Please don't jump all over me because I know I should know the answer to one of the pillars of lap-band rules.....

but if you could remind me what the big deal about no liquids before/during/after.

Seems like if I am getting a little "stuck" some water would help.

Look forward to a response. Thank you.

I was advised not to drink 30 minutes before or 30 minutes after eating. As I have become one with my band I find I am fine drinking before I eat. But if I try to drink after I eat, the liquids tend to push up my food and I get to taste it again or worse have to dispose of it... not pleasant.

My Dr and I discussed drinking before eating and he is fine with it but mostly because I have been pretty successful and know my band very well.

If I get stuck which is rare... drinking doesnt help at all and the liquid just comes back up;.

But as we all say...best to check with your Dr. Thats what he is there for.

You make a good point about being one with the band. And of course, we all become one in a different way. I think the doctor's guidelines in the beginning seem to be all encompassing of all patients. And we should all follow our doctors orders. But as we progress down the lapband road towards successful weight loss it seems like most of us discover methods or solutions to enable the band to work with our own bodies and lifestyles. Sometimes a nutritionist might suggest eating a different way or we pick up helpful band friendly advice from forums like this one.

One size does not fit all I think most of us will agree. And I think most doctors would not argue with any patient who strayed from the basic rules of banding surgery as long as the patient is seeing progress and is not eating or behaving in a way that could damage their body or compromise the band.

Being one with the band is a slogan I've seen with most succesful bandsters and is the antithesis of the posts I've read from those who are failing and fight their band.

tmf

Aside from the issue of conflicting/confusing instructions coming from different surgeons, I discovered an extremely persuasive reason to avoid drinking during meals and especially if I was stuck. When my esophagus and upper stomach pouch were busy trying to break down and move my food in a southerly direction, even a small sip of liquid had nowhere to go except back up north and out of my mouth, often taking food along with it for the ride. Which was extremely unpleasant for me - to say nothing of my dining companions.