Is my surgeon right?

[matilda85 2]

Hey all,

So it's been 2 weeks since I got banded. barely any pain and overall I'm feeling ok.

I had a chat with my surgeon yesterday and he said some stuff that I can't believe is true? he told me to start getting off liquid/purreed only and move to solids coz eating too much pureed food etc is cheating too, which is fair enough. I said, yes I actually do started eating cooked vegetabled like cauliflower and brocolli, and trying to move to some more solid stuff but so,etimes when I swallow cetain stuff it HURTS like HELL. Just the swallowing bit. Once it goes past the band level (or at least I think it's the band level, chest area basically) and once it's settled its ok. But for example eating lettuce doesnt hurt. But eating scrambled egg does! Now my surgeon said " yes thats how the band works, once it stops hurting then you know it failed coz the pouched got streched. That is literally what he said. I am like..what? Seriously? To which he said that this is how the band works... and here I was it was supposed to create restriction as in, eating less makes me feel full faster etc? Not HURT as I swallow? ...

What the hell is my surgeon talking about? If it's supposed to hurt when I eat, i don't think I want it in me :S

[SandyM 1,956]

^{Ok, if you you chew well and take small bites, it should not hurt. At least I've never heard of this and I don't. As for broccolli, most with a band have problems with this one, so watch it, cuz it'll "hurt you". Sounds like what you are feeling is stuck sensation. Are you waking your band up in the morning with something hot? I start my day with 2 cups coffee and notice that in the evening I'm more likely to have stuck episodes than the morning and I think this is the reason. He is right about the pureeds and liquids. You can get way too many of them, known as "sliders" and cause you to actually gain weight. Remember your surgeon probably does not have a band therefore really cant know what you are feeling. My surgeon just blew my questions off and I believe he was truly uncomfortable with them. I ended up switching to his wife who is his partner. But you'll learn tons on this forum, I know I have. How much saline do you have in your band?}

[SandyM 1,956]

I can tell somebody has been sitting at my computer and messing with my font size.

[SandyM 1,956]

Now, thats better. Ahh, even better.

[matilda85 2]

Heya, thanks for the reply.

well my band is empty as far as I know, I get first filling in 4 week apparently. And of course I chew everything properly - thing is I can eat unchewed lettuce and swallow it no problem, but pureed cauliflower? Prepare for da pain! That's why its weird. But of course I chew everything properly into a paste before swallowing so don't understand why it hurts. And why would my doc say its OK and that it's supposed to hurt....

Yes I start the day with 2 cups of hot coffee always - wouldnt be able to function without it hehe.

[SandyM 1,956]

Could still have some swelling I think. I'd give it a little more time and work some real food in. As for what you can eat, it varies. There are those who can eat most everything (and say they still have trouble with broccoli) and those who are more limited. I so far can eat most anything if I take it slow and easy. I have 2.5 cc in my band. They usually put some in at surgery, but I had to have all of mine removed initially and start over cuz of the swelling.

[kll724 3,055]

Well, I do agree with SandyM. My surgeon had his lapband since 2002. He lost 100 lbs, I trust him to kn ow the in and outs of lapband.Plus he has placed 1000's. i have never heard of such a thing as when it stops hurting, you have stretched your band! My surgeon keeps us on clear for 2 weeks and then full liquids for 2 weeks. We don't start solids of any sort for a month. But different strokes for different folks! Follow your own surgeon's rules, best wishes!

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

I don't mean this to sound disrespectful, but I truly hope you just misunderstood your surgeon because if he actually did say "once it stops hurting then you know it failed" then you need to find a new surgeon ASAP. Pain is NOT part of having the band.

The reason you're having pain right now is likely because you're eating things your stomach just isn't ready for. All surgeons have a different post op diet, but at only 2 weeks after surgery most of us are only on liquids or mushies. Hard foods like vegetables wouldn't even be an option for another 2-4 weeks. Your stomach has been injured and sutured and needs time to heal- and considering your pain while eating it sounds like yours needs more time.

Please have a look at this link. It explains in detail the sensations we should feel and pain is clearly not one of them: http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-made-simple/Lap-band-surgery-restriction-slips/Lap-band-surgery-restriction-slips.html

If I were you, I'd talk to your surgeon about the information on the link I just posted here and if he truly insists that pain is part of the band, I'd be finding a new surgeon ASAP.

Best wishes.

[Veronica68 81]

I agree with what has already been said. Eating should not hurt! I think you are having trouble with foods that are typical to have trouble with, when banded. I have trouble with broccoli unless it's cooked a lot. I also have trouble with scrambled eggs. Fried, poached or hard boiled are fine. Have no idea why. Another thing I can't tolerate is dry meat, make sure it's nice and moist. Best wishes!

[matilda85 2]

Sadly there was no misunderstanding my surgeon , since I have these words in writing (he texted me saying this) :/ @Veronica - I couldnt eat soft and really overcooked tiny piece of chicken. Tiny bit of Beef Jerky went down without any problems.... no logic at all

I really do OVERCOOK every single thing i eat - just to make sure it is as soft as possible .

My doc doesnt have a band himself but says he has a close friend (also a doc) who had one for 16 years. Hence I'm shocked he would say that lack of pain when eating would mean band failed or stomach poach streched...

[GoingforGoal 1,734]

ok without being in the conversation the only thing I can deduct from this conversation is that the surgeon may have intended to say:

If you eat like normal without any regard for volume and/or bite sizes etc and you feel absolutely no restriction or pushback, than you may have stretched, slipped, eroded etc your band.

No, its not meant to be painful when you eat. However, it can be painful when you eat a large bite, a food that typically does not pass well through your stoma or if you eat fast and overeat.

Again without being there I cant say precisely what he was inferring but its my best guess

[B-52 7,113]

Coming up on 3 years and there are certain foods I will not eat because they can cause pain...no matter how well I chew....

[LeeB1946 261]

Not sure where your doc is coming from, but I have been banded 8.5 months and nearly 80 pounds down. No pain with broccoli, except in trying to spell it, lettuce I cut it up and chew and down it goes with no problem. I know someone who has issues with lettuce with her sleeve and another with the band. I don't really believe that if there is no pain the band is not working. If people had to suffer the pain would we not have these things removed. The only stuck incident is when I did not cut the meat small enough and did not chew it enough. I had no sooner swallowed and said to myself, OH, S$%&t! Stood up, and jumped up and down and walked around for about 5 minutes and it cleared. No vomiting and only one slimming incident, which was my own fault! Ate too fast! Best of luck!

[Kelli1016 52]

Hey there! I'm about 12 day's post op and I can tell you I have no pain when eating -- at all. I am still on mushie stage and will be here for another 2 weeks before my surgeon will allow me to go to "regular" foods.

I might suggest a second opinion. What your surgeon said just doesn't sound right. It should NOT hurt to eat.

Good luck!

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,721]

i am not a dr nor do i have a college degree..

but to have a band or any wls (or even acrylic nails) should not include pain

i would seek a different doctor or confer with this person again..

eating too soon is dangerous and shame on anyone who says its not

eating too much at one time

eating a too big of bite

eating too fast

can and does cause pain

i wish you luck and all the best honey

from what you wrote, him being a quack, your gonna need it