Does anyone on here dive? Where you able to dive to depths after the band?

My doc says that the band should be ok with diving but I am wondering if anyone has already tried it.

Thanks!

I asked my doc about that, too. And I don't even scuba! I also asked him about flying, even though I know people fly home from Mexico after having it done. He said it isn't a problem. I do remember seeing an earlier post from someone who was going to be spending a long vacation at a high altitude. Perhaps that person will respond, and hopefully someone who as actually been scuba diving since being banded.

Good Luck!

I might be able to help on the diving question. I'm a retired Navy Deep-sea diver and former instructor at the Navy Diving Salvage Training Center. I was banded on Tuesday (Aug 5th). The assumption is that you have gotten past the healing process and you are respecting your physical limitations.

The stomach and esophagus are gas filled spaces that are equalized with ambient pressure via the regulator on your tank. If you breath normally there should be no expansion or contraction of the stomach or esophagus. Now, on the other hand, if you were to go to a depth and take a breath, then ascend without exhaling, your stomach would expand and there would be a risk to the lap band. In that case though, the greater risk would be in an arterial gas embolism.:thumbup:

This also applies to flying.

So yes, you can dive without fear of damaging your band or health.

Best,

David

Does anyone on here dive? Where you able to dive to depths after the band?

My doc says that the band should be ok with diving but I am wondering if anyone has already tried it.

Thanks!:thumbup:

make sure your band is empty. had problems with it tightening up on its own.......plus flying

See, I KNEW there would be someone with some expertise in the area!:thumbup:

Fellow Navy....good to meet you.

Well next time I go diving maybe I will have a story to tell all.

I did fly home from Mexico after my band was put in and it wasn't a problem at all. Heck I got to go on with the "special assistant" because I wasn't moving so good yet :thumbup:

Thanks to all that did respond!