Hi - I (hopefully) will be moving to Rwanda for 1 year beginning July 1st for my job. Right now due to some complications I am totally unfilled as of a month ago. Its not easy at all of course I have gained weight. I see my MD next week to decide what to do for the immediate future.

I wanted to hear from anyone who had moved to another remote country what you did about your band. My instinct tells me to be completely unfilled because of all of the issues that might come up with food and water consumption in Africa. I sort of assume for the first couple of months I may have stomach/intestine issues. I have to fess up I am not the best care giver of my band the complications are mostly my fault. However what I eat and drink will be so different in Rwanda.

Any and all advice is welcome.

Thank you

I haven't lived outside the USA since being banded, but I know a bandster who travels extensively in underdeveloped countries, one who lived in Seoul, Korea for a year, and one who lived in Kuwait for her job. None of them got unfilled before going abroad. The first one had a band problem while in Thailand and had a difficult time getting an unfill because of the language barrier. The second one had no problems even though she was eating local food. I think the third one wasn't eating much local food because of her living arrangements in Kuwait.

I've traveled overseas a lot in the past for my job and suggest that you check with the CDC regarding immunizations for travelers to Africa, so that you'll be less likely to contract indigenous diseases. Of course, drink and brush your teeth only with bottled Water. Don't eat fruit or vegetables that you haven't washed (with bottled water) and peeled yourself. Don't eat food prepared or sold by street vendors. Get and fill a prescription for anti-nausea meds to take with you. If you're doing this as part of your job, ask if there's someone in the company/organization who can advise and prepare you for eating, living, and getting medical care when you're in Africa. And ask your bariatric surgeon if he/she can help you locate a bariatric surgeon (or qualified general surgeon) somewhere near your location in Rwanda, maybe not in Africa but somewhere in Europe or another location closer than the USA.

I dont think you would have any need to get unfilled but if you have any fluid in your band you should travel with the port syringe on you...it is very specialized and if you would need an unfill and they use a regular needle your port (the diaphragm in it) will be destroyed.

I have traveled a lot even in remote places like Lesotho and Laos with my band. I never got an unfill but I was never in those places for one year.

Many countries do have doctors who knows what they are doing with the band, so South Africa isnt exactly close but you could see a doctor there is there was a problem.

I would suggest talking to your doctor but if it were me I would go with a special needle, and have Fluid in my band but not be at a really good restriction. A complete unfill might not be a good idea because that could give your band TOO much room to move.

I was banded in Asia and have lived in Korea the entire time ( and traveled around) and have met others banded in Japan, Thailand, India etc. So even though you might feel out of your comfort zone seeing a doc in a different country, there are ones that exist and have experience.

Have you searched to see if there are any docs in Africa? It isnt all 3rd world.