Hey everyone,

I can't believe I'm finally banded...and posting from the "other side". Thanks to all who helped answer my pre-op questions. My surgery was on Wednesday and I am finally feeling somewhat "normal" today. The initial 2 days out were very uncomfortable, but bearable. I suffered a lot of gas pain but much of that has subsided in the past 36 hours or so. I have noticed, however, that I am very burpy (especially after drinking WATER) and really, really hope that this will eventually go away!!! Are most people gasey after being banded and does this eventually settle down after surgery?

I also have a question about portion size for the full liquids phase of our diet. I was put on clear broths for the first 3 days and am able to move on to full-liquids/thin purees for the next 6 weeks. I'm approaching 5 days out of surgery and wanted to see what portion size I should be taking in for my full liquids phase? Also, how fast should I be consuming my full liquids? For instance, this was what my diet consisted of today:

4 oz of Water at 11AM (woke up late)

2 oz of low-fat soy milk at 11:30AM

2 oz of low-fat soy milk at 12:15PM

1 Jello container at 1PM

4 oz of low-fat soy milk at 2PM

1 jello container at 3:15PM

4 oz of low-fat soy milk at 3:50PM

6 oz of soy milk at 4:45PM

6 oz of soy milk at 7PM

6 oz of miso Soup with pureed tofu at 8PM

I am staying away from the Protein shakes because they taste like death to me. I am getting alot of protein from low-fat soy milk and I love tofu, which also contains alot of protein.

I am able to consume my liquids pretty quickly (e.g. within 10 minutes of starting). Is this too much to be drinking after being surgerized so recently? Are you able to drink much more than this (e.g. only drinking tablespoons at a time)? Are you able to drink quickly or slowly?

Any advice would be great.

Hey!

I am also newly banded, 9/4/08, and it is my understanding that you are to eat 4oz meals 3 times daily and if you need a snack then you should have a 2oz snack.

That is what I have written down from meeting with the nutrionist.

I hope this helps.

HHuckle

I was wondering the same about consuming the liquids quickly. I had my surgery on Tues and I personally drink a lot of Water. Well atleast I'm trying to I'm now on my 3rd 16oz today. I brought a vanilla whey Protein after surgery which has 50g per serving because there was no way that I could get my 60g in a day on the EAS which only has 17g per serving. I mix that first thing in the morning with 8oz of skim milk which has another 8g of protein and it's so nasty it takes about 40 min to finish it. But I'm getting that protein in for the day.

I have noticed that I'm able to drink my water or my soup, puddings or Gelatin so much easier now that I was questioning my band. But at the same time I know when I'm full and I stop. Surely eating a lot less than before the surgery. AND IT FEELS SO GOOD. But honestly today was the first time I actually felt a bit hungry so I just had a lil more soup.

Now I am still gassy so who knows when that will go away. I'm concerned about BM's since Tuesday my surgery date I have only had BM on sat. That concerns me. I have not taken any thing for that because I can't stomach it and afraid of what the after effect may be.

I see my dietician on Tues and my surgeon on Thurs so hopefully all these staples will be removed and I can be a bit more relaxed.

Keep up your good work and keep posted your great results.

I was banded on 09/04/08. So far I have had no real appetite. Today I have had 1 bottle water and a few sips of milk. I also had 1 sugar free popcicle and am now trying to eat a jello cup. I know this is helping me lose weight (13lbs down so far) but it makes me nervous. Right now the thought of food makes me sick and I can't stop burping. Anybody have any good suggestions on something to eat. I had cream of chicken soup yesterday and it was good, but now the thought of it makes me feel sick :thumbup:

As long as you don't chug, it won't hurt to drink fairly steadily. I think that's not that uncommon nowadays with the newer model bands. Some people do have post op restriction and need to sip, but drinking regularly won't hurt your band at all! (I'm 1 week post op as of last friday and had the same "problem" but my doc said it was fine!)

I think hhuckle is in the minority if you can actually EAT that close to surgery. All post op diets are different but most follow a progression of thin clear liquids to full (clouded or creamy liquids) to mushies to soft foods to solids. While you're in the liquid phase just make sure you get the water and protein specified by your surgeon.

Hey Restless,

Actually I CANNOT EAT. My pre-op diet consist only of broths, sugar free Jello, SF popsicles, and any SF drinks with NO cabonation. Believe me...I am not eating. I was so proud to have eating a whole cup of jello yesterday...it took me THE ENTIRE DAY. but I did eat it!!:thumbup:

To the rest of the gang,

My gas has actually started to subside but I eat gas x and have been walking alot. I will not get any milk or cream soup, which at this point seems like a steak dinner, until 1 week post op. I have been drinking the "South Beach" powder for Water that is called "tide you over"...it has some Protein and it seems to help.

I was banded 9/04/08 as well and have lost about 20lbs starting with the pre-op diet. I am so excited to have this done and cannot wait to be able to move around normally.

HJH

I was banded August 21st, and I found the inital 2-3 days difficult to get the liquids down, I think it was from the swelling around the band. I am now 2 and 1/2 weeks out and eating pureed foods, but I am able to eat mashd potatoes Soups, etc no problem, the Protein shakes really help with the hunger. I make sure I get two in a day. I use GNC 100% whey protein the have several flavors and they don't taste bad at all. Each Protein shake has 20 g of protien mixed with skim milk it 29 g per shake. I also drink the south beath drink mix each has 3 g of protein in it. So far I have lost about 20 lbs, but since I have been eating this week I have noticed I haven't lost anymore, I started walking this week with hope the scale will start moving a little bit lol. Overall I am pleased with my sucess, and looking forward to more. My MD does do the first fill till 6 weeks post op, which is alright with me because I never feel sick and can eat. Good luck to everyone

Veronica

I asked the dietician about that (I have a post called "chugging liquids" somewhere on here) and she said that was normal, as there is no restriction. Once the swelling goes down, you are able to drink much more quickly.

I am on a similar regime (the sweeteners make me sick and I'm allergic to dairy!) but I am having soup most of the time and soy milk about 1/3 of the time! It just tastes better to me.