Hi everyone...I've been reading all of these people struggling with the liquid diets pre and post op and I'm right there with you! Not only was it physically TOUGH for me, it was as equally mentally excruciating for me. I guess getting banded was cutting off my drug of choice...FOOD. So when all of a sudden, I had to go to a pre-op all CLEAR liquid diet, I about couldn't make it, but I did.

Now I am 5 days post op and feeling really well. Except for the longing for palatable food! So i called the dr. office today and she said I could reintroduce creamed Soup..like cream of chicken, pudding, yogurt, icecream and cottage cheese as long as a chewed really well. Well, I started with some cream of broccoli soup that was heaven...ate almost the whole can with the added Water, then 1/2 cup of Mcdonald's soft serve ice cream with an added teasppoon of Peanut Butter added in...then later I was able to eat a cup or so of won ton soup WITH the noodle chewed up really really well. Then to top it all off, my kids were snacking on some ritz crackers and I ate about 10 of those...again, chewed up until they were like soup in my mouth, but still...the whole time I was worried I was screwing up! ANy thoughts on this? I seemed to tolerate everything fine. Is it strange I can consume that much soup in one sitting without it bothering me? Should the crackers have bothered me?

Thanks for any thoughts...you don't know how much better I feel to have finally had some food. I felt like a real person again. My dr. didn't really give me guidelines for calories during this 2wk period.

Lisa

They might not have filled your band much at all for the beginning, they left mine pretty open to start with, to get used to it... that could be.

Right after surgery, your band is not inflated with any saline. Once the stomach swelling goes down, some people feel like they can eat quite a lot, if not normal amounts of food. After five days, it is possible that your stomach swelling has gone down enough to do a can of soup. Hot/warm liquids will most likely always go down a little easier than cold things.

The reducing of the stomach swelling may also explain being able to eat really chewed up crackers and noodles.

The reason you aren't given guidelines in the first two weeks for caloric intake is that most people need that time to heal and can't get enough down to meet more than 600 to 900 calories.

I do know how much better you feel after having some food that required chewing. The day I was able to start chewing again I nearly cried out of being so happy.

Just be aware that this is about changing eating habits forever. The chew-chew-chewing is good, and a skill you must carry with you for the rest of your life. I would, however, watch out for volumes of food. Even though they are liquids, you can over do it (its hard, but possible), and you don't want to screw things up so early.

I would suggest portioning out a small amount of the can of soup, and then eating another small portion as soon as you feel you need it. If I recall correctly, as long as they are clear or thick liquids (since you have been given the go-ahead on the thick liquids) you can have them as often as you need them.

Hope this helps, and welcome to the journey. Follow the rules, exercise regularly and they will become your new habits. Studies show it takes three weeks to make something a new habit. You have chosen a wonderful journey to take, and as long as you listen to your band you will be successful!

Good luck!

Well, I am 3 weeks post op today and I have eaten (small portions of) prime rib, chicken, ceaser salad, bread, tortilla chips. My doc relased me for soft food like mac & cheese and fish at my two week appointment and I seemed to have no problem with those things. So when I went to a family gathering Saturday I just ate what the rest of the family was having, just a smaller portion and chewed, chewed, chewed.

I think each person is different and has to follow the advise of their doc and their body. I would be starving if I was just on full liquids/mushies right now and miserable!! (per the guide I got before surgery suggests I would still be on pureed foods right now)

My surgery was the end of October 2009. I survived the liquid stage. It was hard!!! I've had one fill so far, and am having trouble with some foods not going down. I'm tracking waht I eat, and like you I chew, chew, chew. It's a learning process, but oh so worth it! Hnag in there. It gets better!

Be careful of slider foods such as the creamed soups and ice cream. They go down easy but don't have much protein and are high in calories!