Flying????

[Jkgbander 9]

I am a newbie only been banded for 3 weeks now, but I have a question. I have read on here and also visited with a friend who recently flew to Vegas from Dallas and upon landing she discovered she was really in pain!!!!! Bad Pain!!!! So she had to go to ER and have cc's removed from band. She said that didn't really help that much and she was still in pain on return flight. Help people I am scared now to ever fly again, not that I am in the air all the time but if something happened or wanted to take a fast get away I am so skeptical now I don't think you could drug me and get me on a flight! Thanks!!!

[soanl1412 71]

I took a three hour flight 1 week after my surgery and I was perfectly fine good luck!

[Roo13 5]

I was banded the end of March and had to fly the middle of April and didn't have any problems at all. I had not had any fills yet, they wanted to wait until I got back, so it might be different now.

[gowalking 10,790]

I am a newbie only been banded for 3 weeks now, but I have a question. I have read on here and also visited with a friend who recently flew to Vegas from Dallas and upon landing she discovered she was really in pain!!!!! Bad Pain!!!! So she had to go to ER and have cc's removed from ban d. She said that didn't really help that much and she was still in pain on return flight. Help people I am scared now to ever fly again, not that I am in the air all the time but if something happened or wanted to take a fast get away I am so skeptical now I don't think you could drug me and get me on a flight! Thanks!!!

Not sure if your friend ate on the plane but my dr. said no food 1 hour prior, no eating in the air, and no food 1 hour after landing. liquids are OK. I've flown several times since being banded and have never had a problem. It's hard sometimes to say no when they offer you a snack, but I'd rather be hungry than get sick. Check with your dr. to confirm his/her recommendation and don't stress about flying.

[gigglypug 77]

Was banded on May 15th and since then have flown from SoCal to Oregon and back, Arizona and back and Minneapolis and back without any bad effects. Heading to Ecuador next week, for something a little more challenging/longer....

Having said that, everyone seems to have different challenges/issues....and, if you are anxious or stressed about flying, it could easily become a self-fulfilling prophecy. I travel for business, so I don't have much of a choice, but even if that were not the case, I'd hate to limit my options to those reachable by car...

[stept04 465]

I just got a fill from my Dr. yesterday and they mentioned that if I was going to fly either get some Fluid removed or not eat or drink anything 2 hours before and up to 2 hours after. It has to do with the air pressure in the plane because your band is pressurized and your band will feel tighter than it is. I know there is a lot of different answers so the best bet is to ask your doctor before you fly.

~~~Stephanie

[LeeB1946 261]

My doctor's instructions no flying within 2 weeks of fill. Was to have fill and then flight 2 weeks and one day later, but PA said no fill until I got back. It had been almost 7 weeks from my last fill until I took the flight and I was in the air about 3 hours. No pain, but tight enough that I did not want to eat only drink liquids until the next afternoon. Glad I did not have the fill before I left.

[blondegal_ 1,028]

Flew DFW to London (and back) and my doctor gave no restrictions nor did I have any issues. Was banded in 12/12 and have had fills.

(And I usually always support the idea that one should follow doctor's orders but I just don't "get" the ones about no drinking. That would have meant near 12 hours without Water. That just doesn't seem right to me.)

[Soulshine76 11]

I flew the day after surgery and right after fills. I drank and ate before flight, but only drank during flights because my doctor did say the band tightens due to the pressure in the air. I never felt any pain or pressure

[cgmomma 6]

I'm a flight attendant and I eat and drink before, during and after my flights. I have to trust my own body, because if I followed these rules I'd go hungry and be dehydrated all day. I fly anywhere from 8-12 hours in one day so I just follow my body cues. Trust your instincts!

[CHEZNOEL 4,061]

All I can say is that my surgeon told me that flying would have no effect on my band because the cabin is pressurized to normal levels. I have flown many, many time with no problems. One suggestion is to take a bag of Protein powder with you on the plane and mix it with milk or Water.

I have flown to and from Hawaii... it is 13 hours total, you cannot simply not eat for that long. At least I cannot with getting the shakes. Consider that doctors may be erring on the side of caution, but the physics does not add up.

[aviva1979 375]

Just wanted to thank everyone on this chain. I travel fairly frequently for work and I have been wondering how it will feel.

[LeeB1946 261]

One of the written instructions I got upon leaving the hospital was "no airline food." No time restrictions implied, just "no" airline food. I laughed and said was this for wls patients or the world in general. I came up with the around the world diet. Stay airborne for 3 weeks with only Water and you will walk off the plane 30 pounds lighter. I think each and every surgeon has different ideas about the flying thing. I know they sure do about pre op and post op diets, etc.