I was wondering if anyone has gone up to the mountains at high altitudes and had any problems with their band? I am really concerned that it might make it too tight. Any shared experiences would be appreciated:sad:.

I recently experienced some issues due to a long flight (high altitude for long period of time) that caused my band to tighten up for about 24 hours. I'd been warned in my support group meeting that this might occur, so I was cautious of it. Still, I don't have really tight restriction so I was surprised to find myself unable to eat even Soup after returning from a long day of travel.

I'm not sure about traveling to places of high altitude, but I can attest that it will very likely have some effect on you - so be prepared.

I read that high altitude does not affect the band. I have a fill on friday and immediatly heading to the mountians, so I hope and pray that my band will not be too tight. I'll let you know...

I live at over 5,000 feet altitude and went to the mountains and above timerline to almost 12,000 feet altitude this weekend, and experienced nothing different. I hiked, picnicked, etc. and all was well. Had a piece of KFC chicken so maybe some extra restrction would've been good!

I asked my surgeon about this and he said that the band is filled with saline which isn't affected by changes in pressure the same way that air is (pressure is what you're worried about with changes in altitude). Now, many people do report tighter bands at altitude and after flying. This could be because there is some air in their band or because often dehydration accompany air travel and high altitude. I think this sounds reasonable, and makes total sense. My plan is to ask about air in the band at fills, and to keep on top of hydration when traveling.

Just some food for thought :thumbup:

I live at sea level and am currently on vacation at over 7000 feet in the mountains and my band is DEFINITELY tighter. Altitude obviously tightens the band for some reason but I don't know the science behind it.

I just spent three weeks at 6000' and higher in the mountains and noticed no difference what so ever.

I live at an altitude of about 4700 feet, and just went camping this weekend at Eleven Mile in Colorado. It's altitude is 8,600 feet. I didn't have any issues with being tighter.

We've also camped at O'Haver near Salida CO and no issues either at 9,131 feet.

I think, just like anything with the band, it reacts differently in each person in different settings.

Hi, based on the mixed reviews I thought I’d respond. I got my lap band at NYU by Dr. George Fielding who is a veteran in the field and has the band himself, obviously I have world renowned physicians assisting me. So I’ve had really terrible experiences with changes in altitude, and they last longer than 48 hours, which caused concern each time because these forums tend to say it only lasts 24 to 48 hours. The first time I was 100% sure something was wrong with the band was after when I hiked over 1500 feet up a mountain. Three days later I was in the emergency room and they did all the tests and the lap band was fine and in the same place. I had to have it loosened but that was the first experience that it was so terrible by the third day I could not even drink water without throwing up. The next time was when I came from a flight to Mexico, that was pretty bad but only for about 24 hours, I already knew this might happen so I stayed on liquids. This most recent time I spent four days in the Adirondack mountains, I am now on day four of absolute torture. I was able to eat an avocado at night a day ago, only after drinking some alcohol, however otherwise, I have thrown up absolutely everything including coffee with milk, I can’t even eat soup and I am completely exhausted. Since I’ve been to NYU three times in the past two years after changes in altitude I’m not going to go again because this is the longest time I spent up in the mountains so I’m assuming that’s why it lasts so long — but just beware that different people have different experiences and you have to take a break and really relax and let everything get back to normal if you’re having side effects like me after drastic changes in altitude.