Ok so I have a question for all the long time banders out there. I had a fill 2 weeks prior to a vacation to visit my family in Indiana from Massachusettes. Was losing well and felt great. Two days after arriving I was feeling alot more restriction. Up until this point I have never been sick. Love my band. I am 9 months post op and it took me about 5 months and 6 fills to get great restriction. Ok so anyway the first day I was there I was very careful about eating. Second day we went out and I got a salad bar and stuck with the basics which are things I have always eaten. That night out again and only have vegetable Soup because I wasn't feeling so well. About an hour after eating it I got violently ill. I could not stop dry heaving. I did that for 14 hours. My sister got me into a bariatric center close to their home and the NP explained that the change in pressure from flying tightened my band. She removed 1cc and immediately I was better. My surgeon has never mentioned this to me. Now I am going on another vacation. cruise will my husband for 12 year anniversary and eventhough we are not flying I am nervous about having another fill 2 weeks before going. Had this happened on the ship I am not sure what I would have done. Anyone ever have this with travel?

Look forward to your help

I did! I had the same fill for about 2 months before we moved from Hawaii to the Mainland. Right before we left, I could feel a difference in my band the the doctor explained it was from moving stress. Sounded reasonable. Within an hour of being on the flight, I could feel my band tighten. We traveled across the country with me throwing up every night for over two weeks. Once we got to our new home, I had a hard time finding a doctor who would take a transfer patient. After a few weeks (of still being sick), I convinced a doctor to see me. He took out 3 cc's and immediate relief! It's a long horrid story after that on getting back to "normal" again. I think he actually overfilled me on Thursday...not fun. Now we have a Europe trip planned in October so I think I'll have him go ahead and take out 1 cc now.

As far as your cruise, I don't think it would be effected by sea travel but I'm not sure. We take a cruise every year and our December cruise will be my first with my band. Please let me know how yours goes!

You are very lucky that your sister took you to a fill center. Is it one of those that I see advertised around the US?

Good luck!!

I did! I had the same fill for about 2 months before we moved from Hawaii to the Mainland. Right before we left, I could feel a difference in my band the the doctor explained it was from moving stress. Sounded reasonable. Within an hour of being on the flight, I could feel my band tighten. We traveled across the country with me throwing up every night for over two weeks. Once we got to our new home, I had a hard time finding a doctor who would take a transfer patient. After a few weeks (of still being sick), I convinced a doctor to see me. He took out 3 cc's and immediate relief! It's a long horrid story after that on getting back to "normal" again. I think he actually overfilled me on Thursday...not fun. Now we have a Europe trip planned in October so I think I'll have him go ahead and take out 1 cc now.

As far as your cruise, I don't think it would be effected by sea travel but I'm not sure. We take a cruise every year and our December cruise will be my first with my band. Please let me know how yours goes!

You are very lucky that your sister took you to a fill center. Is it one of those that I see advertised around the US?

Good luck!!

Michelle37 that is common. Everyone is different. I get a bit more restriction after flying but not much at all. My friend is the opposite she can't eat while flying or after flying. I travel every where with a fill needle in case the dr or clinic doesn't have the right needle for an unfill.

I am flying tomorrow for 9 hours. That will be the longest flight for me.

Have a great weekend all!

Cheers,

Kristi

I just came back from a cruise 9/2 and I would advise to NOT get a fill prior to your trip. I had a fill a few days before I left. Prior to that fill I really had very little restriction. That fill was a tight one and I had no problem flying (thank goodness) but I worried about it. I got really sick the day of the cruise-I had a constant feeling of needing to throw up. I sat at the dinner table barely able to eat anything and by the end of the meal I had to excuse myself and I barely made it back to my stateroom in time. I was eyeing out room service trays laying outside people's rooms just in case I couldn't make it. The rest of the cruise went fine and I was able to eat the lobster for elegant dining night-but if I had to do it again I wouldn't have gotten the fill.

Why even risk it? This is your anniversary and a time to have good memories of it-not memories of worrying about puking and getting stuck,

Enjoy your trip!!

NJGirl, I agree with you. I was at my "sweet spot" before we flew overseas and next time I plan to have about 1cc taken out before a flight. We cruise in December but fly to Florida to get there. Did you fly before your cruise?

I just came back from a cruise 9/2 and I would advise to NOT get a fill prior to your trip. I had a fill a few days before I left. Prior to that fill I really had very little restriction. That fill was a tight one and I had no problem flying (thank goodness) but I worried about it. I got really sick the day of the cruise-I had a constant feeling of needing to throw up. I sat at the dinner table barely able to eat anything and by the end of the meal I had to excuse myself and I barely made it back to my stateroom in time. I was eyeing out room service trays laying outside people's rooms just in case I couldn't make it. The rest of the cruise went fine and I was able to eat the lobster for elegant dining night-but if I had to do it again I wouldn't have gotten the fill.

Why even risk it? This is your anniversary and a time to have good memories of it-not memories of worrying about puking and getting stuck,

Enjoy your trip!!

I did fly and was a little panicky the entire time-not about flying but about eating anything that would caude me to PB. Geeze I can't imagine being in the bathroom puking in a plane. So I didn't risk it. We stayed in New Orleans for 2 nights before our cruise-that 2nd day I was SO sick. I hear the band can sometimes tighten.

Vacation is really a time to unwind and enjoy life-not a time to test the band. I actually thought it may have slipped due to how sick I was-but it passed. We have to remember that our spouses are onvaction too-and should be a little considerate about not ruining their vacation either with constant trips to the bathroom and worrying!

On a side note I did get a full body scan and got called to the side for a private search-it had to be the band!

NJGirl32, I remember meeting a girl years ago with the band and she told me she was taking out some saline for her cruise. At the time I thought she was crazy and wasn't getting the point of having a band...to control her eating. Now I get it! I'm planning on doing the same, not because of the food on the cruise, but because I don't want to get sick and put myself and my family through that.

My adjustment on Thursday is still way too tight. While throwing up in my bathroom last night, our oldest son heard me. The look on his face was so sad - he was so worried about me. I don't want my kids worrying about ME; it's my job to worry about THEM!!

I did fly and was a little panicky the entire time-not about flying but about eating anything that would caude me to PB. Geeze I can't imagine being in the bathroom puking in a plane. So I didn't risk it. We stayed in New Orleans for 2 nights before our cruise-that 2nd day I was SO sick. I hear the band can sometimes tighten.

Vacation is really a time to unwind and enjoy life-not a time to test the band. I actually thought it may have slipped due to how sick I was-but it passed. We have to remember that our spouses are onvaction too-and should be a little considerate about not ruining their vacation either with constant trips to the bathroom and worrying!

On a side note I did get a full body scan and got called to the side for a private search-it had to be the band!

I did! I had the same fill for about 2 months before we moved from Hawaii to the Mainland. Right before we left, I could feel a difference in my band the the doctor explained it was from moving stress. Sounded reasonable. Within an hour of being on the flight, I could feel my band tighten. We traveled across the country with me throwing up every night for over two weeks. Once we got to our new home, I had a hard time finding a doctor who would take a transfer patient. After a few weeks (of still being sick), I convinced a doctor to see me. He took out 3 cc's and immediate relief! It's a long horrid story after that on getting back to "normal" again. I think he actually overfilled me on Thursday...not fun. Now we have a Europe trip planned in October so I think I'll have him go ahead and take out 1 cc now.

As far as your cruise, I don't think it would be effected by sea travel but I'm not sure. We take a cruise every year and our December cruise will be my first with my band. Please let me know how yours goes!

You are very lucky that your sister took you to a fill center. Is it one of those that I see advertised around the US?

Good luck!!

What a horrible story. I can't imagine being as sick as I was for weeks. I have to say how lucky I have been. I love my band and after 9 months this is the first time anything has been stuck. I appreciate hearing everyone's stories. I think this is one thing they shouldn't have left out of the instructions. I saw the Np and she only put back .5 cc because she wanted me to enjoy my cruise without worrying about it. I had very little restriction after I healed from my unfit, but I have plans for alot of exercise on the cruise and we are not flying to get there. Once again thanks for sharing your story.

Michelle

Michelle37 that is common. Everyone is different. I get a bit more restriction after flying but not much at all. My friend is the opposite she can't eat while flying or after flying. I travel every where with a fill needle in case the dr or clinic doesn't have the right needle for an unfill.

I am flying tomorrow for 9 hours. That will be the longest flight for me.

Have a great weekend all!

Cheers,

Kristi

Kristi,

Good luck with your long flight, let me know how it goes

Michelle

Michelle, I hope you have a wonderful cruise!! We cruise every year and our next one in in Dec. So if you have any questions...

What a horrible story. I can't imagine being as sick as I was for weeks. I have to say how lucky I have been. I love my band and after 9 months this is the first time anything has been stuck. I appreciate hearing everyone's stories. I think this is one thing they shouldn't have left out of the instructions. I saw the Np and she only put back .5 cc because she wanted me to enjoy my cruise without worrying about it. I had very little restriction after I healed from my unfit, but I have plans for alot of exercise on the cruise and we are not flying to get there. Once again thanks for sharing your story.

Michelle

I live in Alaska and had my surgery in the Seattle area on July 26. My fist fill was on August 29 and I flew the next day to meet my husband in Los Angeles and start a vacation. I was gone all week - flew from LA to Vegas and then back home to Alaska and never had a problem or moment of discomfort.

I must admit though - Vegas buffets are no longer appealing. But that actually makes me happy. I'm glad that food is no longer a big focus for me.

This post scares the me terribly! I had my first fill today, but I fly on Sunday for my 7 day cruise. The doctor knows I am going so he only gave me 1.8 cc's. He didnt want me to go with no restriction since my appetite have been picking up lately. He just told me to let me know if everything feels oka by friday so they can remove the fluid if necessary. I just have to pray and have faith that everything will go well.

I just got my first fill (3 cc) and I will be travelling out of the country about the same time that I'm scheduled for the second fill, this will be a 16hr flight. I had asked the people from the MD's office about this and was told that I should get an unfill when I travel to prevent any issues associated with the band expanding on those long flights greater than 6 hrs.