Berry

Still on modified liquids (will this ever end?) and I was going to have tomato soup. If I crush some ritz crackers in the soup and let them get a little soggy would it be okay for the band?

I was banded on the 19th and I had liquid roxicet as well. Stuff works great! My pains were worse day 4-7. Most of it was the gas pains, I had the pains in my shoulder and neck.

Has anyone else had trouble removing the sticky residue from the skin caused by the steri-strips? How can I remove it??

Once you get to the mushie stage is it normal for the weight to start creeping back up?? I'm still on protein shakes, mashed potato, etc. and I've gained back 3 lbs in a week. I'm getting nervous!! I don't want to gain all the weight I've already lost. Do I need to start adding in exercise now to keep it down?

I can agree with you Cheri about them being vague. I felt the same way. The same with after surgery. They don't prepare you for what type of symptoms or pain you will have when you get home. If I had a list of all the possible symptoms before coming home, I would have been more prepared and not as scared. But doing your homework through this website will help you. Keep us posted!

CLC, The shoulder pain was the worst. The doctors certainly don't warn you ahead of time and then they don't send you home with any type of possible side effects. If I got a paper describing all the possible side effects I wouldn't have been such a worry wart!!!

HI Sweet, I'm 11 days post-op now and I'm doing great. Like other people have said, the gas pains are the worst. Takes about a week for them to go away, at least with me but everyone is different. I'm still on a modified liquid diet but I can also have other things other than liquid like cottage cheese & yogurt, both of which I don't like so that didn't help! But I am allowed to have runny mashed potatoes which are delicious!! I have one more week of this and then on to mushies. I also got my surgery done at Beth Israel and had a good experience. The nutritionist is wonderful, my doctor was nice and the care I got at the hospital was wonderful as well. I know surgery is a tough thing but if it's going to improve your life in the longrun, I would suggest doing it. They suggest going on a two week pre-op diet with 2-3 Protein shakes per day and one sensible meal. I had surgery on March 19th, I had to be there at 6:00 a.m. and my surgery was at 7:30 a.m. I was in the recovery room from 10-12 and rolled into my room around 12:00 with yummy pain meds. I was very scared too and I cried before surgery but I made it through!! If I can do this, you can do it too! Lot's of support from your family and this website and you can do it!

I've eaten poached eggs before but never a soft boiled egg. I'm on my 11th day of post-op and have had runny mashed potato but I thought maybe I could try a soft boiled egg. Will that go down easy or is it a chew, chew, chew item??

Teach, My church is also a Congregational UCC Church. We usually have communion the first Sunday of each month but during Lent we have had it every Sunday. This will be the first Sunday since being banded I will be back at church. We have the bread and the cup separately as well. We take a small piece of bread and dip it into the cup of juice. I suppose I could do it if I just took a small piece of bread and just took a nibble from it.

Ya, I think I'll pass. I don't think I'm ready yet. Thanks for your help!

My family and I were invited to a persons house tomorrow night. I'm on my 10th day of post-op. I don't really know these people all that well, know them from church and they are having a few other people over as well. So...what do I do? Do I go and not eat?? OR, decline the invitation. Such a dilemma!!!!

Yes, the bread is small pieces, not wafers. Good idea, I will do a trial run before church!

I belong to a Congregational church and we have Communion once per month. Since I'm still in the post-op stage how can I eat the bread? Actually, even when I'm ready to eat "real food", can I have communion? The bread is broken up into pieces and then we dip it into grape juice. Thanks!

I feel as though I might be starving once I can eat "real food". If I probably won't be able to touch any of these products I'm going starve. I'm a very picky eater. I'm not big on vegetables. I don't know what I'm going to do.

I know that most people can't tolerate breads. What about these other bread type items; French Toast pancakes Waffles Muffins Pastries English Muffins French fries Pita bread Flat bread Pie crust Stuffing Oh, one more thing, would baked Beans be considered a mushie?? Thanks!

Dina how are you feeling? I was banded 9 days ago and I feel your pain! I hope you are feeling better!!

I'm sort of pickey when it comes to Chinese food. I would love to have some once I can eat "real food". I normally eat the appetizers...chicken fingers, steak terriyaki, fried rice, boneless pork etc. Will I still be able to eat all of that? I'm going to find eating very small portions and chew, chew, chew very difficult!! I'm so use to inhailing my food!!!!

Meredith, Unlike most people, I had a hard time post-op. I had surgery on March 19th and here it is 9 days later and I'm just starting to feel better. I took all last week off and then I decided to take another week. I thought for sure I would have bounced right back but I didn't. Good luck

What about having the tuna or chicken salad on wheat crackers? Can most people tolerate wheat crackers, wheat thins, Ritz or something similar?

I know we are suppose to chew, chew, chew. But is it small bites too or regular bites with the chew, chew, chew? How big are the pieces of food suppose to be?

Oh Dawn, I hear ya!! This stage is the pits. What stage are you on the mushie stage or the liquid stage? I'm on modified liquids which I guess can include watered down potatos, very similar to cream of wheat consistency. After sticking with pudding, jello, protein drinks etc. the potato was scrumptious! I can't wait until the mushies!!!

Would baked beans be considered mushies??? I love baked beans!!!

Okay, I'm posting AGAIN!! I know that most people can't tolerate breads. What about these other bread type items; French Toast Pancakes Waffles Muffins Pastries English Muffins French fries Pita bread Flat bread Pie crust Stuffing Thanks!

I'm newly banded and having quite reached the "real food" stage yet. But by mid-April I will. I always end up attending many BBQ's over the summer. What will I be able to eat? The norm that is served at BBQ's are burgers, hotdogs, steak, potato salad, tossed salad. Will I still be able to eat these types of foods??

Oh, I'm going to find it very difficult to eat tuna or chicken salad alone and not on any type of bread!!! I like them both so I guess I will have to do it. After getting on to "real food" I know most people can't tolerate bread. What about eating some type of pita bread or the flat roll up bread? I also saw that someone ate stuffing, I didn't think this would be tolerable.