Solid Foods

Kelley · November 28, 2006

When are solid foods usually added. Do you usually get your first fill first?I am four weeks out from my surgery and having my first fill 12-11-06.

Kat817 · November 28, 2006

I would call your surgeon back if you did not get a written eating plan, and ask. Each Dr. has their own time line for adding foods, as well as doing fills. I personally had to wait until like 9 weeks for a fill (8 were required wait time), but had been eating regular food for about 2 weeks prior to that. Of course I went back to liquids for 2 days and mushies for the 3rd day following a fill...which also varies widely among Dr.s. I really think a simple call to the office of your Dr. would be safest and ease your concerns.

Welcome to bandland, and the LBT-- BTW!!!

Kat

juliegeraci · November 29, 2006

I would ask your doctor but for me I was on solids pretty quickly. I think it was 3 weeks or so. I would start solids before you have a fill. With a few patients they find that sometimes you don't even need one. Good luck.

Persimmon · November 29, 2006

Typically, bandsters start transitioning to solids around 4-5 weeks out and should be fully back on and tolerating solids for at least 1-2 weeks before deciding if a fill is needed. You cannot judge restriction on anything but solids and you cannot judge restriction on feel. New bandsters tend to obsess about "feeling" restriction and that's not the point. A properly restricted bandster will be losing 1-2lbs/week on average and have their sensible bandster meals (not teeny tiny micromeals...3-4 oz solid Protein, 1 serving (1/2 cup) nonstarchy veggies and up to 1 serving (1/2 cup) of starch if there's room) make them full (full = not physically hungry anymore, not tightness/stuffed/uncomfortable) and not get physically hungry again for 3-4 hours after a meal. So you can't see how things are going with solids until you've been on them for a little while first.

Surgeons who fill prior to patients getting back onto solids haven't been trained properly and show a lack of understanding of how the band works. I can't tell you how many people I've seen end up too tight with problems because of surgeons who do this.

Nancy

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