Hi, everyone. I am two weeks out tomorrow. I am in the soft foods stage and I was wondering if - since I am unfilled - is it possible to damage the small pouch if I go over the 6oz limit for food? Will the small pouch stretch and/or slip? I am thinking it won't since the band is not filled.

I have eaten too much on two occassions. I am using the Protein powder but I am getting hungry. I hate this stage and felt better last week when I was swollen and on liquids! I bet that sounds crazy.

My first fill isn't until 8/30/06. I have had no problems whatsoever. No PBs, vomiting, or slimming. I feel ready for regular food right now. If I strictly controled my portion size, what would happen if I tried regular food as tolerated? Has anyone done that? Thanks for listening.

The day I went home from my surgery my doctor told me to introduce soft foods as tolerated when I felt I was ready. That was about 1.5 weeks out from surgery. When I had my post-op appt. two weeks after surgery the doctor told me to eat normal food and get at least 60g of protein per day. It wasn't until I was eating regular food that they would be able to tell if I was losing on just the restriction of the band alone. I don't get a fill until next week on the 17th, but have been controlling my portion size so as not to over eat. I feel like it takes too much for me to feel full - although it's much less than I ever ate before. If you do try regular foods, just chew them really well and I wouldn't think you'd have any problems. Good luck to you!

The progression of the diet is designed so that the stomach has to do a minimal amount of work while it's healing. Even if you feel fine, and your swelling is gone, the stitches holding your stomach around a portion of the band (to avoid slippage) need to heal into place as well.

I've heard stories about people who did not follow their doctors orders and were fine, and I've heard stories about people who did not follow their doctors orders and had to have additional surgery early out because it caused a slip.

You could always call your doctor and tell him how you are feeling. I've also heard of doctors who progress their patients on the diet faster, depending on the patient and how they are healing.

Thanks for replying. I called my doctor's office and they said I had to do one more week of soft foods and then I could start one meal a day of regular food the following week. I do not want to do anything to hurt the band or pouch. This is an opportunity that I take very seriously.