Unfill before Trip??

[lauragshsu 6]

And no it is not necessary to unfill before a flight. If you are newly banded with little fill then the air in the band may expand. If you have fill the saline itself can't expand. My Dr also told me that if a problem occurs when you fly which it shouldn't then you will be fine once you touch the ground again.

I had a marathon trip in Dec/Jan( 3 flights total 24 hours travelling each way) and there were no problems whatsoever.

Staying hydrated is important and yes that means Water not alcohol.[/QUOTE]

Dang! I'm flying with a two year old by myself and now I can't drink! :scared2:

[getnthere 0]

Im not saying to unfill for every trip or vaction but I sure wish I had. One day of not enough sent me on a downward slope with my band and it took days to fix. I did not fly I drove on my trip. Its just harder to keep up with things when your trying to have a good time. I do agree that we have to learn that holidays and vacations should be focused aroun food. But reality is when your in those situations thats what it is. I got through Thanksgiving and Christmas fine but traviling was a whole different story. Its just a personal choice. Do what you thinks best and it will be the right one for you.

[TinaM 0]

Boy this has gotten crazy-

I had surgery on 12/15/2009 - I have made 6 (business/vacations) trips in the US since then a total of 12 flights no unfill everything was fine. Doc asked me to keep Water on hand and sip thru out the flight but do not eat during flight as your band could get tighter.

Vacations outside the US - my doc said as long as there were good medical services he would not recommend an unfill 'just to enjoy' food more.

I'm planning a large trip in October and part of it includes a developing country - he is considering doing an unfill just because if there are any complications I will have no way to get medical treatment from a bariactric surgeon without traveling 7 hours by plane back to New Zealand. We will make that decision as I get closer to travelling seeing how I progress etc..

Hope this helps you - but in the end its a decision for you and your surgeon.

[lsprrnbr 0]

I would fear two things. One, once youv'e done this well, how long before you start filling and unfilling for every little excuse? And two, what if you never get your restriction back properly? You could start a whole fill/unfill cycle, I've seen it happen on here sooooo many times over the years, when people have been unfilled, not always for this reason but because of reflux etc.

I feel very strongly that learning that holidays and celebrations are not solely about food is a major goal. You can enjoy them, try out the various foods on offer but not overeat. There's no need to unfill to enjoy your holiday eating - unless you're VERY tight to begin with.

QUOTE]

This.

I think that the band is supposed to be used as a tool to modify our behavior. It is not designed to be filled/unfilled at will. I understand the desire to be able to enjoy the festivities. I am leaving on a trip in a week that will include lots of good food and drink. I plan to be smart about what I eat/drink and continue to work with my band. Part of living with the band is learning how to handle ALL of life's events and how to enjoy them in moderation. Good luck to you!

[chrisdirects 0]

I'm adding my vote to the "don't unfill" camp.

I can't speak for anyone else, but if I were being really honest, I would say that being able to ease off my eating plans for convenient reasons, i.e. vacations, holidays, and the like, was a major contributor to how I got here in the first place. To give in to that temptation now would just be an act of self-sabotage.

Our social lives shouldn't be wrapped around the mechanical act of eating/drinking. Eating good food is a pleasure, and always should be, but for me, it's just as wonderful in the small amounts my band allows me.

I would say, leave your band be, go on vacation, enjoy your time with your friends, and let the food be a secondary part of the experience. If you're worried about getting stuck, be all the more careful about what you eat and how you eat it.

Wishing you all the best!

Christine

[BetsyB 9]

I'm in the don't-unfill camp. Unless I were genuinely concerned about the availability of medical care, I would never have an unfill before a trip.

I'd rather spend a vacation on Clear Liquids than give up what I've worked for months to achieve, restriction-wise.

Continuing on the path toward your goal is more important than momentary pleasures from food. Particularly when there are so many other things to do, on vacation, to nurture yourself.

[IAmJacksLapBand 5]

I too am traveling the first week of June to Disney World. I am also only a few weeks post-op. My apetite is returning and my restriction is low. I am in the opposite camp of the creator of this thread. I wish I had more restriction so I may not be tempted to over eat.

I am progressing well and want to make sure I stay on track even when on vacation. I have already started to plan my meals and portions from the different restaurants.

I am sure I can have a great time, enjoy the theme park food I love in smaller portions, and still lose weight. I am just thinking about all that great walking I will be doing. Plus my friends who will be seeing me there know about my band and are excited to see how my eating style has changed.

I am concerned with with plane flight though. I only have about 3 cc in my band from when it was placed. So I will try and stick to Water on the flight. No single serving wine or airline Snacks for me.

[wish412 0]

If I may throw my two cents worth in here,,,I travel quite a bit, flight, and by car,,and have never had to have an unfill, or even noticed a problem except for two occasions. Once while in Maine I went to an ice cream place, and forgot that I had one of those tummy trimming undergarments, and could not even get icecream to go down,,so while eating, don't wear restrictive clothing,,will squeeze what may already be a tighter than usual band go crazy,,,the other time I was in south Louisiana and had way too much shrimp and cajun stuff, and threw up for two straight days,,thought I was gonna die alone in a hotel room,,so alway make sure you travel with the liquid phenergan or some other anti nausea meds from your doctor so that if you do get sick away from home you can get some relief before the vomiting causes a slippage. Your doc will gladly give you something to carry with you when you travel. I got Patches when I went deep sea fishing, but did not need them. Hope that helps some,,and have a great time catching up with friends, don't let the band even be an issue!!!!!!miz-boo

[sil 0]

I say stat like you are,no unfill.i am going on a long (greyhound bus)trip to alabama.me an my daughter, i will be on that bus for a day&a half. to get to our destination.i just got a fill in may.i have some restriction.i get another fill at the end of july.when i come back.you could just eat a small portion of this an that.i had to learn before the holidays.you will survive.i had never had to unfill.so i say keep your fill,an enjoy yourself.before you know it,you are gonna say (wow)that was easy.have a great vacation.

[lauragshsu 6]

I would say no to an unfill, but I don't enjoy having needles put in my stomach, so I may be biased.

[JoJo1 0]

I agree with the poster who suggested that this is how we got where we are in the first place. "I'm on a diet but I plan to have fun just this once"!! Sound familiar? I think you are over worrying the situation. You will be fine. Just remember to chew chew chew. Especially the first two bites. The flight will not be a problem!! Hugs!!!