My friend had her band done 1 week and 2 days ago..she has ate 2 small shrimps and now wanted a couple chicken fingers...Now I had my band done in Jan and was on liqs then soft foods for 4 weeks... I am telling her dont do it because she had a awful time after surgery because of her breathing.from her having asthma I am trying to tell her dont do anything to screw this healing time up because you wont be able to go through another surgery at this time...So my question is is she really doing harm if she eats reg food here or there? I just dont tknow the exact reason for liqs...If any one knows please let me know so I can show her this..Just worred she cant handle another surgery at this time..

Because during the surgery everything is sewn into place. The body needs time to heal. If you start sending food through before the body is ready for it you risk popping the stitches.

Do you and your friend have the same surgeon? Not all bariatric doctors have the same refeeding protocol.

But basically, the reason for a gradual return to regular food is to give the stomach a time to rest and heal. When the band is placed, a section of the stomach is pulled up over the band and stitched into place. The stomach works to start the digestive process by moving food around like a churn. The movement is in wave like motion called peristalsis. When we are on liquids, there isn't much peristalsis.. but with solid foods, the movement increases.

Four weeks of liquid is a long time. I understand your friends frustration. My surgeon has his patients back on regular, but soft, foods in 2 weeks. Some bariatric surgeons just put all of their patients on the same after surgery diet.. no matter which surgery they had. That's the lazy way.

I was on liquids for 1 week, mushies for 1 week then solid food. I had no problems.

Even with the same doctor they can have differences between people. The doctor needs to assess each surgery and make recommendations based on how smoothly the operation went. So a doctor could have a basic protocol that they follow for most of their patient, but need to modify things based on the actual surgery.

I for one plan on following all rules my team puts forth. For the amount of time and money I am putting into the band I am not going to do anything that may cause a problem.

Even with the same doctor they can have differences between people. The doctor needs to assess each surgery and make recommendations based on how smoothly the operation went. So a doctor could have a basic protocol that they follow for most of their patient, but need to modify things based on the actual surgery.

I for one plan on following all rules my team puts forth. For the amount of time and money I am putting into the band I am not going to do anything that may cause a problem.

Good for you. That is exactly what we all should do.

My friend had her band done 1 week and 2 days ago..she has ate 2 small shrimps and now wanted a couple chicken fingers...Now I had my band done in Jan and was on liqs then soft foods for 4 weeks... I am telling her dont do it because she had a awful time after surgery because of her breathing.from her having asthma I am trying to tell her dont do anything to screw this healing time up because you wont be able to go through another surgery at this time...So my question is is she really doing harm if she eats reg food here or there? I just dont tknow the exact reason for liqs...If any one knows please let me know so I can show her this..Just worred she cant handle another surgery at this time..

Your friend is very lucky to have such a good & concerned friend like you!! I had the craving but it passed (chicken fingers) It was mainly me being "head hungry" not stomach hungry". I was banded on 7/14/11 and for 2wks prior and 1wk after i ate nothing but liquid(soup-protein shakes) now being 11 days out ive started sampling a few more things~all in moderation~

I know how frustrating the liquid diet is but she needs to stay on her doctors diet. I was on clears for 7 days, full liquids 7 days, and then yoghurt/fat free cottage cheese for 7 days. So no, chicken fingers would have been out. Can she have jello. I personally refused to eat jello but it would have been better than chicken.

It is frustrating, especially whrn i have had much bigger gi surgery involving first making an ileostomy and rerouting my plumbing and then reversing that last friday and both times was on fluids, and not even clears, for only a day or two. I mean i had bits cut and removed! Nonetheless the band needs to heal really well and scar tissue needs to form to hold it in place and personally i'd rather err on the side of caution. I just dont get going through this surgery and being unable to stick to the post op diet, i really dont. Nobody says you havevto starve, just stick to a certain food texture! but she may not havevthe samebguidelines as you.