I had Lap Band surgery on 20 December 2007. My recovery has been great, however I am battling hunger pains on an hourly basis. I drink Protein shakes and fluids every 2 to 3 hours, yet I still have constant hunger pains and stomach growling. I would sincerely welcome any advice on other "food substitutes" other than chicken broth and SF Jello - OR - tools on how to concure the hunger.

I really don't think I can do 2 more weeks of this liquid diet!!!

:faint:

We made some minestrone Soup with extra broth. Oh my oh my, it was good to have something with FLAVOR. The fam had the soup, I had the broth. It was fabulous - seriously, that was SIX meals for me.

Now I've moved on to pinto Beans with ground beef and diced tomatoes and green chilies. I'm just eating the broth, but it has lots of flavor. I did mash up some of the beans for extra Protein.

There is a list in the food category that has some suggestions for the liquid phase.

You will make it.............. very liquidy sf pudding, tomatoe soup made with milk, sf popsicles, egg drop soup... anything that you can puree.

It's weird how different all of the diet requirements are. My surgeon only requires a day or so of clear liquids, then add on soups and protein shakes through day 5. Then full liquids (yogurt, oatmeal, and regular foods in blender, etc), then when you are ready go on to "soft foods". His concern is that we don't vomit. As long as we don't vomit (and aren't going hog wild I suppose) he is pretty lenient. Some surgeons seem to want 4 or 5 weeks of liquids. Isn't it strange how different the requirements are?

Dear Tarheelluv,

You hit the proverbial nail on the head!!

I guess the requirements are different because the surgeons are different as well as the patients!

I feel great and I am not vomiting. But what I am doing is COMPLETELY OBSESSING about food because of this multi-week liquid diet.

I am afraid I might go nuts when I do get the green light to move to puree, soft foods and than eventually regular foods.

Mine was liquids for 2 weeks, mushies for 2, soft for 1 and then regular food as tolerated. Protein shakes, one for bfast and 1 for dinner, with soup broth for lunch worked for me. I had to take up walking/working out to forget about food. It really works

I'm on 4 weeks of full liquids which is way better than the 2 days before surgery and 2 after surgery of clear liquids. I'm trying to be as creative as I can - I add skim milk to soups like cream of potato, tomato bisque, cream of broccoli, liquify them in the Magic Bullet, and then put them through a fine strainer. They are actually quite good and the extra skim milk gives me a little protein to record. I'm also using Atkins Advantage and Carnation Instant Breakfast shakes with an added packet of splenda which makes a world of difference. My mother made stew tonight and I had the broth. I can't wait until I get to mushies so I can puree a meatball.

I agree, every post op diet is different. I was on clear liquids for one day, full liquids 2 days, then yogurt and pudding for 2 days, well cook veggies, and today (eight days out) I am eating eggs. Why do you think the post op diet varies so much? After reading what others are eating at this stage, it makes me wonder if I should go back to full liquids.

After a week, I couldn't take the liquids anymore. I made a scrambled egg - took tiny bites - ate very slowly - chewed really well. I couldn't even finish it but it was the best egg I've ever eaten. I went back to my total liquid diet the next day and I'll go as long as I can but the egg was great and didn't seem to hurt me at all.