Hi all:

Banded a little over a week ago in Mexico. REALLY having trouble with this post-op diet. Diets and me just don't do well. When hunger kicks in, will-power goes.

I feel good, but a little sore from surgery. My questions is this: how important is the post-op diet? (Week of Clear liquids, then week of Soups, then week of purreed foods, etc.) What dangers exist if I were to just start eating lightly? I confess, I have eaten some solid foods this past week and have had no problems at all.

So, what does everyone think? I'm sure I'm not the only one that has wanted to skip the post-op diet and go straight to eating a little solid food. If I have no problems doing it, can it still hurt? Are there reasons for the post-op diet that I don't know about?

Lost about 5 lbs since surgery. No problems or complecations that I can tell.

:hungry:

I was required to do 2 weeks of a full liquid diet and then two weeks of a soft diet and finally got to solids on week 5. After 12 days on the full liquids, I called the dietician and told her I was starving so they moved me to a soft diet. You need 4-6 weeks for total healing and different surgeon's have different diet requirements.

Call your MD and tell them you're hungry and bored with the diet. They will likely give you the OK to advance it. Go for soft foods like fish, meatballs, meatloaf, peanut butter, soft cheeses (cottage, ricotta), puddings, textured soups, etc.

My surgeon said that you need to do the two weeks liquid and two weeks mush in order to allow scar tissue to develop over your sutures so that they don't pop and the band slip. I have photos of the band on my stomach, I've seen the sutures. A part of the stomach below the band is brought up and "attached" to create a loop over the band.

Just tell yourself it's only for a few weeks and you can get through it. Have your Protein shakes, soups and lots of Water. You can do it. Just remind yourself it's not forever.

Eating solid foods prematurly might make your band slip (this is what my doc told me). If you feel very strongly about it... put what ever solid food you are eating in a blender with enough water to make a runny poridge (I know that sounds discusting) then your belly will feel full and you will not be straining the oriphus (opening b/n pouch and rest of gut) created by the band thus standing a chance of slipage

alex

ThinMan, the postop diet is EXTREMELY important. The doctor would not put you on it if it wasn't. This isn't like the insurance companies trying to make you frustrated so that you will go away. Your stomach needs to heal. You have stitches holding your band in place, and they are not strong enough to do that and deal with the digestion of certain foods.

who were you banded by? and why did they not tell you why you need to stay on this diet? If you just can't handle it you need to call your surgeon and tell them this. Let them know that this is really hard for you.

Though the doc may tell you to progress a BIT faster than prescribed...the post op diet is very very VERY important. Don't forget...you can't see your insides and what is going on in there...it is for your safety and to help you heal inside and to NOT cause any band problems while it and the stitches etc are trying to heal.

THAT is why the post op diet.....it isn't like a quick draw to losing weight quick...it is for healing.

So, be wary.