Went 24 hours, no water, no food..

I am sorry that you had this experience. yes, very important. My surgeon is on 24 hr call, which I found out when I had your experience, too!

That had to be so scary... So sorry you had such difficulties.

My surgeon gave me his and his wife's cell phone numbers. They are always available if I ever have an emergency.

I hope you are on the mend....

I can not imagine allowing my medical requirements deciding on my residence, unless I was terminally ill.

Though for the initial 18 months of being banded, I did reside just over an hour from my surgeon's office, with my husband's retirement we have moved to another state in a more rural area.

I am now just over 2 hours away from a physician who can adjust my band. That distance has not been an inconvenience to me. I have had some complications since our move, but was able to continue to sip on liquids.

It's all about the priorities we choose in life. I have a lot of living to do, and my band is not the center of my life focus.

Other's mileage may and does vary...

I think the point is that when you need an emergency unfill you want to have access to someone who can do it for you. I know a lot of bandsters whose bar. surgeons do not work weekends or long hours. It is a good consideration when selecting a dr because those who have been in the situation of having a tight band know all too well how miserable it is. My husband made the error of getting a fill right before we headed out of state. 8 hrs later and a state away my husbands band turned on him. We had to drive back immediately. I was very impressed that his doc not only texted w/ him but made special arrangements to come in and unfill him as soon as he got back in the area. There's nothing like a doc who really cares for their patients. ERs are always an option, but $ is a huge consideration for some, plus the added hours of wait is no fun either