scared to eat

tosha · October 5, 2003

I was just banded Thursday Oct 2. So I'm no where near ready to eat yet but right now I'm thinking that I'm too scared to anyway. Is that normal? Is that how it's going to be when the time comes that I can eat. I've been on Clear liquids for four days and I'm just fine with that and I'm even worried about going on to full liquids. Will I know if I drank too much? Sorry if this sounds stupid but I really, really don't want to PB.

By the way I've lost 19lbs and that's including 5lbs that I lost on the liquid diet the week before surgery!!!!! YEA!!!!!

Kiera · October 5, 2003

Congrtulations on your surgery! It is still a bit early to worry about eating. My doctor suggested staying on liquid for a couple weeks and then soft foods for a few weeks (basically bringing you up to the time for the first fill at 6 weeks).

I had lots of Soup - with overcooked veggies that melt in your mouth. Eggdrop or hot and sour Soups are quite nice, the egg in them brings up the Protein content. These are good for if you start getting the hungries in a week or two.

You do not have to worry about drinking too much as far as I know. Remember pure fluids are going to work their way right past your band pretty quickly. If you feel full, stop drinking, that's all. Stay away from carbonation (at least in the beginning) because that can cause you discomfort. I still snuck in a cup here or there but that is because I am a diet pepsi fiend. ;-)

PB'ing is really not that bad - it is not like full on Linda Blair or anything like that. It does not happen to me very often but it is not a big deal - I was afraid it would be but I find I am able to take in stride.

One suggestion I have for you is to have a special bowl (a small mixing bowl sized bowl will work) that you keep in the bathroom - this way if you do have to run for it you do not have to put your face in the loo. I have this little crecent shaped plastic bowl (a garbage can insert actually) that fits just right into the sink so that it can sit there and I can run the Water (the shape lets the Water go into the sink not the bowl).

This may sound like a really odd thing but I have found that if I ran to the toilet I was almost 100% sure to toss (toilets no matter how clean are just gross that close up, LOL), but if I just stood over the sink, bent at the waist with the water running gently I would feel better.

Sometimes it helps to just spit in the bowl and stand there. The reason for this is that if I feel overfull I start to get phlemmy and I feel like i need to gulp and that seems to make the problem worse (not to mention giving me horrible gas from gulping down the extra air). By spitting into the bowl and rinsing my mouth out I avoid the worst of it.

When I am done I just flush the contents of the bowl, give it a quick rince and I am done. The reason for the bowl is that if anything (besides spit) does come up it will stop your sink up and/or possibly create an odor.

Don't let all that freak you out or anything, just keep it in mind so that if and when it does happen to you you are prepared. Just stay calm, I tended to panic the first couple of times but once I discovered the bowl technique it is no big deal for me.

I hope that helps.

dezzyntx · October 5, 2003

Tosha, I was scared to eat or drink too. It will get better. You are just not sure what to expect with your band. When the swelling goes down in your stomach you will be able to tell the difference. You will begin to get hungry, and want to experiment with foods. Good luck!

Kiera, I haven't had a PB yet, but I am going to put a bowl in the rest room too. I hate putting my face in the loo. It makes me toss too. I would lose ALL my dinner! Thanks for the idea!