Diet?

[Gummiebear 0]

After reading threw this thread I have realized I have very limited information about how to go about my diet. I went threw the whole nutrition class and everything and had to be on a 2 week liquid diet prior to surgery. The doctor I went to I think people mostly deal with his nurse or something because thats who I usually spoke with. Altho he was very nice it seemed like I had limited contact with him. After my surgery I asked him what I should be eating and he told me she would discuss all of that with me in detail before I was discharged and when I asked her about it she told me to eat whatever I could tolerate but to stay away from greasy foods. I looked at her totally confused expecting to be put on a liquid diet of some sort but they just said whatever I can tolderate. Does this seem odd to anyone else but me. I have been doing mostly liquids and soft foods but it seems like most people in this forum have a much stricter diet then I was given. I'm so confused at this point I will definately be calling him on Monday.

[Jachut 487]

It is a bit odd. I mean every surgeon has different recommendations but I've never heard of anyone not having to do some sort of liquid to mushy to solid regime afterwards. I'd follow that up, ask the question again.

[Stitchy 0]

I'm so sorry you weren't given better information. You won't feel very good and you could actually hurt yourself if you "just eat whatever I could tolerate but to stay away from greasy foods"

I would spend a lot of time on the food forum. You should be starting out the first couple of weeks with liquids (anything you can suck through a straw - use your blender). Then a couple of weeks on soft foods like yogurt, cottage cheese. Then ease into real food. That is pretty basic advice, but I think it would be a good idea, too, to talk directly to your doctor. Insist. The nurse's advice sounds really bad. Good for you for taking care of yourself by eating gentle foods.

Please keep posting and let us know how you are doing.

[Road Queen 0]

If you go into the food forum, the first thread describes the different foods for the various stages.

[Anaed2 0]

Gummiebear,

I was banded 6 weeks ago. I didn't have to do any pre-op diet since the sonogramme they did of my liver showed that it wasn't too large. All the literature my surgeon had given me months before my surgery, plus all the info gleaned from this website stated that I would have to do liquids for 2 weeks then mushies for 2 weeks, then solids after week 4. Imagine my surprise when on my 3rd day post-op my doctor discharged me from hospital and told me to go home and eat anything I liked in very small quantities and tiny bites! He said that the general recommendation now (here in France) is not to put people on a post-op liquid diet, but rather to start them on solids ASAP so that they don't become too accustomed to liquids and soft foods. He said solids weren't going to do any harm to someone newly banded if they were careful to chew a lot before swallowing, and that the point of getting the band was to eat "normally".

In all, I did 3 full days of liquids, then began solids. I had no trouble at all, and I only started getting food "stuck" several weeks post-op when I started being negligent about chewing properly or taking small bites. I had read of one other person on this board, months ago, saying that her doctor had only required one week of liquids after surgery before moving on to solids.

I, too, felt confused about all the contradicting info I was getting and was concerned that I was going to mess up my band, but I'm sure my doctor wouldn't have told me to go onto solids so soon after being banded if it could in any way harm my newly placed band (he has quite a lot of experience in doing lapbands). The only downside to starting solids so soon was not having a head start on the weightloss - I've only lost 6 kg / 13 lbs in 6 weeks (which is really not bad considering that I wouldn't have lost any more if I'd been following WW, but disappointing when I compare with others who were banded around the same time as me and who did a month of liquids/soft foods).

If I were you, I would try to speak in person with your doctor very soon to clarify exactly what you should be doing, then just do what he wants you to do and try not to worry too much about the contradicting information you're getting from other sources.

Deana.

[avilla 1]

I know that every dr is different and has different rules...My dr had me on a clear liquid diet for 3 days after surgery then on a mushie stage for 5 weeks...The mushie stage basically consisted of yogart, oatmeal, apple sauce, cottage cheese, Protein drinks...This is suppose to allow your band time to heal without pushing it and causing slippage...But then again, I have a friend at work that also just had hers done and right after surgery she was right back to normal foods per her drs instructions...I dont know if I would agree with your nurse about it just being limited to no greasy foods...Of course its basically all trial by error after you get on normal foods cuz every person can tolerate different things