Has anyone had troubles with their lapband while flying? I have a business trip coming up soon and am worried. I think I am at perfect restiction right now so hate to have any removed but will be in a remote area for 2 days and am afraid I might have troubles. I can currently eat about a 1/2 c of solid food or 1 c of soft food. I will only be gone 2 1/2 days and am trying to decide if I need to have a little fill removed just in case or just take my chances. Anyone have any suggestions based on personal experience?

Hi - I fly a lot for work & have found it best to control as much as possible about the experience. Just takes more planning now.

Some things are easy to get thru security - Protein powders, string cheese, Protein Bars, trial mix & empty Water bottle. Yogurt - not so much. I always get dehydrated so I fill up the water bottle after security. Helps me stay away from high-calorie drinks on the plane.

I live in Denver & find when I go down in altitude my restriction lessens. Usually works out for the better since there are so many lunches, drinks & looooong business dinners/events when I'm on the road. If I'm going overseas or will be in one place for a few days, I'll stop by a grocery store & pick up some favs that'll keep me from ordering chocolate cake from room service at 11pm (its been known to happen!)

good luck!

chloe

flying affects the band?

flying does affect my band...i get extremely tight and cannot eat until mid day...I always know where the restroom is and try to stick with soups if a business function...I retain alot of fluid and it takes a few days when getting home to be back to normal..I fly at least once a week so this has been a challenge

_{I get extremely tight....easily stuck and quicker to chuck....but it will go back to normal around mid day, early evening.}

Thank you for all the great responses. My biggest fear is that I would be so tight I couldn't even drink water. Chloe - I live near Denver as well, live @ 8,000 ft, work @ 5,000 ft and am traveling to the middle of nowhere West Virginia. Thankfully it is only for 2 days so hopefully I will at least be okay with liquids.

I fly all the time and because of where I live, flights are usually 6+ hours.

I never have much trouble eating when it comes to flying but I also dont eat things that I know would get stuck like bread.

My best advice would be to order the low calorie meals on the plane. It is usually softer things like fish, eggs etc instead of chicken and beef. This makes it so much easier to eat while flying.

I have never had a problem drinking Water while flying. My longest flight was 14 hours no problems.

Flying doesn't seem to really affect my band, although I don't keep my band tight at all. However, it does affect a lot of people so I would suggest being cautious until you know how yours is affected.

Has anyone had troubles with their lapband while flying? I have a business trip coming up soon and am worried. I think I am at perfect restiction right now so hate to have any removed but will be in a remote area for 2 days and am afraid I might have troubles. I can currently eat about a 1/2 c of solid food or 1 c of soft food. I will only be gone 2 1/2 days and am trying to decide if I need to have a little fill removed just in case or just take my chances. Anyone have any suggestions based on personal experience?

My surgeon told me that I have to have the liquid in the band removed if I fly. I am sorry that I don't have any personal experience. Good luck...my motto is better safe than sorry.

I had a small unfill of .2 before a long flight. I had it put right back in when I got home. Some folks evidently think it's false that flying affects the band. I think it depends on how close you are to your sweet spot. I flew to Denver (ski trip!) and noticed the tightening from the plane ride and the altitude...between that and all the skiing, I lost 4 pounds I was thankful for the unfill...I would hate to end up in trouble without my doc (who I love) around. I have flown before and not noticed much of a difference, but I am at my sweet spot now...so I think I feel any change in the band due to stress, flying or TOM. Good luck!

I flew, I had no problem.

This is something I'm a little nervous about also since I will be flying in less than 2 weeks. I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens. Good luck!!

I have flown a few times, too, and never had any problems.....didn't notice any change as far as the band was concerned.

I notice more of a change when the weather changes ---when it is really hot and humid I am a lot tighter....so summertime I know I will feel more restriction. Also hormones affect my band...the PMS week it seems looser and my cravings are crazy. ARGH!

Kim

I had never heard of problems with flying. So it caught me by surprise when I had a problem with pain after one of my flights.

My surgeon has since advised me to only take liquids before and during flights to avoid future issues.

As others have mentioned. The altitude of your departure and destination can affect your band. Also the rate of ascent and descent will affect the pressure in the cabin of an airplane. The cabin is also pressurized differently, depending on the age of the plane. I believe this might be why we have different experiences, even from one flight to the next.

I don't have any problems. i don't keep my band tight though.