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Flying

shanatx

By shanatx, in LAP-BAND Surgery Forums

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shanatx    33

shanatx
Posted

Has anyone had any issues with flying?

I've seen some videos on YouTube where some banders have commented they have extreme tightness when flying.

I asked my doc about it prior to surgery and he said he hadn't heard of any complaints.

My plan is to visit my son in Hawaii mid-April so I'm wondering if there's any do's or don'ts.

Thank you in advance!

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BandedCandace    105

BandedCandace
Posted

When I flew to Cali my dr told me to have soft foods (nothing heavy) the day of the flight and the day I flew back. My flight back was early in the AM and I am tight in the mornings anyway so I just had coffee.

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MandaMom23    684

MandaMom23
Posted

I had no issues at all when I flew. No tightness, nothing.

Enjoy your trip to Hawaii :)

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gowalking    10,790

gowalking
Posted

My doctor said liquids only before flying, during, and at least an hour after. It's not a problem for me as I've so far never flown longer than three hours at a clip.

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Sharpie    3,306

Sharpie
Posted

My Dr. said it should be fine so I flew to Colorado in Aug. did not feel any different.. I will say that I did not eat anything major .we had to eat in the airport at one point and I had some blackeyed peas and baked chicken so I was fine. Enjoy your trip.

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shanatx    33

shanatx
Posted

Y'all are MUCH more encouraging than YouTubers! I'm feeling much better about flying now and I will stick with light foods, maybe just soup! The other tip I have received is not to get a fill 6 weeks prior. I'm not sure how that would make any difference though.

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B-52    7,113

B-52
Posted (edited)

I fly all the time, no issues at all....besides...who gets to eat on a flight anymore???

So even if it did make a difference, what would it matter?

All I need are one or two gin and tonics and I'm set!

Edited by B-52

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bbbanded    70

bbbanded
Posted

I completely forgot about that possibly being an issue, flying to Florida I slept the whole time, coming home I finished 5.5 oz of cranberry juice with no problem. The only extra tightness I feel is in the mornings.

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gowalking    10,790

gowalking
Posted

I fly all the time, no issues at all....besides...who gets to eat on a flight anymore???

So even if it did make a difference, what would it matter?

All I need are one or two gin and tonics and I'm set!

Really?? Tonic Water? I thought carbonation was a no-no. God...I miss my Beefeater/Stoli and tonics... I drink wine now but would love a mixed drink once in a while.

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B-52    7,113

B-52
Posted

I fly all the time, no issues at all....besides...who gets to eat on a flight anymore???

So even if it did make a difference, what would it matter?

All I need are one or two gin and tonics and I'm set!

Really?? Tonic Water? I thought carbonation was a no-no. God...I miss my Beefeater/Stoli and tonics... I drink wine now but would love a mixed drink once in a while.

Don't get me started on carbonated drinks...there has been plenty of discussion on this website.....it is one of those topics where you are going to get a 100's of different responses....

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shanatx    33

shanatx
Posted

Thank you to everyone - I wasn't worried about eating at all...surprisingly, food never even entered my mind. My concern has been that the band would get so tight in flight that you could feel it restricting WAY more than normal. Based on these responses, I think it depends more on what and how you eat prior and during the flight. Being in the air for 11 straight hours, I'm just trying to prepare myself for anything.

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parisshel    1,892

parisshel
Posted

I fly longhaul Europe-California flights frequently. I have never felt any band-tightening effects from airtravel.

I do pack my own food, however, as airports and airline choices are not band-friendly. Always lots of Pasta, breaded stuff and dry chicken. I pack Protein Bars, cheese, fruit and almonds. Often the fruit gets confiscated at immigration in California but by then I'm in the land of fruit anyway.

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shanatx    33

shanatx
Posted

Thank you! I don't know if TSA will let me through with my own food, but I may give it a try. Maybe I will show them my Allergan card that shows I've been banded! Sure can't hurt to ask!

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parisshel    1,892

parisshel
Posted

TSA will only stop liquids. You can bring in as much snacky stuff as you like (protein bars, nuts, whole fruits, etc). I even travel with Protein Shake powder; no problem with the "authorities."

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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
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      1. summerseeker

        summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

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