getting band ,,,,maybe

I had similar things happen. My diaphragm got damaged horribly from the band. My surgeon placed it incorrectly from the get-go,  but I've known so many people who had similar issues and their bands were correctly placed. My voice changed, too. My esophagus was damaged and I had severe chronic pain the whole time I was banded. I had band surgery about 10 years ago, removed about 8 years ago...still have permanent damage from it. 

I understand where you're coming from. I'm sorry it happened to you, too. 

Thankfully, a lot of doctors are opting to not do bands anymore. 

so sorry to hear it. but its not serious dontchaknow. 

Wait, you don't actually have a band yet, do you? Is that correct?  Reading and researching is one thing, living with a band is an entirely different thing.  I hope you'll reconsider before undergoing surgery. 

I went into banding surgery nonbiased and came out very biased because it's impossible to not have bias toward something that did so much harm to my body. 

The band really is not a good long term option. I say this as a  human being interested in the well being of my fellow human beings. 

I did that years ago.  Bands have the most complications in number.

You do realize, of course, that statistically bands have a higher rate of reflux than sleeves, bypass, or DS.  Right??  You didn't just depend on a band mill and newbies for facts.  I mean... you did research this I am assuming?

The band changes the anatomy of the stomach in a way that a few years post op MOST banded folks have reflux and they can't tolerate any fill in their bands so they have no restriction.  That is when the regain starts.

Your band will be different, I'm just sure of it!

You should know that most ins co's are changing to a once in a lifetime wls.  So if on the sliiiiiiight chance alllllll of us are right and you are wrong and you need a revision down the road, odds are you are looking at self pay.  Oh, you have done your research so I am sure your support group told you of this as well.

There is a difference in the reflux. The way the band is placed keeps the acid at the top of your stomach at all times causing esophageal damage. You prolly will not understand not having a medical education. I will not argue it anymore. Just do some more research. We say these things not to be cruel or biased but to warn those of the facts and statistics. I would not want anyone else to go through what many others have and are going through now due to the band. Please stop taking it so personal. 

I am not harassing you. I am not being belligerent. I certainly do not appreciate being called stupid. Everything I have said is based on facts, personal experience and a medical education. To call me stupid is pretty juvenile. I am done here. You cannot reason with all people. If you do not care to hear the truth then there is no getting through to you. It is your life, your choice. You choose to ignore facts. I choose to leave and not care anymore. 

Let's think about the causes of acid reflux. Obviously, it starts with an over-production of stomach acid, but SOMETHING has to cause it to be pushed upward through the cardiac sphincter---the one at the top of your stomach, between the stomach and the esophagus.

A common cause is a hiatal hernia, a defect in the diaphragm that allows a little bit of the stomach to be pushed up through the diaphragm and into the chest cavity. This causes a tiny bit of stomach to be pinched off and a pouch  to be formed---exactly what the Band is designed to do.

The two most common surgical treatments for acid reflex are 1) repair of the hiatal hernia, or 2) RNY gastric bypass. (Or both!) The repair of the hernia eliminates this tiny, pinched-off bit of stomach, so there's no pressure on the cardiac sphincter. The RNY creates a low-pressure system (because of the always-open stoma at the bottom of the new stomach pouch), thereby encouraging the acid---what little of it is produced in the tiny post-op pouch---to flow DOWNWARD, rather than upward into the esophagus.

So---we've established that it's a high-pressure system that's largely responsible for acid reflux in most people. Now, for the Sleeve---back when I was researching WLS ten years ago, very few people were getting stand-alone Sleeves. I chose the DS, so I have a Sleeved stomach, which completely cured my terrible acid reflux. I personally believe there are two reason for this. 1) Removing 85% of my stomach vastly reduced the production of acid, and 2) my Sleeve was left at a generous 5 ounces. Most DSers or Sleevers I know who are 5 or more years post-op have fairly generous Sleeves and no acid reflux.

However,  the stand-alone Sleeve became more popular. And long-term results started coming in, with some not-so-good long-term stats about regain. The solution? Make smaller Sleeves!

That's when we started seeing an increase in acid reflux and strictures in the VSG/DS population. Suddenly Sleeves were so tiny they were creating a high-pressure system, pushing acid backwards through the cardiac sphincter.

I'm not going to tell you not to get a Band. I am going to tell you to really think long and hard about the consequences of whatever WLS decision you make. It will affect the rest of your life.

One small point I would disagree with you on.

While bands are a high pressure device under the esophagus,  sleeves are not  high pressure, they are a medium pressure procedure.

The difference to the esophagus between a silicone band and stomach tissue do not compare.  However, this is why when the band trashes the esophagus the only fix is bypass, not a sleeve.  A healthy esophagus can handle a sleeve, an unhealthy esophagus cannot.

*My* Sleeve's not a high-pressure system, and I doubt yours is either, given that you got it about five years ago. What I'm saying is that as the trend has been more and more toward making smaller and smaller Sleeves, Sleeves are *becoming* high-pressure systems. Back 5+ years ago, it was exceedingly rare for a Sleeve to develop a stricture, either. I just think the very tiny Sleeves are increased the per centage of Sleevers who have reflux. (Not that that per centage even begins to approach the per centage of Bandsters who have it.)

Nope, I have a 32F which is the smallest the ASMBS suggests and is smaller than most surgeons seem to be doing today.  Most seem to be doing a 34/36.  I still can only eat about 3.5oz of dense protein, once in a blue moon 4oz.  Sleeves are a medium pressure procedure, stomach tissue does not have the same resistance as a silicone band which is a high pressure device.