Eating Solids Three Weeks After Surgery

[s2trees 0]

I am on my third week having just done my LapBand. The first week was hell, couldn't move, couldn't laugh, cough or even sneeze without being in pain. It would take me at least two hours to finish a small drinking yoghurt beverage. After my first week of being on a strict liquid diet I felt a LOT better. Coming onto my second week I started thickening my Soups and I felt my body was ready to take on mushie/pureed foods. So I tried that and I felt great. My father had stomach stapling; and my sister also did the LapBand. So I have been exposed to the rules of chewing and not overeating. I wanted to know was there anyone who has experienced that their body was ready for solids before week 6? I am eating everything (as in Solids on my 3rd wk) but I am chewing 'til its mush in my mouth and I get full on 1/2 cup of food. I have not vomited at all not even before my surgery. I tried explaining this to my sister but she told me to stick to mushie foods (which not fill me up) and stay away from solids. Another question is how common is heartburn? I get it when I eat too much. i thought it was bc i was eating solids too early but when I ate sloshy porridge I still got heartburn.

sorry for the long post; but I really don't have anyone patient enough to discuss my problems with.

[Steff86au 0]

Maybe it's different in Aus, but my surgeon has me on liquids for 2 weeks then mushies for 2 weeks then most solids after that... I guess every surgeon is different, maybe wait another week or call your clinic to check...

[elcee 3,343]

I am sure I could have eaten solids long before 6 weeks. In fact I am sure that most bandsters feel that way.

The reason for the graduated diet is not so much for you to progress until you feel that you are ready for solids it is so that your band can heal into place properly. Part of your stomach has been stitched over the band to help prevent a future slip. When you eat solid foods your stomach churns to digest them, this process can disturb the healing and although you won't feel as though there is anything wrong it could lead to a slip in the future.

Therefore it is important that you follow the diet that your Dr has given you. If for some reason you think you can't then you should talk to your Dr and ask him/her if it is OK to progress sooner.

[honk 780]

As mentioned above most of us felt like they could eat solids earlier than doctors orders. However you should not do it. I asked if I could move to mushies 2 days early and my doctor said Abosulutely NOT. At three weeks I was still on cottage cheese.< /p>

[jennilamb007 10]

I was told after my banding that I could eat soft foods 3-4 days after the surgery (My surgery was 12-22-11). I did, but I wasn't able to eat a lot, maybe a few tablespoons of food. I had a fill earlier this month and I have to say I am not feeling restriction and I get scared that I am eating too much. I do WW and I stay within the points and I am losing 1.5-2 pounds a week. Still, it is the amount that bothers me. I can eat more that a cup of food at a sitting. I know we are supposed to eat a half cup. I get scared that I am overeating and hurting my band. I don't feel uncomfortable or pain or anything but the anxiety of screwing this up is making me feel sick. I get my nutrients, I take Vitamins, I eat good Protein and veggies. I did have a lousy weekend of eating crap (I had a burger). I am usually positive and ready to make it work but I have to say I read everyone doing liquids for a month or so after surgery and I didn't do that and I worry about messing this all up. Today I am having my Protein Bar for Breakfast, a WW meal for lunch (I usually cook, but this week I am working days so I don't leave the office) and probably fish and veggies for dinner. Maybe I am being a paranoid worry wart for nothing and am borrowing trouble, but I really want this to work and I want to be healthy. Any words of wisdom? I appreciate all comments. Thanks, Jen

[Jess55 97]

I'm sure I could have eaten solids at like 4 days post op, I felt fine besides soreness at that point, but I knew I needed to heal so I followed my docs orders ( for the most part, I admit to having some chips 11 days post op on new years but I went right back to the post op diet). Though I was a lucky one, I didn't go through bandster hell. I wasn't hungry between meals til about 4-5 months post op.

So I know you can eat solids, but I recommend following your docs orders and healing and go back to eating mushies (or whatever you're supposed to be on)

[BlueTattoo 43]

My doctor have me 1 week of liquids 1 weeks purée / mushie food 1 week soft /semi solids. Then after that I go straight solids. I've been leery of solids but I tried a few small pieces of chicken last night and did fine. I got full a lot faster I noticed. But most of my diet I still keep soft or semi solid. It seems all docs are different.

[twi 40]

You might want to go on to you tube and see a lapband surgery. Then you can see how the stitches are placed around band to hold it in place. The diet is to protect stitches until the heal. If the break you could slip. There is a very good video on there also about a repair on band that has sliped. Not trying to be harsh but the diet is very important!

[jennilamb007 10]

BlueTattoo thank you for your post. I have to remember that all docs are different. I have to remember that my doctor has had a great success rate and that when a lot of people didn't have to be strict pre-surgery, I was doing 3 weeks of Clear Liquids. I always do as he asks me to do, but I was thinking that maybe with what I was reading that I misunderstood him. A phone call to the office to make sure I was doing the proper thing made me feel a lot better. For the most part, I chew things up like mad until they are nearly dust before swallowing. I did try some steak and couldn't get it to break down the way I like and ended up just spitting it out. I stick with fish and chicken mostly. Chicken gets dry as all get out when you chew it up properly. I am so scared of getting stuck that I probably overdo it on the chewing, but it makes a small bread plate seem like a serving platter by the time I finish. Again, thank you for reminding me that all docs are different and that I probably should worry. Take care, Jen

[s2trees 0]

Thank You All for responding =] I really appreciate it.

[sherrypep 91]

I was banded 12/21 and my Dr. let me do soft foods as tolerated after day 11. I am still eating soft mostly soft foods because of fear mostly but I like it that way. I have had no bread, and the only meat I have eaten is Chili and very soft chicken in soups.When I try heavier foods I don't get stuck they just don't sit well and I become a bit nauseated. I am able to eat more at a sitting lately so I am looking forward to my first fill on 2/1. Good luck.

[cutecamille 2]

banded 12/22. My doctor gave me the ok to eat solids after my two week appointment. I have not become nauseous, but I felt uncomfortable while eating an english muffin. Everything else has been fine. I had my first fill today. 2 days liquids & 2 days mushies. I do not eat Pasta, stopped eating it a few years back. I loved bread soooo much I made a choice to drop my least favorite carb. I have not had biscuits, pancakes, or cornbread. I have had a footlong (not at one sitting) turkey, cheese, lettuce, light mayo, hot and I did not have trouble. It took me all day to eat it. I eat less, but I eat food. When my stomach feels full (no growling) I stop. No more candy for me. I am losing slow, ( 1/2-1lb per week) but I'm losing so I am VERY happy. I walk my treadmill. I keep my calories under 1200. I wasn't losing when I was 500-800 calories per day. I was just "maintaining", which I definitely did not want. I read an entry on the forum and a member stated that she had one day almost every two weeks where she reached her calorie max and the other times she stayed below and the weight came off. This made sense because your body never gets a chance to get used to what you are doing. My doctor had me watching my total fat and Protein per serving of food, and today he added to make sure that the total carbs are half of the total protein. I do a lot better with guidelines so I'm happy that he gives me some guidance in that regard. Good luck all!