To eat or not to eat

[denise633 86]

Just need some opinions....I had the band and bread, rice, Pasta, tortillas, wraps or anything of the sort was an absolute NO because it would get stuck and be ugly.....is it the same with the sleeve....I'm not asking if I can eat a plate of spaghetti or anything but I made a chicken rice casserole for the family and was scared to death to have a small amount for fear that the rice would hurt me.....any advice would be appreciated

[CowgirlJane 14,261]

This was one of the reasons I HATED my lapband. I had that sucker for 10 long years, most of the time with zero fill since I had horrible reflux if it had any fluid/fill.

Even after all that time, with a stretched pouch and no fill - one bite of rice and i would vomit. On the other hand, I could eat unlimited quantities of many foods - it was really terrible and frustrating. I got to the point where i didn't vomit often, but in the first 2 years when I did have fill, I vomited ALOT.

I have been sleeved since Dec 2011 - nearly 2 years. I HAVE vomited maybe 3 times and all for the same reason - eating too fast so I got to overfill without realizing it. In general, I do so well with the sleeve, I eat my Proteins first, add some veggies and go easy on carbs, but if I want a little rice or bread - I can have it without fear of hurling.

Don't get me wrong, i do need to "work the sleeve". I have a mindset to eat until no longer hungry rather than looking to be "full". I have made a lot of changes since my lapband days that have helped me find success with the sleeve that always alluded me with the sleeve. Even so, for me, the sleeve has been a FAR FAR superiour tool!

I was terrified of failing again and it took me a long time to get the courage to "try again" with a weight loss surgery but it was the BEST decision for me. It is amazing to finally get to a normal weight and size which I never did with the band.

[rredrruby87 27]

I heard you really shouldnt have that stuff with the sleeve because its just not good for you but with the sleeve it wont really get stuck or cause a block like it might with the band. with the sleeve your muscle can still contract and squeeze the food down with the band your muscle cant contract.

[denise633 86]

This was one of the reasons I HATED my lapband. I had that sucker for 10 long years' date=' most of the time with zero fill since I had horrible reflux if it had any fluid/fill.

Even after all that time, with a stretched pouch and no fill - one bite of rice and i would vomit. On the other hand, I could eat unlimited quantities of many foods - it was really terrible and frustrating. I got to the point where i didn't vomit often, but in the first 2 years when I did have fill, I vomited ALOT.

I have been sleeved since Dec 2011 - nearly 2 years. I HAVE vomited maybe 3 times and all for the same reason - eating too fast so I got to overfill without realizing it. In general, I do so well with the sleeve, I eat my Proteins first, add some veggies and go easy on carbs, but if I want a little rice or bread - I can have it without fear of hurling.

Don't get me wrong, i do need to "work the sleeve". I have a mindset to eat until no longer hungry rather than looking to be "full". I have made a lot of changes since my lapband days that have helped me find success with the sleeve that always alluded me with the sleeve. Even so, for me, the sleeve has been a FAR FAR superiour tool!

I was terrified of failing again and it took me a long time to get the courage to "try again" with a weight loss surgery but it was the BEST decision for me. It is amazing to finally get to a normal weight and size which I never did with the band.[/quote']

I hated my band......It was placed in dec 2008 and eroded and removed July 2011....like you it took me 2 years and gaining all my weight back to decide to get the sleeve.....I used to vomit on mostly a daily basis with my band and I guess I still have that fear and anxiety that it will still happen.....so far after 1month with the sleeve I have no complication and I'm down 25lbs so I'm happy with it....

[notmeanymore 629]

I have eaten bread and it felt uncomfortable but 99% of the time I do not eat bread. I have not had Pasta, rice, tortillas, crackers, etc since surgery at all. I save my tummy room for the Protein and veggies I need.

[Roo101769 742]

Here is the advice I was given. Everyone will hear something different, and everyone IS different. So take it all with a grain of salt...I was told early on you can eat "normal" food with the sleeve, unlike the band or Roux-n-Y. I was also told a "once in a great while" splurge will not stretch the tummy out and ruin all your hard work. BUT...If you constantly eat foods that cause weight gain you WILL GAIN WEIGHT. Pretty simple idea, considering it is a fact of life. I will admit that was one of the defining moments to tell me the sleeve was what I needed and wanted. I like the idea of knowing that, someday, I will be able to have foods I like again. But I also know I have to stay true to myself and the plan. Eat my Proteins first. Stay hydrated. Don't stuff to capacity. Learn to LIVE your life that includes food, not food as my life. So down the road, if I want to eat something not on the plan I will. But I will do in in complete moderation ( esp. since carbs are a big trigger for me) and get back to what works. This is forever. We all have to learn what works best for our forever....

[ItsMe2033 143]

The concern with rice and bread is that it can form a "dough ball" in your sleeve and block things up. I eat low carb, so it's not a concern to me. In the guide that my surgeons office gave me, they prefer that you wait a long time (6 months or a year, I can't remember) before eating rice or untoasted bread. I'm sure that if you ate some of the chicken from the casserole and got a few grains of rice on it, it wouldn't hurt your, but especially since you are only one month out, I wouldn't eat anymore than that of it.

[CowgirlJane 14,261]

My comments were geared to the "mature" sleeve... it is true that you need to use much caution in the early weeks and months - follow surgeon guidelines!!!

[DeniseM 238]

I have no problems eating bread, rice, Pasta, or tortillas. I do have to be careful with these types of foods because they fill me up quickly and if I am not careful then I can't eat enough Protein.< /p>

[Sleeved in Seattle 280]

I just had a high protein/low carb wrap with meat & cheese today and it went down well. Very filling, didn't get stuck (post-lapband paranoia), and we'll see tomorrow if it had a deleterious effect on my weight loss.

I'll probably get a finger shake from the PA at my 3-month check on Friday, but I can't imagine never having carbs in the form of bread or crackers ever again.

[sherrypep 91]

I had my revision on May 6th. I couldn't eat any of those things with the band for the same reasons as you. I sometimes would throw up scrambled eggs. I absolutely love my sleeve. I try not to eat that stuff but I can at almost 5 months eat it in little bits with no problem. It feels heavy and sometimes will get me bloaty but I have only threw up once since my revision and it was my own fault. I was at a picnic and over did it. I even ate about 2 oz of very thin steak last week for the first time in two years. You will do great it is such a drastic difference. My weight loss has stalled but I am 140 from 206 pre band and a size 8 from an 18-20 so I am fine with that. Best of luck!