Hi there --

I don't think I can answer all of your questions but I wanted to relay to you something my doctor told me about straying too far from the post-op diet that REALLY helped me.

I am big on LOGIC an dunderstanding WHY I have to do as I am told! I tend to get defensive when told to do somethign whithout a good reason -- lik ewhen I felt as if I could eat anything not long after surgery.... why do I have to stay on this restrictve diet.... here was his answer!

Right now your stomach is helaing from surgery!! You may be ABLE to eat whatever you want, but you can't -- when you eat solid foods, or too much fat, your stomach has to work to digest that food. While your stomach is digesting, one thing it does is contract (like any other muscle when it is working) If you cause your stomach to contract too much too soon you risk disturbing the stitches (from where they took some of the stomach and stretched it over the band and secured it in place) and band placement in general.

Ther are mor ethings to worry about then just stretching your pouch. You have to eat lightly and things that are already "mushed" (like, already chewed, not to be gross) so that the digestion will be as easy as possible on your stomach for the next few weeks while it heals.

Hope that helps? It always helps me to have a mental image!

Oopps! Meant this to be a reply to someone, not it's own post! Sorry!!

That's a great stand alone post anyway. Occasionally, a new bandster will say something to the effect of, "I'm two weeks out, and I ate such and such, and I felt fine. I didn't hurt anything did I?" Your doctor gave a good explanation as to why it's crucial to follow instructions.