Ok, so hubby calls me yesterday all excited because he has won an all expense paid trip from work in the 3rd week of April. It includes aifare, hotel, meals and spending money for 3 days in Vegas. We are pretty excited as we have never been to Vegas and were just saying we could really use a mini vacation with just the two of us.

Here is the problem. Being as we live in Florida, and Vegas is a bit of haul for us, my hubby says it simply would not make sense for us to drive all the way there for a 3 day trip, especially when airfare is included. So, I am officially terrified because I have never been on a plane before and the idea instills pure terror for me.

Are any of you afraid of flying? How do you cope? I was thinking mass quantities of alcohol or something, lol. Seriously though, any suggestions would be appreciated.

I have one other question that I am stressing over. I have read other people talk about flying and belt extenders. I am so scared of the embarassment and humiliation of possibly needing one. At 5' 4", 240 pounds, do you think I will need one, or do you think I will be ok? If I do need one, are they discreet about it?

Thanks for your input.

Thanks for all the great advice and support guys, I really appreciate it. The trip isn't until the 3rd week of April, so I think I am going to try and get in to see my doctor and see if he will prescribe something to help me relax.

Also, thanks for the heads up about restriction being greater while flying. I will definitely keep that in mind and be careful.

I too was very fearful of flying. The first time I flew I had gotten some valium from my doc, just 2 pills, one for the ride there and one for the ride back. Turned out I took the one for the ride there but then I didnt need it for the ride back. I have also not noticed one bit of difference in my band when I fly.

Sometimes, but not always. So far I can't really make any connections. I can fly somewhere 10 times, and maybe 6 or 7 of them I'm really really tight. Sometimes it begins while in the air, sometimes it begins a day or two after landing. I used to think it was destination. I do a lot of travel to Florida, so maybe the humidity, but then I'd think it would be more consistent. *shrug* Chicago is another common destination for me. Of the last 10 times I've been, maybe 4 I've had trouble. Once started during drink service en route - I could barely get my apple juice down. But I was ok a day after landing. It really makes no sense.

I know. It's so weird. I was a lot more careful on the way home from my last trip after having to sleep sitting up.

I have to fly again in May. I take a little tiny plane to get to Portland. It doesn't go as high so I am able to eat in Portland during my lay over. On the way home is another story. I fly from Phoenix to Portland and I can not eat at all during the lay over. I can even feel my band like it's squeezing my stomach.