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Fill right before flying



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I didn't realize this at all, but apparently it isn't a good idea to get a fill before flying. Did you know this? I read on a post about people's bands tightening up once in the air and some people vomited for days after. Some people even slightly unfill before flying so they don't end up getting sick. I had no idea. My family is going to disneyworld in a few weeks and I scheduled a fill for the day before we leave. Guess I'll be cancelling that appointment!!! :P

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Depends on your fill level/amount I'd assume. I had no issues with my band tightening but I don't have a fill so I guess I'm not the one to ask haha. Besides, I'd never get a fill so close to vacation. What are you going to do if you become too tight? Who could unfill you? Just something to consider :)

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My band ALWAYS gets super tight when I fly...to the point I can't even sip Water on the flight! The tightness usually lasts through the day and then slowly returns to normal. I agree...would have been nice for someone to warn us about this!!

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I am headed to Chicago at the end of the month and I have actually scheduled a small unfill a few days before my flight. I've had the band for 18 months and have learned the hard way that I tend to "poof up" when I fly and the swelling causes serious tightness. This past 4thof July I was so tight I was on liquids and mushies for the whole trip. I will not put myself through that misery again.

It's funny how our bodies work. Some people aren't bothered at all. I just know that FOR ME, an small unfill is totally necessary to keep me at an even keel.

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I have no trouble flying, but I do agree that you shouldn't get a fill right before vacation. You could end up too tight and not able to get an unfill, which would make your vacation miserable! My doctor specifically scheduled me for an appointment AFTER my honeymoon for that reason. Do yourself a favor and change your appointment to after you get back. You won't have to worry about being too tight on vacation. Plus, a fill post-vacation will help you with any unwanted vacation pounds. ;)

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I too get REALLY tight when I fly and often get very sick. I usually have to get an unfill before I go anywhere. I also agree with the others that you should wait until after your vacation to have a fill. You never know what troubles you will encounter while you are miles away from your surgeon!

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I am fine with short flights but I just a 9 hour flight to europe and now I keep getting stuck. I can only eat cheese and yoguart & Oh Yeah bars. It sucks as I planned to try lots of new foods. It is also taking me 45 mins to eat a meal. Get in the way of my wine tasting :). Hopefully I am losing a wack of weight!

Good luck all!

Cheers,

Kristi

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If you're getting a small fill and have little restriction already another fill would be no big deal.

However if you're getting a big fill or close to your sweet spot and you have to do 2 days liquids after the fill, I def wouldn't get it.

Usually after my fills when I first got banded, I felt no restriction so eating was not a big deal. Now even .2cc I have to be on liquids for 2 days after a fill.

As for flying before a fill, it is the same thing. If you have really good restriction you might have some trouble eating in the air but not a lot of restriction is no problem.

Usually when I fly it means 12-18 hours in the air. Even when I have a good fill I can usually eat most of the food ( I request the low calories low carb meal so they usually give me eggs or fish or something mushy to eat, so it isnt a big problem food wise. )

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The PAs at my doctor's office won't do a fill if you are traveling out of state in the two weeks following in case there are any problems. They never mentioned anything about air travel though. I just flew two months ago and didn't really notice any difference.

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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      1. summerseeker

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        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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