1 week in, eating solid food? Why not?

[Chris Padgett 1]

As of this writing, I'm 6 days out from my surgery.

There was also a nasty hiatal hernia that was repaired also.

So far as well as Jello, and cup o'Soup, I have had some solid food. Hamburger meat and chicken mostly.

I've had no issues keeping food down, no pain, although my stomach does have odd feeling after I eat. But I get that feeling regardless of what I eat or drink. A good burp later and all's good.

No one ever did tell me why not to eat solids, just don't.

The biggest reason I even tried was because when I finally started going to the bathroom, it's been diarrhea hell!

[2muchfun 8,927]

First, it takes months or for some of us, years, to learn how to eat small, slow and chew big.

Second and most important, your band is sewn into your stomach with about 6 sutures. They pull your stomach from the south side up and over the band and suture it into place just below the lower esophageal sphincter. If you eat solid food and it gets stuck you can cause those sutures to tear away. You may cause yourself to violently throw-up, tearing those sutures away. Then, it's back into surgery to repair your mistake?

Following rules is imperative for we banders. Better start now or you may never start? Don't mean to be pissy but don't ruin your surgeons good work? And give yourself a chance to make this last ditch effort be the last effort you made to live a healthy lifestyle.

Immodium helps with the diarrhea.

[Chris Padgett 1]

Thank you!

That is an answer I can understand!

No one ever did tell me why not, just don't.

As for chewing and eating small, I chew things to a pulp before I swallow! That's taking some getting used to, but I figure that's the way it's going to be.

[2muchfun 8,927]

You're going to find as you progress that there's a lot they don't tell you. They're all too busy it seems like? Really, people who have had the surgery can tell you more than most doctors or nurses. But if you ever have pain or feel like something's wrong, rely on your doctor.

[KateP 359]

Because eating solid food causes the walls of the stomach to move during the process of digestion. This strains the internal sutures which not only need to heal but need to become embedded in scar tissue. Research ( eg Stroh and Manger) has shown that eating solid food too early increases the risk if slips further down the line,

If my doctor tells me to do something for my own health and safety and I don't understand why, I ask him/her for more information, I don't just ignore him. I give more weight to the opinion and instructions of qualified medical professionals than I do to the ideas of online strangers. Maybe that is why II still have my band after nine years whereas many don't.

[Chris Padgett 1]

Well, I saw my surgeon 10 mins prior to the surgery, and I haven't seen him since.

I was handed pain pills, nausea meds and a stool softener.

The nurse told me not to eat solids for the 1 week, then move up. Then she said it wouldn't be a problem because I wouldn't want to eat anything solid.

Then it was good luck, we'll see you on the 28th.

A little info goes a long way. I doesn't have to be a secret.

[KateP 359]

Well, I saw my surgeon 10 mins prior to the surgery, and I haven't seen him since.

I was handed pain pills, nausea meds and a stool softener.

The nurse told me not to eat solids for the 1 week, then move up. Then she said it wouldn't be a problem because I wouldn't want to eat anything solid.

Then it was good luck, we'll see you on the 28th.

A little info goes a long way. I doesn't have to be a secret.

That's seriously bad service! No wonder you are unsure. Trouble is, we all get different plans and so may give different advice. All I can say is most banded people start with liquids, progress to purées, then soft foods, then normal foods. This usually takes between three and six weeks, depending on the doctor.

[DavidK 19]

Some doctors are very lax, some are strict. Mine is pretty strict; 2 weeks liquid, 2 weeks puree/mushy, 2 weeks soft food. Only at 6 weeks does the plan allow me to try out things to see what I tolerate. I'm on week 3, the first 2 weeks were really tough, but the mushy puree stuff isn't bad at all. I'm in the same boat as you where I feel like I could tolerate pretty much anything, but if sticking to the plan gives me a lower probability of future problems then I will do it. Plus the restricted diet has helped to jump start my weight loss.

Its all about percentages I suppose, letting your stomach do very little work and sit still while it heals allows the band to stay in place better long term, which lowers the probabilty of slips and other complications.

[AussieSam 234]

My doctor it me on liquids for three days mashies for the next three days then progress to solids, never had a problem.

[mlmorgan2006 7]

My surgeon has me doing Clear Liquids for 2 days, full liquids for 7 days, pureed foods for 5 days and soft foods for 5 days. After that I can start adding regular food to my diet.