I wish I knew..

[peacequeen 434]

I wish I knew the whole diet process from beginning to end. I want to know what to expect as I'm starting to get really psyched about having the surgery. I'm having alot of preop diets stuff to go through so I'm sure it will be a while but I'd like to know what I'm headed for. I'd love it if an experienced bander could tell me how they have dieted as they decided to get the band (preop), when they got the band and now that things have settled in. Maybe some samples of what you've had to eat and how it was to be prepared. Thanks!

[reverie 49]

Your pre-op and post-op diet will depend on your surgeon. Most people pre-op are put on liquids for 1-2 weeks to help shrink the liver and overall prep the body for surgery. Some people are put on 2 liquid meals and a low carb/low fat solid meal; it all depends on your surgeon. Post-op we go through a liquid, mushy/soft food, and then solid food stage. I was on liquids for 2 weeks, mushies for 2 weeks, and onto solid foods. The timeframe here differs per surgeon as well.

Pre-op I had Protein shakes, broth, Soups, and Water. Post-op liquids were about the same but I had Jello and sometimes sugar-free popsicles. Mushies was refried Beans with salsa and cheese, cottage cheese, thicker Soups, ricotta cheese baked with spaghetti sauce, and really anything i could puree into a soft texture. Solids well..that's a given though I now only eat turkey and chicken most of the time, sometimes fish. I started off with a pretty low carb diet (around 30-40g of a carbs a day) for the first 7-8 months. At 9 months out I'm closer to goal and have started eating more grains and fruit.< /span>

Hope this helps.

[peacequeen 434]

I'm so sorry, just realized I had gotten a response to this. Thank you very much, that was very good info. I'm not really looking forward to mushies and such..I hope I can tolerate the textures. I have a hard time with that..but I'll adapt, I'm sure : )

[HeatherinCA 10]

I'm so sorry, just realized I had gotten a response to this. Thank you very much, that was very good info. I'm not really looking forward to mushies and such..I hope I can tolerate the textures. I have a hard time with that..but I'll adapt, I'm sure : )

The liquids are the worst, mushies are like heaven once you start them haha. After a month or so you are back to eating normal. Basically a 900-1200 calorie diet, and you will be on that until you lose the weight. Then I think you up it a tad to maintain. It is work, but the band helps you out, and helps your hunger

[Melissannde 41]

I had no pre-op diet to speak of, other than a day of Clear Liquids.

Post op was only 2 weeks before I was back on soft/solid foods. The time will pass quickly.

[pennreporter 12]

Post op and pre op diets vary widely. Anywhere from two weeks before and after on nothing but Clear Liquids (as the extreme) to every variation...My first band was two weeks liquids before and after, not necessarily clear liquids. Second band (long story), just liquids for a few days before and liquids for 10 days after but I didn't stick to necessarily clear. My daughter had nothing but the day nothing after 9 pm. And then after surgery, just liquids for a few days and then mushies and then he wanted her back to food and learning to live with the band...so go by what your surgeon ask but don't beat yourself up if you slip a few times. My daughter went out and had mexican food the night before. This time around I went out and had a sensible dinner the night before surgery knowing I would be at least a week on liquids. But I also did Greek yogurt after about a week and thinned down cream of wheat.

Good luck

Trisha