why liquid first 2 weeks

Denee · November 23, 2008

If the band is not tightened at surgery and the fill doesn't come for 4-6 weeks, why then only liquids then mushie? The opening is then still the same as before. What have you been told the reason for this is? How can eating small bites, chewing extremly well, mess you up? Hubby starting to get really tired and hungry with this liquid bit.

matjazty · November 23, 2008

I was told that you have to treat your stomach like a babies- it's a "new" pouch and you have to baby it until it heals- then introduce foods slowly to see what you can tolerate and what you can not. I haven't been banded yet- next month I hope, But I hope this will explain something! LOL!

Jachut · November 23, 2008

The opening isnt the same as before - its swollen, which gives a lot of people pretty severe restriction. Also the band is stitched to the outside of the stomach, and in order for the stitches to heal and scar tissue to form to anchor the band permanently, the liquid diet is meant to prevent the stomach from having to churn and work a lot to digest. Less movement of the stomach means better healing. And eating, with the swelling, increases the risk of getting something stuck and vomiting, also not at all good with a brand new band not cemented in place yet.

Tell your hubby to hang in there, this is the most important part of the entire process. It DOES matter if you break the liquid to mushies regime. But you may not know it till further on down the track when the band slips.

BgB9 · November 23, 2008

I'm there with your husband, banded only a few days before. But my surgeon made it very clear that I could do some damage if I went straight to solids. He told me I could damage the stitches holding the band in place and might have to get another surgery to correct placement. I was initially told only 1 cup mushy stuff and 2 protien drinks, but his nurse and dietician said I could do 2 cups of that and 1 cup Protein Drink. That and varying the mushy stuff really helped. They tell me it gets better with a fill, so there is light at the end of the tunnel.