I can still eat???

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

I HAD MY SURGERY ON 4-23-07, I WAS ALSO EATING SOLIDS 10 DAYS AFTER MY SURGERY NOTHING WAS WRONG WHEN I WENT FOR MY ESOPHAGRAM. IM ON MUSHYS NOW AND I STILL EAT SOLIDS WITH NO PROBLEMS, I DONT EAT ALOT BUT I CHEW IT REAL WELL. MY FIRST FILLIS 6-5-07

An esophogram isn't going to show if adhesions are forming and what long term issues will be. It shows something completely different.

[katspaww 0]

I am one of those who's doctor said a liquid Protein diet for the first 2 weeks to allow for healing and to not mess it up in the future.

I must say that I do feel my stomach growling quite a bit, and when this happens I know it is time for a Protein shake or Soup with Protein in it. Before surgery - I would immediately start feeding myself if I felt my stomach growl. Now... I let it growl for a little bit as a way of testing myself and forcing me to change my old habits. It is important to remember that it is ok if your stomach growls. My doctor told me a big long medical reason why it doesn't necessarily mean you should eat right away. I will have to ask him again today at my Post-Op apt and post it. It made sense after he explained it.

So habits.... that is what we have to break. I am slowly learning the difference between a dehydration hunger and a true hunger. It is hard but I am determined to win this!! I want to be one of those who do loose 70 pounds in the first year!

Hope this helps.

Kitty

[APRIL21 0]

An esophogram isn't going to show if adhesions are forming and what long term issues will be. It shows something completely different.

OH OKAY, BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY PROBLEMS IS THERE PAIN OR DISCOMFORT?

[ragdollx19 1]

i am not required to be on pure liquids that far past my banding date either. just make sure you follow the instructions your dr gave you!

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

So habits.... that is what we have to break. I am slowly learning the difference between a dehydration hunger and a true hunger. It is hard but I am determined to win this!! I want to be one of those who do loose 70 pounds in the first year!

Hope this helps.

Kitty

You can do that, I've lost 70lbs in 5 months. Believe me, if I can do it ANYONE can do it! :youcandothis:

[WASaBubbleButt 41]

OH OKAY, BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY PROBLEMS IS THERE PAIN OR DISCOMFORT?

That's just it, you don't always know.

It's like my doc says, 75% or more of slips are the patient's fault for not following the rules. It can happen today, tomorrow, or next year. It's from eating too soon after surgery and not completing the healing phase, eating too much, being too tight and doing nothing about it, etc. Sometimes slips happen and nobody knows why. Sometimes it's the doc's fault. But the greater majority of the time it is the patient not following the rules.

Think about it, if the band isn't set appropriately, if the scar tissue (that is responsible for keeping it in place) isn't given an opportunity to hold the band in place, what WILL hold it in place?

Following your doc's instructions is soooooooooooo important. It just can't be said enough times.

[hotmomma430 0]

I had no clue why i was on liquids. I am doing it... I am so hungry but I am following the instructions, however, knowing more about the why is so much more helpful! Thanks for suc h detailed responses! :clap2:

[atcg1rl 0]

There are alot of new theories out there reagarding the band by some very good and prominent doctors in the field. Not all Doc's are requiring liquid for long periods. 5 days post op,I was able to eat and so were alot of people in my support group. You ultimately need to follow your doctors orders and no one elses.

[terry r 0]

It's hard to bielive how many differant opinions from the doctors who are doing the surgery is'nt it? Most of us have the inamed band would'nt you think all doctors get the same information when they get trained?terry

[Syrah 0]

Most of us have the inamed band

I have the Vanguard 10 CC band and my surgeon told me that he is starting to use this one almost exclusively. I am one who went almost straight to mushies, post-surgery, which my surgeon's GB patients do, as well. I tell myself that my surgeon must know what he is doing -- the place where I was banded has been doing gastric bypasses for decades, literally, and is a Bariatric Center of Excellence, per BC / BS.

I'm not sure I buy the theory that the liquid diet is necessary for healing, and I wouldn't be surprised if that theory changed over the next few years. But either way -- follow your doctor's orders!!

[katspaww 0]

You can do that, I've lost 70lbs in 5 months. Believe me, if I can do it ANYONE can do it!

Thanks for sharing that Wasa... that does give me hope. I know they said only 50% within 2 years but I'd like to up those odds a bit if I can.

Kitty

[dolphingirl 0]

I'm also having a really hard time with the Full liquid phase. I was banded last Friday and with every passing day I feel more and more hunger. What are some good suggestions for high Protein Full Liquid choices? I think part of my problem may be that I am eating Soups that are too high carb (clam chowder, potatoe, etc.). But most of the choices on my list are "sweet" (no sugar of course) foods like yogart, pudding, applesauce, etc. What else can I eat to try and curb these hunger pains? I DO NOT want to mess this up. I didn't go through this surgery for nothing!

[atcg1rl 0]

I have the Vanguard 10 CC band and my surgeon told me that he is starting to use this one almost exclusively. I am one who went almost straight to mushies, post-surgery, which my surgeon's GB patients do, as well. I tell myself that my surgeon must know what he is doing -- the place where I was banded has been doing gastric bypasses for decades, literally, and is a Bariatric Center of Excellence, per BC / BS.

I'm not sure I buy the theory that the liquid diet is necessary for healing, and I wouldn't be surprised if that theory changed over the next few years. But either way -- follow your doctor's orders!!

Syrah,

Im with you...I also had my surgery at a Bariatric Center of Excellence.

[ready2bthin 2]

Joan: WABB is giving you very sound advice, which I totally agree with. The Protein intake was KEY with me during the healing phase, which was 2 weeks liquid, 2 weeks mushies/well chopped and then easing into solids. I made sure that with all my liquids, I added unflavored protein or had a Protein Shake. I found a brand called "On" at the Vitamin Shoppe, which is Vanilla Ice Cream flavor with 120 calories, 24 grams protein, and only 3 grams of carbohydrates. I then add a little fatfree/sugarfree chocolate pudding mix to flavor it. I tried their chocolate flavor and rocky road and didn't like it (I'm very picky), so this is my morning shake usually even now. I also bought unflavored Protein Powder from Welcome to the Unjury Homepage and added that to my Soups, made Jello with it (they have recipes) and got in protein that way. Recently I bought nectar brand protein which is mixed with Water for a refreshing drink that has protein, too. So, you can get in protein with liquids and in doing that, it will help with the healing and with weightloss. I continued this during the mushy stage, too. But, generally, I tried to make tuna salad, chicken salad, seafood salad, etc. to get in the protein.

So, everyone out there....follow the bandster rules and you will heal well and be on your way to the weightloss you need/want. I know that I'm happy with my band and with the loss I've expereinced so far!!!

[Syrah 0]

You can do that, I've lost 70lbs in 5 months. Believe me, if I can do it ANYONE can do it!

However, Wasabubblebutt, I think it's fair to say that 70 lbs in 5 months is not typical bandster weight loss. Haven't you been unable to tolerate most foods because of some complications you've posted about here? If I recall correctly, you eat only tuna and Protein shakes, correct? Please forgive me if I have that wrong. But my point is that 70 lbs / 5 mos is, indeed, unusual for most bandsters. In my pre-op education, I learned that the average bandster WL is 50 percent of your extra weight during the first year, and that most bandsters who achieve their desired weight loss do so in 2 years (vs. 1 year for gastric bypassers).

The band / fills require a lot of fiddling. Some people need 3-4 fills before they can start losing efficiently. If fills are done every 4-6 weeks, it will take awhile to get to that 'sweet spot' and people who require a lot of tinkering aren't going to see super fast losses.

My surgeon told me that a loss of 5-8 lbs per month is iconsidered ideal, from a health standpoint.