Hi

I have just started eating solid food again ...I am really struggling. I can only eat a little before I feel it getting kinda stuck. How can this happen before my band has been filled? Or is this normal because of swelling? I am worried I am doing myself or band damage!

There won't be any swelling 5 weeks post-op.

Some people find the band on its own is initially enough to cause some restriction.

But it could also be simply the way you are eating. Is your food moist (I.e. not dry meat), Are you taking tiny bites (pea-sized) and chewing to destruction? You can take a bit less care later on but at first you need to really take care with that.

If it carries on or you find you are getting foods stuck, phone your doctor as some do put saline on during the op and you may have a bit too much.

It's very strange getting used to the feeling of the band. I didn't feel restriction right away after my surgery, but everyone is different, and some people never need a fill because the band on its own dims hunger enough that it doesn't need to be any tighter.

Did your surgeon add any Fluid to the band during surgery? If so, that could contribute to why you are feeling restriction without any fills.

Like Kate says, make sure you're following the banding rules of eating small bites slowly and carefully. For me, every bite I take needs to be thoughtful, and chewed carefully. I also need to take time between each bite to make sure the food has passed through the band before taking another bite.

I'm almost 6 years post op and still remember the first bite of mashed potato when I progressed to "mushies". So feeling some restriction when you've started solids doesn't surprise me at all. It's a learning curve to say the least, chewing correctly.

Not sure of your preop and postop "diets", but for me it had been quite a while since I'd had anything to "eat". You may find that whatever solids you are eating now, may cause no sensation in a week or so.

Your surgeon may have left some saline in your band during surgery.... its not that uncommon.

Just make sure you chew, chew, chew.

Best wishes!

Hi

I hope you are well!

What kinds of food are you trying to eat that makes you feel like that?

I am also 5 weeks pre op ???? I was told to use a tea spoon or baby cutlery to eat and the portion should be half of your thumb nail as others mentioned chew chew chew. When I went from liquids to mushy food my first meal I was scared to eat, then when I went from mushy to solid the same now I've been eating solids for 3 days it's fine and easier than the first day, take your time.

I too am 5 weeks post op and have been on solids for about a week. I know that my surgeon put 2 cc in my band during surgery, its possible yours did too. I can feel the solids going down and I have had 1 stuck episode that I had to bring up the food....I simply was pre-occupied and ate too fast without chewing enough. I use an appetizer spoon and fork which helps to make sure the bites are small. And chew, chew, chew and chew!