Hi All,

I'm leaving for Vegas in a few hours and I'm freaking out. This is the first time I am flying alone in an extremely long time. Its also the first time flying while banded. I'm know there are threads about flying but I just can't seem to find them. Could someone reassure me that being banded and flying isn't a big deal??? I get anxious about flying as it is...my doc gave me some xanax just in case...

thanks!

Hi. I have flown 3 times since being banded and I have had no problems. That being said everybody is different and if you are worried about getting too tight just don't eat very much beforehand and drink some hot tea or coffee.

You will be fine! I've flown 8 times in the last months since being banded. I'm good. From what I've read, if anything - you may feel more restriction. And hey...that could be a good thing!

Especially in Vegas! Good luck!

I've been banded over 18 months and I fly all the time. I've probably taken in the area of 40 flights since my surgery. It really isn't a big deal, just be smart about what you do. Here are my tips:

Don't eat within 2 - 3 hours of your flight. IF something gets stuck, you want to give yourself time to have it taken care of. (Sometimes it can take more time, but not usually - for me anyway). Which is my second tip:

If possible, limit yourself to liquids the day of your flight, until you've landed. I did miss a flight once because I was in the bathroom yakking up some Panera. A girl in my surgeon's support group once had to use a barf bag to yak during take-off. A friend of mine got stuck on an in-fight pretzel and had to spend 2 hrs of her flight running between her seat and the bathroom. It's PROBABLY not going to happen, but why risk it, you know?

Flying USUALLY makes me tighter. Not always, but most of the time. Sometimes so tight that I have to wait for liquids to pass. So I try to plan my meals in the new destination accordingly - e.g., go someplace I know will have Soup or refriend Beans or something that shouldn't give me much trouble.

Thanks!! You guys ROCK!! I'm feeling a little better. Thanks for the tips they are things I hadn't really thought of. My flight is 5 hours long as I live on the east coast so the thought of spending the trip with something stuck really doesn't thrill me. So far I've had and egg and english muffin for Breakfast and potato soup for lunch so I think I'll be ok. My flight isn't until 8pm. I'm hoping for a bit of restriction since I really don't have any now.

Thanks again for the support.

One more qucik question...when you fly to you feel pressure in your chest where the band is??? or do you feel like you did before the band??

Flying should not effect your awareness of the band uotside of increased restriction. In other words, if you can't feel your band sitting there reading the screen, you shouldn't feel it sitting there waiting for the fasten seatbelt light to ding off. :confused:

This is very interesting. I had no idea that could happen while flying. I don't fly very often but it is good to know.

Enjoy Vegas and stay away from slots..unless they are Penny Machines. :confused:

I flew 3 days after surgery then again 2 months later and am flying again this weekend.

No biggie. Just don't drink too fast or eat something that makes you slime...but there's always the barf bag.

I fly on at least 2 flights a week and I have a band. I have had no problems whatsoever. This includes two 11+ hour flights overseas!