For those of you who had an unfill for either a vacation and/or cruise, how much would you recommend? I am at 8.75 and can't really eat much that isn't mush. This restriction works for me. However, I am going on a cruise to Alaska the first of May and I would like to be able to eat something. Has anyone done an unfill for this reason and how did it work? I'm getting filled back to normal when I return.

Thanks for your help.

That's funny.. I'm going on a cruise here soon and I want a fill before I leave so I won't want to eat everything. LOL. But I can't get an appnt until I return.. :-(

My doctor says he doesn't do unfills for cruises and vacations, so you might want to check and see if your doctor does. Who knows, by May it might be more lose and you won't need an unfill.

I would agree on both your comments. Thanks. But since I can't eat anything now, I am really running too tight. I have NO desire to overeat. I just wouldn't mind being able to eat SOMETHING.

I will probably not go more loose with my current restriction. My surgeon said that doesn't really happen. I don't agree as it did happen before after about three weeks, but I'm down 62 pounds with only 38 to go to be at a weight I think I was at when I was nine months old.

This isn't something I would do easily or frequently but I've been advised from others who watch me throw my food up daily that I might want to revisit my restriction...at least for the cruise.

This isn't something I would do easily or frequently but I've been advised from others who watch me throw my food up daily that I might want to revisit my restriction...at least for the cruise.

Kandi

Why would you revisit your restriction just for the cruise aspect??

Why wouldn't you revisit it for your health and the health of your band.

If you are too tight you should be getting some taken out - but in no ways should you have any taken out just for vacation purposes imho - that would be defeating the whole purpose of the band.

Good Luck on your decision

the only time i'd recommend an unfill is if you are already very tight.. unfilling for vacation kinda defeats the purpose of the band...

just my opinion....

Honestly, I wouldn't unfill at all. Just before Thanksgiving and Christmas and Easter, I got fills. I only WANTED to eat three to five bites of something before having to stop. Yes, it's awkward and not as much fun, but I've had 32 years of eating like everyone else (and then some). To me, enough is enough.

now seeing that you are overfilled now, i'd get a slight unfill... your original post gave me the impression you wanted an unfill just because you were going on a cruise...

My doctor told me if i go on a cruise or to any remote place I should see him for an unfill in case I have issues. Talk to your doc and do what is right for you.

.3 should work. .5 you will gain a few lbs. Take it from me, I am having plastic surgery soon and .5 was too agressive. Have fun. You will probably only gain 3-5 lbs. Good luck.

Congratulations on your weight loss. From someone who has been struggling to get to the right restriction, I would say don't do it but on the other hand if you're throwing up too often then I say get a little out so you don't have a miserable time while you are away. Enjoy your cruise ! :tt1:

Thanks Julie and everyone else who responded. I guess I am my own worst enemy when it comes to the band. I love the weight loss and don't give myself enough credit as far as making good food choices. I'm on a MISSION and I will succeed. So after throwing up after I ate three peas of my hot bean curd w/peas meal at the Chinese across the street, I called in for a slight unfill tomorrow. I'll probably get back to about 8.3 or so.

Again, thanks for all your words of advice.

I'd say let your doc make a judgement on how much to unfill if you're too tight. If it's an unfill just for a cruise, I'd say don't :tt1:

if you told your doctor you wanted an unfill for a cruise...would he take it out? i'm thinking i probably wouldn't want that doctor...

I am also going on a cruise to Alaska in June. I thought about getting unfilled, but then I thought about the pain it would be to get back up to my level of restriction. They can't put it all back in at once. They have to add 1 cc's or .5cc at a time, which would mean it would take months to get back where I am. So for me, it's just not worth it to get an unfill.

I will find things to do on the cruise that aren't centered around food. Also, I might have 1 more fill before I go depending on if I get to loose before then.

I guess I wasn't very clear in my original post. If I could actually eat solids, I would have no desire for any amount of unfill, cruise or not. But since I can only drink, I will go for the slight unfill in a couple hours. I will ask to go down to 8.25 from 8.75. Normally fills are done by their nursing staff and these "emergency" unfills are done by the surgeons on Friday's as the fill nurses aren't there. There may be some surgical nurses but probably I'll get a surgeon and a lecture for being too tight. Sigh.

Also, I wouldn't mention why I need an unfill other than to say I can't actually eat. I may be dumb, but I'm not stupid. :thumbup:

Take care.

I did get .5 cc removed Friday morning. It was a very good thing for me. I can finally eat solid foods. I also lost another pound. I still only eat very little and only Protein and veggies. Yes, I could eat garbage, but we've all worked too hard to ruin this now. No chips or Cookies or ice cream or anything like that. But eating half of a moist chicken breast tastes like the best ice cream ever when you haven't been able to eat anything solid for two months. I guess I am a slow learner. I'll be fine on my cruise.

Thanks for listening.