How do you know what the lap band can handle?

[amjcal 5]

There are so many posts on here where individuals are saying, my band can handle eggs, or bread or whatever it may be. The next person says I can't or haven't ever been able to handle whatever the food may be. I don't understand how you figure out, or what happens to you and the band if something doesn't agree. Is it vomiting? Stuck? I have not gotten my fill my first fill, and so far I have been handling mushies really well. But will the mushies I am on now be a problem when I start getting fills? I am just really confused... I want to be prepared as I can. Thanks in advance.

[Cindy C 150]

You figure it out when it gets stuck every time you try to eat it. You are on mushies now with no restriction. Your band can handle pretty much anything. Once you go back to solids and begin having restriction you will have to figure out what you can and cannot eat. You may even find that after a fill those things change and you have to refigure it out. There's really no rhyme or reason why different foods effect us differently. I suppose it has to do with our different anatomies, band placement, amount of fill and how well we chew. I can't eat red meat....won't even try anymore. But chicken never gives me a problem. Others can't eat chicken but can eat steak. Most of us can't handle white bread or Pasta but some can. There was a time when mashed potatoes would get stuck but then after a fill I could eat them again. That was crazy! You'll learn in time what works for you. It's all trial and error.

[Rachel412 116]

I haven't encountered anything I can't eat yet. Just FYI- not everyone has "problem" foods, but it does seem like most people do. The only thing I really had any sort of problem with was beef Jerky once...

[Knaroz 31]

Yeah it is definitely a trial and error. And a good point that was listed above just because it is a no now, doesnt mean it is a no later. But the reverse is true as well. Just because you can eat it now doesnt mean you can always eat it. It is almost like a game

[vickyd 24]

Definately trial and error. I haven't found any foods my band absolutely can't tolerate but I do know that when I eat chicken of any sort (fried without skin or grilled) from KFC or Popeye's I have to make sure not to take too large of bites and to thoroughly chew it because that is the only food I have gotten stuck on more than once. These sort of things you will learn as you go along but there are certain foods that you hear people having trouble with frequently (bread, Pasta, rice, steak) and my suggestion would be to try them carefully to see what you can and can't tolerate.

[Jenn1214 120]

I don't really have any "problem foods" but there are foods I stay away from (rice, steak, stringy vegetables, popcorn) because I've heard a lot of bandsters have problems with them. I could try them, but honestly I don't miss them and it's not worth it for me.

[marfar7 1,533]

I agree with above posters - you just have to try everything to see if you can tolerate them. I can tolerate just about anything, I just don't eat much bread or meat because they hurt. I haven't had a fill in a year, but have an appt for one in a couple of weeks.We'll see if that changes my eating of Pasta (that would be a bummer if I couldn't). I know that when I went on a MExican cruise in March, I actually lost weight because the first meal was ribs and they made me uncomfortable for days. So I ate mainly yogurt and oatmeal after that. Good luck to you on your experiementing. Some people can't do bread.

Marci

I don't really have any "problem foods" but there are foods I stay away from (rice, steak, stringy vegetables, popcorn) because I've heard a lot of bandsters have problems with them. I could try them, but honestly I don't miss them and it's not worth it for me.

[Jess55 97]

I have not had anything get stuck and I'm 7 month post op, I've only PB'd once and it was on Water, I was drinking to much I think. The only problem I've had is one time I was eating steamed dumplings at work and I was eating fast because it was busy and I swallowed to quickly and I felt it go down and it was sore inmy chest for a few minutes, I don't think it was stuck just slow going down. Though I only have 0.75 ccin my band, and that was when I had nothing. I have no problems at all and can eat quick if I want to.

[klariade 7]

If you have a problem food, your band will let you know! Everyone is different, and sometimes the foods you tolerate will change when you get fills. My advice is to introduce solid foods slowly once you're through your mushies phase. Wait as long as possible to try typically tough foods for bandsters like red meat, breads, and Pasta. And don't forget to chew!!! Even the easiest foods for me will get stuck if I don't chew enough!

[amjcal 5]

Thank you all so much I feel a lot better about what to expect. Do you really have to wait an hour to drink Water after you eat to be successful?

[Knaroz 31]

Thank you all so much I feel a lot better about what to expect. Do you really have to wait an hour to drink Water after you eat to be successful?

Yes, the longer you can wait to drink after you eat the longer the food will stay in your pouch and the less chance you have of it getting stuck. The only exception is during the first 2 weeks after surgery when it is good to flush the food out of your pouch during the healing process.