Two Days After Surgery Questions

[Peanut5 0]

Had my surgery on Monday, and I'm wondering why I am on liquids and told I can advance to pureed food in a week. I don't get my band's first 'fill' until 6 weeks. As far as medication goes, I was told I can swallow a pill no larger then a peanut m&m. Just wondering why you have to slowly advance to thicker foods now, and not after the band gets a fill?

[CHEZNOEL 4,061]

Because you are healing inside from the surgery. Please follow docs orders, it is important now not to damage your band! Best wishes.

[mrsto 2,925]

You are on liquids so you can heal from surgery. Your stomach is not ready for anything more than that. As you heal a bit, you move to pureed food. However your doctor has the post-op diet progression laid out, follow it.

When you get a fill in a few weeks, you will probably have to be on liquids again for a day or two; maybe more. Again, that is to give your stomach time to heal from the fill. It's not nearly as bad as surgery, but there can be some swelling.

I questioned my doctor about the diet progression, and he told me flat out that patients who jump ahead prematurely, are the ones who have issues with the band. If you have a lot of questions about why you've been instructed to do things a certain way, call your doctor & talk to someone there. They should be able to clarify the "when, what and why" of the whole process.

Good luck!