A HUGE hello from a Virgin with lots of questions ...

[BandVirgin 0]

Greetings to Everyone. Although I have lurked around on the site, I have now been banded for 4 days and have some questions. I don't know if all of you know how much your words of wisdom are appreciated, but please know that they are.

Like I mentioned, I am 4 days out, and am feeling weird. I had a great surgery done in Mississauga, ON, Canada, and everything went great. Very little discomfort, and little to no gas pain. Very manageable. (Sorry to brag ...):guess

I am not able to take much by mouth. I feel sooooooo full, and after taking 2-3 little sips of Water, it feels as though my throat is full and nothing is going to go down. I takes about 15 minutes, and I can slowly feel the liquid moving down my throat. Very strange. And, when I do feel hunger, or possibly some gas moving around, I can again only attempt a sip or two.

Is this tight feeling normal? Am I so fresh that I need to just ingnore how I feel over the next few weeks? Also, any suggestions on what I could try to eat at this point, other than water or broth?

Thanks a bunch, I appreciate all of the help I can get.:kiss2:

[BandVirgin 0]

What's the deal with diet pop? Why is it such a no-no. Will it actually cause the band to slip?

Thanks again :kiss2:

[Big As Life 0]

You have lots of swelling in your stomach after the surgery...and your throat may be swollen from the tube being put down it....taking a few sips of Water at a time is recommended.....don't try to take more than just small sips of water or clear liquids....if after a few days this does not get easier I would call my doctor, but right now, I don't think you have anything to worry about...just continue to take little sips and swallow slowly...don't try to just drink normally...or gulp any liquid....you should be fine...

[faithmd 14]

The probem with soda is the carbonation. You can have diet soda, you just have to stir it or let it sit until it gets flat before you drink it. The theory is that the carbonation could potentially stretch out your pouch. Some docs are okay with their patients having soda in reasonable amounts after healing (6 months or a year out). Most folks have said they no longer have a taste for it.

I gave up all carbonated beverages in January, haven't missed them at all. Occasionally (pre-banding) I'd pick up DH's glass or bottle and take a small swig and it was pretty odd. I didn't really like it as much as I used to.

Regarding your diet:

Your surgeon should have hooked you up with a dietician and they should have discussed what your post-op diet should be. Did you get the band booklet? It has some diet guidelines in it.

Call your surgeon's office RIGHT AWAY to find out what you should be drinking and for how long before you advance to each stage. You shouldn't be eating at all yet. This is not the time to go it alone, you need guidelines from YOUR surgeon as to what you should be doing.

Welcome and good luck!

[allwright 0]

If you are only 4 days post-op, you should not be trying to eat anything. Your body has to heal and get use to the band. Most doctors advise 2 weeks liquids and then mushy, slushy foods for 2 weeks before attempting solids of any kind. Be careful and be patient. Contact your doctor or dietician for exact instructions.

[BandVirgin 0]

:help:Thank you so much for the replies. I really appreicate the help. I am a little concerned with my lack of information, and am sincerely hoping that I have not harmed myself so early into the procedure. Yesterday, 4 days out of surgery, I ate 3 cherries, chewed up really well, as well as 1/4 of a hamburger with the bun. Again, ensuring that It was chewed to an almost liquid consistency ... but nonetheless, a far cry from a liquid diet. Today, after speaking with some local bandsters, I have immediately started on liquids only ... but I am so concerned about the possible damage I may have created. I tolerated the food fine, and had no issues, other than an extreme full sensation in my tummy. This morning when I woke up, it felt as though any pressure that I had been experiencing had completely dissipated??? It felt as though I had never even had the surgery. Do you think that I may have caused my band to slip so soon, and other than allowing my body to heal, is the post op liquid diet in place to avoid slipping of the band? I am not clear about why I must wait to start eating? Sorry if I sound ignorant, I certainly am not meaning to be, just really unclear. I have called the clinic that I had surgery at to get some clear instructions, just praying to god in the meantime that I did not do all of this for nothing. I have just had my first "meal" of the day, 1 cup of Optifast, and am feeling so stuffed and full, it feels as though the liquid is going to start coming back up at any minute. Feels like if I were to Burp, that everything would start gushing out. (Sorry to be so detailed) Arghhhhhhh, am I stupid or what?:mad:

[faithmd 14]

The point of liquids post-op (and by liquids, that means liquids without solids in them) is to allow the band to set itself in place. The band is sutured on the front of the stomach into place, but the back side has nothing keeping it in place. This is where the liquid diet comes into play. The band gets "seated" by scar tissue forming around the band on the back of the stomach. It takes time (not days, but possibly weeks-everyone is different) for a good scar ring to form that will hold the band. ANY solid particles will cause your stomach to churn and move around trying to digest what has been ingested into it. The stomach is a big muscle. You do not want to have that muscle moving around and churning, the more it moves, the less scar tissue will form, the less scar tissue that forms, the higher your chances to slip down the road. Liquids are processed with a lot less churning than even something you've chewed and chewed.

Hope that makes sense.

[mjsafari 0]

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f93/june-2007-bandsters-33199/index104.html

Come join us on the June board.

If you are concerned about a slip - call you doctor immediately. I doubt you have caused one with that minimal amount, but definitely stick to liquids until your doc says it is okay. Your band should be sewn in and should be very secure. I know you hear a lot about slipping, but I don't think it is real common. My surgeon hasn't had one for a very long time, he does 3-4 bands a week. The last one was on a women who had the stomach flu with severe vomiting.

[faithmd 14]

Yes, the band is secure on the front where it is sewn, but the back gets secured by formation of scar tissue. That has to form over time and the movement of stomach muscle to digest solids prevents that from happening. I don't think the OP slipped yet, either. But to be safe OP should tell the doc what happened.

[BandVirgin 0]

Thanks a million to everyone! I sure appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions. Last night was a very difficult night for me, I guess that is what I get for bragging about how well I did initially. I ended up calling the surgeon, and he was able to go over my post op diet. As it turns out, they just revamped the post op diet last week, so any instructions that he would have given me have since changed. This is what he suggests:

Liquids - 1 week

Mushies - 1 Week

pureed - 1 Week

Solids - After then ....

I think that a person needs to be really careful about reading up and researching the band. I am one of those people who wills myself to have bad things happen, and I tend to focus on the negative and work myself up. I think that I need to focus on the posts that talk about "loving" their band, and that I need positive reading right now. Thanks again for all of your comments, I truly appreciate them.:kiss2:

[juliegeraci 7]

What you are experiencing is normal. Your stomach is probably swollen so I wouldn't worry about it. Just sip all day long and make sure you get in enough fluids. You will be fine in a week or 2. Also, let your surgeon know how you are doing.