Why not CHEAT??!!?

[ItsDani2u 0]

With your scenario ALL surgeons and dieticians are wrong?

I don't believe anyone stated that. I don't need a devil's advocate. Opinions and judments I can do without, also. I've read enough of that on this site to last a while. I posed a question. It had nothing to do with whether or not you all vote that I stay on liquids or bust a band. Please people, give it a rest. I have a Mother already........blessed to say.

Thank you for the few who provided positive support and stories that relate to what I'm going through.

I know I'm really grouchy right now but I haven't eaten in 7-8 hours and I'm taking in approximately 400-600 calories right now. Way under what I'm used to. I've posted other threads asking for suggestions and didn't get very far.....only a couple posts in a week's time. I have been eating very healthy and I've had more energy than I did before the surgery, despite the caloric restriction. I'm not here to push the limit. I asked a question...I was honest that I've messed up...and I was hoping, at the very least, to learn a little more about the procedure itself and what our bodies go through. I'm not creating a 'let's try and bust our band' club. It's a plus to get a few personal responses that relate to my experience. However, nagging and tuff love don't work for me. Please switch threads if you're going to make this a negative experience.

[ItsDani2u 0]

Dani, a little tip (some disagree with this behavior so you may want to ask your doctor) but when i was on liquids, i would chew up solids and then spit them out, just to the taste in my mouth. It helped me alot. But as i said, there is some different opinions on that.

Thanks for the tip! I may try this when the food police aren't looking, LOL!!

Goodnight all.

[Morsaille 4]

Dani-

Sorry, just reading here and I am curious about the deleted posts although I can guess their content. Educated people deleting posts?

I strikes me as odd that you ask what happens if you cheat, specifically "Why not CHEAT?"

When people chime in with information you say that you are only accepting technical information from medical personnel..Huh? Ask a doctor or three but this is a support group, not an online medical forum.

Then you say that you are looking to be 'scared into compliance', but when you get the info I read that you are not looking for any 'nagging and tuff love'.

How do we help without telling you that what you are doing is OK?

Because that is what I want to type.

I want to help, but what you confess to having done to yourself is not OK (in the medical opinion of 96% of the currently practicing bariatric surgeons).

Sending out only care and concern,

honestly, Brenda

[Marimaru 7]

Here's a good medical reason I was told by my doctor:

He had 2 patients who ate solid food shortly after surgery who busted stitches (the stitches holding the stomach and band together). One had to go in for surgery to fix the stitches, the other decided not to go in for surgery, and when she went back for her fill, she had what he called a "Pelican Pouch", where some of the stomach had slipped through while it was healing, and now was going to stay that way; basically her pouch was bigger than it should have been. In both cases, they caused themselves a decent amount of pain.

I believe that this is a case where everyone heals differently, different doctors have different experiences with how long that takes, and one *could* test the waters and be fine, but if you aren't 'fine' you could truly hurt yourself.

Hope this helps. Can you have yogurt n' stuff? I was allowed that on my liquid diet. And sugar free popsicles.

[waterlily1072 5]

Well, it was my understanding that the stitches need time to heal. My doc ok'd me to soft foods earlier than he originally expected to. He told me to proceed with caution up to solid foods. They also listed fish and tender chicken as soft foods. They do clear liquid 24 hrs, then full liquid, then soft food (like what you could normally eat without teeth), then solids. Now that said, I was ok'd to soft foods early and told to progress with caution towards solids as I felt comfortable. I have had no pain other than port discomfort. Some people heal faster than others and some have more swelling than others. I would think the biggest issue is if that fry were to have caused a PB. I would think PBing or vomitting in the first several weeks would do more damage than progressing a little faster than the next person. Bottom line, do what your doc says, he knows what's best for you.

[S@ssen@ch 745]

The stomach is a muscle. It's smooth muscle which is different than the muscle in your arms and legs, but it's a muscle just the same. The surgeon has secured your band TO the stomach by stitches and in many cases, has actually flapped a small portion of your stomach (muscle) around the band to help keep it secure.

Whenever we eat anything, the muscle contracts to help move the item downward towards the intestines. Now, it has a constriction to restrict it which makes it work a little harder. liquids basically slide right through. Which is why we have to start at liquids first.

It takes the body approximately 6 weeks to heal from surgery, including the stitches that he placed around the stomach. So, the stiches aren't really "set" well until the body has fully healed. By eating more solid items before your doctor recommends, you're making the stomach contract more and putting those stitches at risk for popping out or not securing the band well, also putting you at risk for a slippage later.

Just because you CAN eat the things you are eating, doesn't mean you should. We have all been where you were, where you feel like you want to eat something more substantial than you're doctor has recommended. Stick it out to the best of your ability, it will be best in the long run for you and your band. You have everyone's sympathy with what you're going through even though they may have come down a little hard on you. Call it tough love. Consider this only a short stage in the whole journey. This too shall pass.

[cashley 0]

My doctor said "churning cannot tear your stitches".... the stomach churns even on liquids and that was a myth.

He did say that moving to solids too soon could cause you to throw up (he doesn't use the term PB - I've only heard it here) and that violent action of the stomach muscles could tear the stitches.

He said each person is different (helloooo - we all know this) and that some people can move to solids earlier. I was allowed solids three days post op. I never got sick or had any vomiting until this last fill.

I think that some of you all are "Band Nazi's" and are so full of your own opinions that if people don't do it your way then they are wrong. That attitude is shallow and unattractive. Some people and some doctors do things different and each of us can report our own experiences, our own opinions and maybe even tell someone what our doctor said but we are not here to judge a fellow bandster.

The best advice we can give is call your doctor tell him you're starving and can you move to the next level of food.... that's what I did and I also asked here... but I followed what my doctor said.

[Yoda 0]

wow.

I see we have a lot of ppl who are perhaps a wee bit irritable right now?

C'mon folks...keep it in check!:rolleyes

[waterlily1072 5]

Thank you Cashley and Yoda. I totally agree. We are not here to judge. And our stomachs churn when they growl too, hence my comment about risking a PB being more the reason. Bottom line listen to your doc, and don't judge others. This post and one other have really bothered me in their judgemental response that they have drawn.

[leatha_g 4]

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[K@t 38]

Hi Dani,

I to am on day 3 of the post op liquid diet. I am struggling, not because I'm hungry, but because I want to have different foods. My nutritionist gave a me a strict diet and I am only allowed to drink 3 things. Milk, natural fruit juice with no pulp, and a vegetable Soup...the same soup....

I understand ur having a hard time, and a slip here and there on the liquid phase isn't going to kill any one, however we should do our best to try and stick to what our doctors tell us. As much trouble as I'm having right now I am just hoping and praying I can make it 1 full week with out cheating. Good luck to you and I hope you don't feel to shaken.

[piercedqt78 658]

I was allowed to progress to whole liquids 4 days post op and then soft foods at 10 days post op. My surgeon is one of the most experienced in Chicago and he is very well respected. I know that every doctor is different. I was told the post-op diet was to prevent vomiting not to stop the stomach from churning. I was told to avoid chicken and turkey as they were the most likely to cause a problem. I was told that ground beef was the best way to start. I was also told that adding mashed potato flakes to the chicken broth to thicken it and that helped with the hunger pain. ~Mandy

[ItsDani2u 0]

Thanks for the great information. I really do appreciate it!! :eek:

[omamoon 0]

Dani, Someone posted a link to a great video of a live LB surgery from Women's and Brigham Hosptial in Boston. In it they state that their patients stay on Clear Liquids for less than a day, but that the main objective is to prevent vomiting or retching to prevent band slippage. We have been conditioned to treat doctors as Gods and their words as manna from heaven. By all means, follow their advice to the extent you feel it is healthy for you and the band. Having had the surgery on the same day and the same place as you, I know where you are and how you feel. I have a SF Instant Breakfast shake every morning, but have been having Soups, clear and cream, since I got home. I even ate a little mac and cheese yesterday. So I guess you could say I'm doing the full liquids/mushie stage. Don't you dare feel guilty about being hungry! So many different docs can't all be right - or all wrong. Hope this helps.

[ItsDani2u 0]

Thanks Janet. I really can't wait to get together again...you and your daughter were so much fun down in Mexico. Julie and I are trying to get in contact with Rene to arrange the next fill date. We're shooting to arrive in Tijuana June 1st. Having the fill that Saturday. That should give us a couple good days to EAT and SHOP! I can't wait to have the chicken alfredo again...that was the best I've ever had and I'm Italian!

By the way, congrats on your loss so far!! TTYS

All~You know, I was just thinking, isn't it fascinating how many doctor opinions there are out there? You ask and you shall receive. I enjoy reading all the various feedback. I don't know what I'd do without all of you to communicate with. I really appreciate this website. Thanks to whomever had the brains to create this place to ask, vent, post, learn, etc.

People....keep the replies coming!! I'm learning a lot through your responses. I'm sure a lot of others are, as well. TY