Vacation, Lap Band and Flying

[ThunderThighs 0]

This is kind of long, but please read.......

I have been a lurker on lapbandtalk for awhile now, I don't post much. I had something happen to me while on vacation that was very scary, so I thought I should share.

I know a lot of us who have been banded have experienced the restriction when we eat something we know we shouldn't. I did, I ate nachos and I got inflamed, or whatever you want to call it. A few days of liquids, I was back to normal. Then my family and I flew from California to Illinois for a 2 week vacation to visit relatives. I got a coffee in the airport before boarding the plane and all was good. As soon as I got in the air, I was experiencing more restriction just drinking coffee! Got to Illinois, and I just couldn't eat, I just put it off, thinking, great, this is the first vacation where I won't gain weight!!!:eek:

Well then I started to barely be able to drink Water, but I was getting Water down. The way I felt it didn't feel like it was related to the LapBand, my stomach really hurt everytime I ate, so thought it was stomach related.

We rented a car and drove to Ohio to visit friends. Got to Ohio, and I was sick. I was very lethargic, but I'm on vacation, I refuse to be sick! Standing by the pool, I just passed out, right into the pool. Thank goodness my friend was there to save me!

So, off to the doctor in Ohio, I go. They diagnosed me with a UTI and heartburn and gave me antibiotics and zantac and sent me on my way. I told them I had the LapBand and the doctor said my symptoms were not related to the LapBand. Okay, but now I can't even get water down, how in the hell am I supposed to get a pill down? I called Dr. Martinez in Mexico and he said I need to get unfilled ASAP. I had my LapBand surgery in Mexico, self pay, and I am 2500 miles from home, what do I do?

We drove back to Illinois and I told my husband, I am getting scared. I need to go to the ER when we get back to Illinois. We still had another week full of activities and things to do!

So I went to the ER, told them my situation and the doctor looked at me like I was an alien! He had never heard of the LapBand and was asking me all sorts of questions. At this point, I hadn't eaten for 8 days, and barely taking in any water. So they did the normal, blood testing, IV, xrays, etc. The doctor comes back and said I have bad news. We cannot do the unfill here, nobody is experienced to do it and they are unwilling to do it. Give me some time, I will call around.

The doctor comes back a few hours later and said "I have good news, and bad news". He said that he found a doctor that is willing and able to unfill me, but I have to go to Madison, WI!! At this point, I'm willing to go to the North Pole, I was miserable, grouchy, hungry, thirsty, etc.

So, off to Madison we go. The doctor there was very late and a little testy. This was fourth of July weekend and he had the weekend off and had to come in on his time off to unfill my LapBand, so he took his time. Which is understandable now, but not then ha ha. 14 hours in the hospital, about 20 attempts at finding the port (I am not sure how experienced he was) and 100's of miles of traveling, I got unfilled. I drank a whole bottle of water immediately upon being unfilled! I felt so much better!

A week later, I went to Mexico to get a fill. I asked why this happened, and the tech said sometimes, not always, the pressure of going up and down in an airplane can affect the lapband. I am not sure I understand why, but it does. This is what happened to me.

So, my point in this long story??? Be prepared when you go on vacation. Do some homework. Next time I go anywhere, I will make sure if it's far away from home, that I will find a specialist nearby to help in a case of emergency like I experienced.

Looking back, I was very anemic, very dehydrated and could have died, had I not been able to get help! Learn from my experience and be prepared for these types of emergencies!

[BigGirlPantiez 1]

TT - OMG, what a horrible experience! Thank you for posting this.

You know what - we need a running list of lap band dr.'s in different states.

[GeezerSue 7]

On another board, a frequent traveler has spent more time in ER's than in vacation hot spots.

For any other lurkers...a willing radiologist (so there's an MD on board and for fluorscopy if needed), AN ONCOLOGY NURSE (because more than any of our doctors SHE can find the port) and noncoring Huber needle are your best bets for getting a well-executed unfill.

[shellyj. 0]

So, my point in this long story??? Be prepared when you go on vacation. Do some homework. Next time I go anywhere, I will make sure if it's far away from home, that I will find a specialist nearby to help in a case of emergency like I experienced.

Looking back, I was very anemic, very dehydrated and could have died, had I not been able to get help! Learn from my experience and be prepared for these types of emergencies!

great post! i am glad you are ok around to tell it! i am one who has ended up in the ER out of state on more than one occassion! i have had to give MYSELF an unfill AND pay 1,000 for it!! in a pinch they can also use the needle that they access ports used for something heart related (much easier than finding a huber needle)

whats WILD to me is that i have had the increase in restriction SEVERAL times from flying- this last time i flew for 11 HOURS getting to hawaii, we also flew to Oahu, and another 11 hours home, NOT A SINGLE change in my restriction. i think this time its cause i was loose to begin with.

Sue- when they were having the lapband stuff coming up on e-bay i half joked that i should order a couple unfill kits for when i travel. then the Dr's / ER cant say they dont have the equipment!

[sunshinenh 0]

I also had the pleasure of puking my way through vacation. As soon as we reached cruising altitude, my band just tightened up. I threw up all over Iceland - was able to hold down fluids though. Have seen many posts that flying does not effect them - but it sure did me! Next time I will definately be aware.

[leatha_g 4]

I rest my case... :eek:

Yes. Flying CAN effect your restriction. Does it always? no..

[niche 0]

i just called inamed to see if there is some sort of product support number to guide a doctor through the unfill process if they are not familiar with the device. i'll let you guys know what i find out.

[BakoGal 0]

I have flown 4 times in the last week with no problems. Didn't feel any different than flying "pre" band. I ate and drank on the plane also.

[Elisabethsew 50]

On another board, a frequent traveler has spent more time in ER's than in vacation hot spots.

For any other lurkers...a willing radiologist (so there's an MD on board and for fluorscopy if needed), AN ONCOLOGY NURSE (because more than any of our doctors SHE can find the port) and noncoring Huber needle are your best bets for getting a well-executed unfill.

It would make life a lot easier if surgeons told patients that the inamed port is exactly same (and made by inamed) as a mediport. Remember the word, MEDIPORT. In my hospital, I teach critical care nurses, oncology nurses and IV nurses how to access these ports. Since almost all hospitals have patients with mediports, letting the MD know it's the same exact port might help with getting you the person who can truly help unfill a lapband port.

[niche 0]

thanks Elizabethsew! that's great info!

[kimmason 0]

holy crow.you guys scared me. i just signed up to get banded in august...and I have to be careful on vacations and flying???

[Bettina 0]

holy crow.you guys scared me. i just signed up to get banded in august...and I have to be careful on vacations and flying???

You only have to be concerned if "Cabin Pressure" has bothered you in the past.

[loveulots17lov 0]

u think ithas to do with the diffent altitudes... because i am on vacation.. i come from longisland Ny which is close to the sea level and i am in Albany Ny which is high in the mountains. now befor i left i had got a fill nd i was home for 4 days with no problems.. when i got to Albany my band was feeling to tight .. so tight i went to the hospital because i was in pain.. i go for a upper Gi tommorow to see how resticted i am.

[kimmason 0]

whew..thanks , I was worried I would never be able to travel again, and if i did, would i ever be able to eat normally again?

[leatha_g 4]

I travel almost weekly. There is no reason to think you can't travel and have the band. It has been heard of that some people experience a tightening of the band when flying, but nothing severe enough to cause you not to be able to travel. never fear, my dear..