I need visual help...

tosha · September 4, 2003

Ok I just found out yesterday that I was approved. I don't have a date set right now but was needing to know if some of you can give me a visual idea of different things like, How big of a bite will I be able to have when I get on solid foods? And exactly how big is the hole that the food goes through? Should I eat bites that I would cut up for a 1 yr old and chew, chew, chew or is that going to be too big or too small. I'm really excited and I have been trying to start already with the small bites and chewing so that I'll be use to it. Also if you could tell me the what day you have your surgery and what day you went back to work.

thanks and sorry it's so long but i'm really looking foward to it.

Tosha

bunkie68 · September 4, 2003

Tosha, I'm still on liquids so I can't help much with bite size - I'll be trying to work that out myself in the next few weeks! But if this helps, I had my surgery on August 27 (Wed.) and came back to work September 2 (Tues.). This is my third day back at work and I'm feeling pretty decent. :rolleyes:

And congrats on your approval!!!

shellyj · September 4, 2003

i was banded 8-18 and am on soft foods! chicken, veggies...

on bites i take about 1/3 of a forkful...depending on texture and chew until the food is liquidy. the more restricted you are the more you have to chew!!! i have swallowed some bites to soon! some say use shildrens silverware.

bandsize... about 2 inches in diameter. roughly the size of your thumb and index finger into a circle...depending on hand size. but remeber all of your stomache is cinched into that. as swelling is going down my appetite is going up!

i had surgery on monday and went back to work on friday. i left an hour early and went home and slept 14 hours!!! everyone is different though!

JC_GODOLPHINS · September 4, 2003

Hey there, can'tgive you much advice from personal experience, BUT my nutritionist said not to try and swallow anything larger than a pencil eraser. That is about the size of the opening that food will go through. Obviously, this is after you have the proper restriction.

Divebadger · September 4, 2003

I recommend bite sizes about the size of your pinky fingernail and yes, chew, chew, chew. Eat slowly and remember to eat good, healthy solid foods (I also recommend Protein first). Every doc and nutritionist are different, but I do think that the small bites and chewing is universal. I was banded 4/11/03 and have had two fills (and one de-fill). I still ocassionally PB, but for the most part, I know what I can and cannot tolerate. You'll learn what you can and can't do as you go along. For instance, I thought scallops would be an ideal food for me, boy was I wrong and it only took me about five tries to realize it's the scallops and not how I am eating them! Funny thing is, I can do most other shellfish and seafood just fine. So, for now, I avoid the scallops.

Good Luck to you.