense to me, but I will definitely ask my team about it.. seen as I hope to go and visit my small granddaughters for the first time ever next March.

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The theory is that the change in cabin pressure can make the band tighter. There are folks who have this issue and folks who don't. I would speak with your surgeon and explain that flying is your job and have him or her tell you what you should do. Good luck and don't let anyone intimidate you in terms of revising to a sleeve. That's a huge step and should be one you decide on your own, not based on second hand info.

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