Somebody enlighten me...I was under the impression we were to continue liquids after being banded to avoid being sick, vomiting and ultimately causing the band to slip or pull out the stitches.

But if we're not sick, what is the purpose of this continued liquid only diet? Clearly the band has nothing to do with our initial 10, 20, 30 or even 40 pounds being lost.....Anyone know the answer to this?

to give time for healing and to prevent all the issues that u described above

What I don't get is why some Drs. have their patients eat soft foods right after the operation. I know for sure there is a highly regarded Dr. here in Houston, who has patients digest eggs before they can be cleared for discharge? So if the reason is really healing the stomach, then what happens to those folks and their stomachs?

Good observation, I've noted the same about the pre-op diet. While I can appreciate that one certainly loses weight eating no calories, it can't be as important as some say else all doctors would require it, right? Working with doctors for a living, I tend to believe that often doctors tend do what they've always done, or think just because that was the norm 15 years ago....you see where this is going....In any case, it can't be a bad thing so I will do my best, but if I am so hungry I'm miserable then I'm going to eat something..cautiously.

p.s. One poster before said it was just another way for "fat-hating surgeons" to make us suffer! LOL

What I don't get is why some Drs. have their patients eat soft foods right after the operation. I know for sure there is a highly regarded Dr. here in Houston, who has patients digest eggs before they can be cleared for discharge? So if the reason is really healing the stomach, then what happens to those folks and their stomachs?

absolutely true mattie...and thats a question i had as well..how some docs do somethings totally different than others..I think it comes down to experience and to what theyve seen in other patients before...they stick to whatever have worked for them

The reasoning that was given to me was that when we ingest god of any sort it causes it stomach to contract. That contracting can cause the new and fresh stitches to pull abd possibly become undone. Its to let your body heal....and I feel that some doctors dont know the reasoning for why they do or say the things they do....

No clue. I've known people who were right back on solids within a day or two, although that sounds kind of extreme. My doctor had me back on solids within two weeks. I went through all the stages (liquids, mushies, etc.) but only a couple days at each stage.

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I think it's related to the surgeon, and his/her success rate. Those who are more cautious probably want to minimize the chances for problems, whereas those who aren't as experienced, or who aren't as concerned may be a bit more cavalier in allowing patients to move on to solids or whatever shortly after surgery.

My surgeon insists on three weeks of liquid diet after surgery. That liquid diet is Protein shakes, broth, and Water. Period. No pureed anything, no Soup you can't see through, no yogurt, Jello or popsicles. He won't even allow patients to drink through a straw. His logic: He uses more stitches to put the band in place, so there is more to heal. He doesn't want slippage or stitches pulling out, so the band needs time to fully heal into place.

After that three weeks, he skips patients directly to soft foods. No mushie stage. And three weeks after that, he gives the first fill (liquid diet for two days), then allows the patient to go on to solid foods.

His success rate is virtually 100%. I can't argue with that kind of number.

Dave

I think it's related to the surgeon, and his/her success rate. Those who are more cautious probably want to minimize the chances for problems, whereas those who aren't as experienced, or who aren't as concerned may be a bit more cavalier in allowing patients to move on to solids or whatever shortly after surgery.

His success rate is virtually 100%. I can't argue with that kind of number.

Let's not malign doctors just because their pre or postop diets differ. According to the American Journal of Bariatric Medicine (AJBM), "the success of a patient depends on an individual’s commitment to incorporate a plan of healthful eating and physical activity." Even they don't claim it has anything to do with whether the patient is on a liquid diet for a few weeks postop.

In the bariatric field, 41-61% of surgeries are considered successful with success being defined as " maintaining a weight loss of 50% of excess body weight or more for five years. Excess body weight is defined as “total preoperative weight minus ideal weight."

If your doctor has an almost 100% success rate in an industry where the success rate is 41-61%...well, that's...astounding.

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Let's not malign doctors just because their pre or postop diets differ. According to the American Journal of Bariatric Medicine (AJBM), "the success of a patient depends on an individual's commitment to incorporate a plan of healthful eating and physical activity." Even they don't claim it has anything to do with whether the patient is on a liquid diet for a few weeks postop.

In the bariatric field, 41-61% of surgeries are considered successful with success being defined as " maintaining a weight loss of 50% of excess body weight or more for five years. Excess body weight is defined as "total preoperative weight minus ideal weight."

If your doctor has an almost 100% success rate in an industry where the success rate is 41-61%...well, that's...astounding.

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I was not maligning anyone. I was saying some doctors are more cautious than others, and mine happens to be extremely cautious. That was all I said.

My 100% reference was about band placement and slippage, and his approach to how he allows his patients to progress into living with the band. It was not about how well that person performed after the fact. It was about healing from surgery.

Let's not split hairs, ok?

Dave

My 100% reference was about band placement and slippage, and his approach to how he allows his patients to progress into living with the band. It was not about how well that person performed after the fact. It was about healing from surgery.

If I misunderstood your post, then my apologies.

My surgeon is one who has us back on solids 2 weeks after surgery when I checked his stats (deaths, after surgery complications, etc.) and also has a very high success rate re: slippage, etc.

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how can you check your doc's stats?