Cocoabean

US can bring 3.4 oz (100ml) containers through in one clear 1-quart sized baggie. But that is not much, if you are talking about a shake. it isn't even half a cup. I suppose you can put a couple containers in one baggie. You can also bring medically necessary liquids. You have to declare it before sending it down the conveyor. I don't know if you would need a note for a protein shake or if they would accept you saying you cannot eat solids due to gastric surgery. http://www.tsa.gov/311/

When I travel I keep protein bars in my bag. They usually get smushed though. I also bring envelopes of protein shakes. Trail mix travels well.

If I could not have at least a week at home before leaving, I would postpone. I know it sucks, but being too tight and away from your surgeon sucks, also. I put off my first fill for two weeks for a Panama Canal cruise. I wanted it sooooo bad, but my husband would have had my head if I had had any problems while we were in the middle of the ocean! It's a tough call. Maybe call your surgeon, they might not do a fill less than a month anyway, even though it is only a couple days short...decision made.

I've been through the full body scan with no trouble. Travel almost always cause me to tighten up, even car travel. I think it is the stress. You can carry on shake powder, but if it is in a large tub, declare it before it goes through the x-ray. It reads like a liquid. I had 16 ounce container of electrolyte powder with me that threw them for a loop. When I flew back I pulled it out of my carry-on. The TSA supervisor said, "thanks for taking this out! You made my job so much easier, and kept the line moving!" I also bring an empty water bottle in my carry-on that I can fill once through security. Much cheaper than buying water in the gift shop.

Cynthia, isn't it weird? My last fill was in September. I was cruising along Ok, then suddenly about three weeks ago I tightened up, "tighter than a crab's buttocks" to quote a line from "The Scorpion King." I was getting stuck every day. It wasn't getting much better. The only thing I could see was different is that I wasn't drinking as much Water, perhaps. So, I started really drinking the water and ate liquids/mushies for two days. It's much better now. But I am only eating about half what I was before the tightness started. Weird and fickle. But I'll take my better health and smaller size any day!

Some surgeons will do them 2 weeks apart. Will you be somewhere that you can get an unfill if needed? I'd postpone until after the trip, but that is just me. I like to be close to my surgeon for a bit after a fill, just in case.

How long ago was the unfill? Sometimes it takes a bit for any swelling to go down from the irritation of being too full. So, if you go back for another unfill, then get too loose, get a refill, then get too tight...it can become a vicious circle. If you are getting in nutrition, hydration, and not vomitting, I'd wait a bit and see if you are comfortable at this fill level.

It is a rapid emptying of the stomach, for whatever reason. Here's a link with further info: http://www.aboutgimotility.org/site/about-gi-motility/disorders-of-the-stomach/dumping-syndrome

"Regular" people can experience dumping-like symptoms. My surgeon says band patients who've experienced it before may experience it after. But not because of the band. I've gotten dumping symptoms all my life.

I am 4 years post-op and haven't kept track, I think I had 3 fills, 1 slight unfill, then 1 refill the first year. 3-4 sounds average, but it will depend on your surgeon (how much you get per fill), what band you have (how much it will hold), and how you react to fills (some people are very sensitive and need to go more slowly than others). It is a lot to consider as self-pay. But just consider, if you are not willing to maintain your band, it is not worth considering at all. It's like having a fancy sports car with an empty gas tank or a blown engine. It won't get you anywhere. One won't cost you much to get you on the road, but the other will cost you quite a bit. Either way, you have to pay if you want to get moving.

I am not the only one with pickle problems!! So nice to know!

Wow, my surgeon never had a problem finding my port. But I don't have a lot of belly fat. My first couple of fills the amount was up to my surgeon. After that, we discussed amount. By that point, he figured I knew what a tiny fill would do to me. Even at that, he'd let me know if he thought I was asking for too much. So basically what I am saying is, you can ask for more, but ultimately, the decision is with the provider. My surgeon was conservative (but not that conservative!) He said he'd rather I creep up on the green zone than blast through it.

Best wishes for a quick surgery and speedy recover! Keep us posted.

Ditto what the others have said. Plus, how many CCs you have doesn't matter. It is how you FEEL that matters. If you are eating solid Proteins, able to eat large portions and big bites without issue, and getting hungry every couple of hours, then you probably need a fill. Definitely see if you can find a doctor closer to you for a fill. There is no point in having a band if it is not fine tuned.

Desk job here. I was off one week, half-time the second. I caught a cold about the time I was in the hospital. I had surgery on Friday, by Sunday I was starting to feel a scratchy throat. That did not aid my recovery. I was planning to return full-time the second week, but I was so drained, it could not happen. If not for the cold, I'd probably have been fine the second week.

I was in for about 11 hours.

The biggest question that comes to my mind is with a BMI of 38, do you have any co-morbidities, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea? If not, you might not qualify. Most insurances require at least one with a BMI less than 40.

You don't have to use protein shakes. My surgeon does not want me using liquid containing calories at all. He wants all my calories to come from food. Talk it over with your nutritionist.

Dahlia, same with me. I was not given a strict diet to follow. Basically, if it hurts, don't eat it. Don't eat junk, don't eat brainlessly. I try to stick to that plan as much as possible. I don't eat chicken breast because it almost always gets stuck. I can eat steak if I cut it up small and chew it well. I don't think I've ever gotten stuck on it.

After my last fill, I have trouble with pickles, of all things! I keep trying them, and they keep getting stuck. My dog, however, loves them. He takes what I don't eat. I do fine with cucumbers, but pickles, nope.

I don't know...let's give it a try! Yum!

Love the lettuce wrap idea. I don't do low carb, never would have thought of it. DOH! But heading for summer, it sounds very refreshing. Plus my band has been tight lately, I think it will make a great option for me, too. Thanks Honk!

Ooohhhh, real food!! Sorry for the lecture then. :-) Yes, crackers are a good choice for not getting stuck. Also toasted whole grain bread goes down well. But remember, little bites, chew well, wait in between bites to be sure all is well.

As counter-intuitive as it sounds, weight loss tends to stop when we are too tight. It sounds like an unfill is in order for you. Hope you feel better soon!

Are you on mushies? If so, then crackers are not mushie food. The stages of food progression are there for a reason. Although I know doctors vary on this, each doctor puts us on what he or she has found in their individual practice to be best. During the healing phase they want our stomachs to grind as little as possible and they phase solids in slowly to keep the grinding to a minimum. Adding in cruchy/more solid foods means that your pouch has to grind more to make it go down. This puts more pressure on the stitches put in place to anchor your band down. I remember that hunger, but I also knew I'd be horrified to get something stuck, and have to go to my surgeon to have it removed or my band loosened because I could not follow his instructions.