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:wacko: Receiving all sort of conflicting information on air travel after lap band. I have not have my lap band done as yet. I attended my seminar and was discouraged to find that I may have trouble on my flight back to New Zealand in mid October. I was hoping to get the band done in July but everything is on stall until I get this issue resolved. Also care in the event that I do have constriction as I understand this is minimal in New Zealand. I desperately need knee replacement surgery but I am still 90 lbs away from safe surgery :o wish it was sooner and safer now. But :) I can still smile and live the day I have. If anyone can give me any insight into this situation of when it is safe for air travel, etc. Please, Please do as I am doing my research B) before I cross the option off.

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maybe @@JustWatchMe can help you, since she recently traveled and was somewhat newly banded.

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Hi @@AllieBB,

I was 9 weeks post band and 17 days past my first fill when I flew to Italy. I was worried about feeling too tight because your feet and hands and yes, your organs swell when you fly. My surgeon's office said I would be okay but to be safe I may want to plan nothing but liquids half an hour before, during and after my flights.

I was fine. I even got hungry enough to eat the in flight meal vvveeerrrrrryyyyy slowly and chewed thoroughly. No tightness at all and I was fine.

I also had an incredible time and loved every moment of the trip. Just speak to all of your team and get some tips and pointers before you go.

Also, I was fully healed at nine weeks out so that wasn't an issue.

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Extra restriction when flying is a little overdone imo. I've had fills and flown within 30 days and felt nothing. Even if you're extra tight before the flight the downside would be no drinking for the time you're in flight?

And honestly, few people ever find they're too tight in just 4 months post surgery unless they're getting fills under fluoroscopy

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I was banded in Mid-Nov w/ 3 small fills since then, my dr is very conservative. I flew from Florida to Las Vegas in Mid-April then drove back to Fl 20 days later. I felt no restriction from my band whatsoever. No different to me than being at home. I have lost 53 pounds and was thrilled on my flight to no longer need a seat belt extension. I have over 100 lbs yet to go but kn with progress. No problems flying.

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I fly all the time and cannot tell any difference at all....and I know my band very well......I just got back from Phoenix...and nothing!

Of course, just keep them gin and tonics coming.....

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I flew 6 days post gastric sleeve from mexico back home in nz.

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    • Alisa_S

      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.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      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.
      · 1 reply
      1. 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.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

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

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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