Ate a burger two days after surgery

[whatakindgirl 0]

Best way to move forward is to stay away from the temptation. Don't go to the places that you know you are going to eat food that is high in fats and sugars. Make a grocery list of items from a list of foods provided by your surgeon (don't buy any foods at the grocery store that is not on the list). When I feel like eating too much or eating a food I shouldn't... then I exercise or eat a sugar free popcicles.

As far as damage... probably the only damage is guilt. Your Surgeon can do diagnostics to determine if your band slipped or if you stretched your pouch. I would say that you should refrain from eating hamburgers. Otherwise, surgery was a waste of time:bored:

[plain 12]

I forgot who posted (and I waaaaaaay too lazy to go back and look) that the OP probably needs some sort of therapy, but I think that is the most on the mark advice given.

Have we all cheated (or will cheat) at some point while on part of the restricted diet? Yes. But.......there's cheating and there's cheating. Snacking on something a little early is certainly not the best idea. But having a full-blown hamburger on day 2 speaks of a real, pathological self destructive streak.

I'm not trying to be overly critical of the OP. But a gaffe of this magnitude needs more than the "sunshine and rainbows" answer of "Everybody messes up. Just do better next time". A gaffe of this magnitude needs, I think, professional help.

Edited January 8, 2009 by plain

[Kat817 19]

I have to wonder, and ask, if the OP's surgeon explained the reason for the highly restrictive diet? Did he show you how the stomach would be manipulated and stitched to allow it to heal with the band in place?

Mine used an actual lap band, and the sheet on my hospital bed to show me exactly how he would place it, and where he would stitch it, and where the liver would have to be moved to allow this. Then he told me how long it would take for the adhesions to begin forming, which is what holds it in place long term. He said the problem with eating early is in the digestion. It makes your stomach move so it allows the band wiggle room---so the adhesions make a pouch rather than a snug fit. You might not know that it is loose for months......but that does not mean it is all hunky dory!

To make like everything is fine is to tell all those researching that if they feel the need, they too can cheat on the post op, and all will be ok.....and it will not be all ok for all patients. Who knows with this OP? Not me.....likely not even his surgeon for awhile to come.

As for the slippage percentages.....you can find a variety of percentages to fit all claims----look around in the complications threads, you will find claims of HIGH rates, and Dr.'s etc to back it up. I would imagine the truth lies somewhere in the middle. The sad part is the number is on the rise, and it is not BAND failure, it is BANDSTER failure.

We are all addicted to food, and we all go through the bandster hell.....just as some can quit smoking others do not have the resolve to do that----some do not have the resolve to lose the weight even with the help of the band. No one is perfect, but to claim something is safe that is not is perfectly stupid, and potentially harmful to those researching or newbie bandsters.

Kat

[coltonwade 27]

I want to tell you to be nice and tell you not to worry. And the truth is, if you felt no pain and it went down fine and its the only time you do it, the odds are in your favour. But you know that you're not supposed to eat solid food so that you can heal right?

Now the not so nice part. If you're eating a burger a mere two days after surgery, just how mentally committed are you to this? I'd suggest you find some committment pretty darn soon as you've got a steep learning curve ahead if you havent already prepared yourself for this. We cant know another's experience though, so forgive the incredulity and the seeming judgement - I couldnt even drink normally yet after 2 days so the burger thing made me yell WTF? I find it hard to imagine that you could have been motivated by physical hunger at this stage, and I know that's applying my own experience to yours and not necessarily right.

This isnt sneaking a mouthful of yogurt or chewing a piece of steak and spitting it out though, this was a whole burger. Do that consistently and you're likely to end up right back in surgery having your slipped band removed.

This is a HARD journey. You're not the only one that has broken down at this point. It doesnt mean you'll fail at this long term. But its imperative that you get back on the wagon and keep going as youv'e been instructed to.

Ditto ! Great Advice .

Mindy

[coltonwade 27]

I forgot who posted (and I waaaaaaay too lazy to go back and look) that the OP probably needs some sort of therapy, but I think that is the most on the mark advice given.

Have we all cheated (or will cheat) at some point while on part of the restricted diet? Yes. But.......there's cheating and there's cheating. Snacking on something a little early is certainly not the best idea. But having a full-blown hamburger on day 2 speaks of a real, pathological self destructive streak.

I'm not trying to be overly critical of the OP. But a gaffe of this magnitude needs more than the "sunshine and rainbows" answer of "Everybody messes up. Just do better next time". A gaffe of this magnitude needs, I think, professional help.

I have said this before and I'll say it again . There is "cheating" and there is going against medical advice. Eating a burger 2 days after surgery is not "cheating" its going against medical advice. If you had a heart attack and the doc told you to not walk for 24 hours would you ? Probably not .

This is SO NOT "Cheating" its going against doctors orders. HUGE Difference. So I agree with you , there needs to be a "reality" check here somewhere !

Mindy

[coltonwade 27]

I am so sick of people that make it sound like slippage is common. Its not. According to my surgeon, realize.com, and lapband.com the rate of slippage is between 3 and 4%. I had my first fill today and asked about it extensively. My surgeon said "you will know if you have slippage, its very very painful and you won't be able to digest anything. Quit worrying." Is it a good idea to eat a burger? no. duh. but we all make mistakes during bandster hell. I myself fell of the wagon thanks to some Pepperidge Farm Summer Sausage. It sucks. NOT you. Just pick yourself up and get back on the program (if for no other reason than to lose a few extra pounds this month).

Slips are not common IF YOU FOLLOW Doctors orders !!!

And once again " cheating" and not following doctors orders WHOLE different ball game. !

Mindy

[HeatherO 7]

I forgot who posted (and I waaaaaaay too lazy to go back and look) that the OP probably needs some sort of therapy, but I think that is the most on the mark advice given.

Have we all cheated (or will cheat) at some point while on part of the restricted diet? Yes. But.......there's cheating and there's cheating. Snacking on something a little early is certainly not the best idea. But having a full-blown hamburger on day 2 speaks of a real, pathological self destructive streak.

I'm not trying to be overly critical of the OP. But a gaffe of this magnitude needs more than the "sunshine and rainbows" answer of "Everybody messes up. Just do better next time". A gaffe of this magnitude needs, I think, professional help.

I agree completely. This is more than cheating . . . this is self-destructive behavior and if it is already going on regularly immediately after banding I am not sure that there will be a significant improvement in the future without help.

I would highly recommend seeking professional help from a psychiatrist or psychologist that deals with food addiction.

[HeatherO 7]

I am so sick of people that make it sound like slippage is common. Its not. According to my surgeon, realize.com, and lapband.com the rate of slippage is between 3 and 4%. I had my first fill today and asked about it extensively. My surgeon said "you will know if you have slippage, its very very painful and you won't be able to digest anything. Quit worrying." Is it a good idea to eat a burger? no. duh. but we all make mistakes during bandster hell. I myself fell of the wagon thanks to some Pepperidge Farm Summer Sausage. It sucks. NOT you. Just pick yourself up and get back on the program (if for no other reason than to lose a few extra pounds this month).

Slippage is not incredibly common for the statistics if you are following the rules the majority of the time. When you wantonly disregard the rules immediately after surgery, you are risking slippage.

Please go read the threads about people who have had slippage and check to see some of the reasons for slippage. Non-compliance plays a big part in the majority of slippage cases.

Even if slippage was only 1% - if you are that one person out of 100 that has the slip, it really sucks. Wouldn't you want to know that you did your best to avoid it by following the rules instead of having to accept that you failed your band???

You are right, we all have made our mistakes, but there is a huge difference between refried Beans a few days early and eating burgers immediately after surgery.

[jms462001 9]

I have to wonder if this post was for real. Think about it. Unless she is super woman with a stomach of steel, she surely would have nearly died after eating that burger two days post op. The gas alone it would have produced would have certainly been dreadful enough to mention in her post. Maybe, but I have my doubts.

[Annie0341 0]

I am sitting here wondering how in the world you managed to get that thing down after just 2 days? I could barely finish my popsicle at that time! Did it not make you physically uncomfortable? Over 3 weeks out here and some chicken did me in!

Best of luck, I hope you will soon be back on track.

[coltonwade 27]

I have to wonder if this post was for real. Think about it. Unless she is super woman with a stomach of steel, she surely would have nearly died after eating that burger two days post op. The gas alone it would have produced would have certainly been dreadful enough to mention in her post. Maybe, but I have my doubts.

I wondered that myself !

[RestlessMonkey 7]

I wondered that myself !

referring also to JMS and Annie's posts....forgot to click "multi" :thumbup:

Looking back through her old posts, she's been around, although sparingly, for a few months and is an RN!

In one post she chides people for not checking with their doctor about fills. I'm, uh, flummoxed. I do understand food issues, but she says she's a "medical professional"...had her surgery in Mexico...she should know better than to eat a hamburger 2 days out, even if her doc didn't give specific direction. Wonder if one of "Tripi's" kids or someone posted under the name as a prank? (And I assume Tripi is female but actually I have no idea).

Anyway, don't cheat on your post op diet and if you do, check with your surgeon.

[Jachut 487]

I'd have maybe expected an emotional outburst at the "judgement" as you tend to get with people who have messed up and want their actions validated, so maybe you're right. Perhaps its someone who's been peed off by a previous similar topic.

I hope if Tripi is real though, he/she is getting some help. I couldnt have eaten a burger 2 days out of surgery, that's for sure, and I find it so difficult to imagine that real hunger would have set in by then, hunger that couldnt be satisfied by a Protein shake!

[AngieAngel 0]

I work for a health insurance company. One of my coworkers had gastric bypass a few years ago and 'celebrated' the day he could eat a whole Big Mac. The following year my company stopped covering all WLS for any reason. I am self pay, so I figure that guy's Big Mac cost me about $12,600+. Although I am an adult, and I am sure that the Big Mac wasn't the cause for my company's decision...I still blame the guy anyways, because that is how I roll. :thumbs_up::D Whew...I can hold a grudge! If he only knew......mwahahaha

[BellaBean 0]

All I can say is WOW. I was afraid of even drinking too much Water that soon after surgery. How did you feel physically after doing that? Have you spoken with your surgeon about this? He or she is probably the only one that can tell if you have done any damage to you stomach. I would contact them ASAP to make sure.

I am 3 days post op and I feel the same way! I couldnt imagine eating real food yet! You must heal something quick! I agree with all the other posts to just get back on the diet your meant to be on.