Altitude, Elevation and "Adventure Travel"

[PennyLane 0]

Hi everyone. This may seem extremely silly but I was listening to National Public Radio's "Storycorps" last week and heard this piece (really cute and funny you should listen instead of reading the summary if you're interested) which, although not really related, has gotten me all freaked about about altitude's effect on the band.

First off, I know that we travel in pressurized aircraft these days and I have gone through and read all the old threads about flying and the band. What I'm really concerned about is ground elevation in certain places, places that I really want to go and (long, long story) could actually be employed one day if my life takes a certain trajectory I'm trying for.

Cities with elevations above 5000ft (1500m), and especially above 10,000ft (3000m) seem like they could pose a serious problem. And some of these places (I'm thinking specifically of Kathmandu right now) don't necessarily have the same access to Lap Band doctors as places I'm used to living.

Finally, I've always told myself that the reward for getting fit and healthy would be joining a trek and climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, which is over 19,000 feet (5800m) and....yeah. That's high.

Does anyone have any experience at high or extreme elevations? And if so, how does it effect the band? I have a horrible picture of it getting progressively tighter and tighter and cutting off blood flow to the stomach, or worse, exploding and doing some very, very serious damage.

Please help! Someone's got to live/travel at high altitudes out there!

[whosyadaddy 0]

I travel in planes ALOT for work. Never been a problem. Sometimes i am a little tighter than normal after a flight but no big deal.

[PennyLane 0]

Thanks for your quick response. I understand about flying and the band and I'm ok with the idea of it being a little tight after flying.

But airplanes are pressurized and controlled environments. I'm more curious about high altitude/elevation outside of aircraft, as in if I decided to spend some time in Cuzco, Peru which is over 10,000 feet or go after a life goal and climb Kilimanjaro which is 19,000 feet (I believe).

Will the band pop? Will it be so tight it becomes an emergency situation? Has anyone spent any time at high or extreme elevations?