So Diane from True Results calls me today to follow up on how I'm doing. I tell her I think I'm doing great and seem to be doing better than most.

We go over incisions, etc... she agrees. Then she says do you have any questions. So I say well yes actually I do, why is it I'm supposed to be be on liquids when I can eat things like chicken salad as long as I chew it up. Her normally friendly up beat voice changes into this motherly tone "Now Yvette, we went over this, you don't want anything to get stuck, you're still swollen and you don't know what will happen."

"Ok ok, but I was reading on lapbandtalk.com and other people..." she stops me short - "This isn't about other people it's about YOU so you need to do what your doctor told YOU to do. If you want to be on full liquids fine, but don't go eating any meat or vegetables" she says sternly.

"So you're saying I probably shouldn't be eating cream of chicken and mushroom soup together?" - Silence on the phone.

"Hello"....

"Yvette we've been over this, no meat, no vegetables and NO chicken salad!"

Sigh....

Mmmm yogurt!

I had my post-op appointment this morning and I happened to ask why most surgeon's require that their patients go through a long process of being on a liquid diet before introducing back normal foods. I'm not posting this on the main board because I think it would annoy a lot of people, but I thought you would find the information useful since you are already introducing real food (and getting scolded for it!). Melissa (who is Dr. Blackstone's assistant surgeon) told me that most programs require a long liquid diet because they don't have the support staff to answer a lot of questions about food or to deal w/problems that occur when their patients eat food. In other words, if the patient only drinks shakes, they will never get any food stuck, they will never have any problems w/food, etc... because they aren't EATING food. So, this keeps their call volume down. She said that otherwise there is no reason to be so cautious about introducing food. Anyway, so for what its worth, that's her opinion on the matter.

If you are curious the details of my post-op restrictions for the first month, I can eat any protein except red meat (chicken, fish, egg, soy products, cottage cheese, yogurt, reduced fat cheese-in moderation). Any cooked vegetables (except potato, peas, corn). Any fruit (but peel it first). No starches (bread, pasta, rice, etc.). This is just for the first month. Then, you can add back in a small amount of starch and red meat.

There are other rules... like don't drink while you eat or after you eat for at least 30 minutes (helps the food stick longer in your pouch). And, don't drink calories (no shakes, juice, etc.) because these are considered 'sliders'. And, make protein your main priority (60-80 grams).

Anyway, I'm just giving you this info cause I know you were questioning their advice to be on liquids only. Personally, I would be so annoyed if I was told to be on liquids for so long when liquids just slide right through the band. And, you have to learn to chew at some point anyway. I would think its easier to learn this now when we have the least amount of restriction (before we get any fills).

Anyway, sorry you got scolded. I think you are doing great!

WOW thank you SO much for that information! I know your surgeon's office is one of the top ones in AZ, probably the country. VERY useful information.. Thank you for sharing it with me. But man I just had scrambled eggs and spinach (cooked into the eggs) and OMGOODNESS I am so full, I'm TOTALLY feeling the restriction, my natural reaction is to drink to help it go down... I'm sipping apple juice hoping it will help but so far not so good.

Wow... and here I am stressing over if I can stick with the darn liquid diet for 2 weeks pre-op and 2 weeks post-op. My surgery is scheduled for Jan 11.