What can happen?

[ccegla 0]

What happens if you can tolerate solids without any problem and move a little faster on the post op diet....can that hurt the band?

[flowers 0]

There are doctors who will claim that if you dont allow the band to heal and the stomach to rest you could cause slippage down the line, at a later time. The point of liquids and then mushies is so the stomach muscle doesnt move much. Every doctor has the post op diet a little different though, so there are variances, but I havent heard of any less than one month.

I could easily have eaten most anything as far as I can tell right off the bat, but they made me have Jello. Even after a fill where the doctor says Im tight Im on mushies still today to let my stomach rest. I nibbled on some turkey just now as today is almost done, I know Im not supposed to have solid food until tomorrow morning.

Iv cheated by a few hours I admit a time or three. I did liquids all day yesterday though, as prescribed after a fill.

BTW welcome to Bandster Hell, thats what they call the phase when you are not restricted and want to eat more and can, but have to use sheer will power to get thru until you are restricted enough to help your appetite. You sound like you are there. Some people have some swelling after surgery which acts like restriction. I didnt have this, thats why I could have eaten anything.

Edited November 30, 2008 by flowers

[RestlessMonkey 7]

YES it can hurt the band. If you have a lap band (don't know about realize, I didn't research it since it's not the kind I have) when placing it your stomach is pulled UP around the band and the band is stitched into place.

IF you eat "food" (mushies or solids) your stomach churns to digest the bolus of food. You don't feel it (our bodies really are miraculous!) but it churns like a little washer. IF your stitches aren't healed and you eat and your stomach does it's thing, you risk immediate slippage or just a tearing of a suture or two. In a way, the latter is worse because it can cause slippage and/or erosion on down the line.

SO don't cheat. The rules are there for a reason, well, most of them, anyway.

And if someone says they did and got away with it? Unless they've been banded over a year or two, they don't know they've "gotten away" with it. So do what your doc says. It's hard, but you can do it!

[ccegla 0]

oh dear oh dear. I hope I haven't messed things up. I didn't know that was the reason..I thought it was just because you would feel sick and it was a tolerance issue.

I stuck to my clear liquid day after surgery and then stuck with creamy's for five days after (instructed to seven). Then went on to mushies (suposed to be on those for another day)....but have mixed some non mushies in there recently...I have eaten most everything to a puree before swollowing....but boy now I am nervous....I am getting back on track tonight! Mushies til Tuesday then can introduces other things. I hope I have not hurt anything...is there anyway to know?

[RestlessMonkey 7]

oh dear oh dear. I hope I haven't messed things up. I didn't know that was the reason..I thought it was just because you would feel sick and it was a tolerance issue.

I stuck to my clear liquid day after surgery and then stuck with creamy's for five days after (instructed to seven). Then went on to mushies (suposed to be on those for another day)....but have mixed some non mushies in there recently...I have eaten most everything to a puree before swollowing....but boy now I am nervous....I am getting back on track tonight! Mushies til Tuesday then can introduces other things. I hope I have not hurt anything...is there anyway to know?

Your post op was much more generous than mine! :thumbup:

Anyway, just call your surgeon on Monday and tell him/her what you've done. he may feel it's ok, he may want to do an ultrasound or something, he may just give you a stern lecture to get with the program! But let him (the pro) be your guide. Don't panic until he tells you to!

Not everyone has to do MY diet; the point is we're just supposed to do what our surgeons tell us. It's hard, but that's the fact of the matter. Let him decide if your excursions have harmed you. Hopefully, not!

[Froggi 4]

I cheated today too I start full liquids tomorrow and tonight I tried 4 bites of mushed up bean Soup chewed into liquids...:thumbup: I feel like a failure..told myself I would never cheat. -sigh-

[gentylwind 1]

As usual, RestlessMonkey is correct about all of it, including those who cheated have no idea yet unless they are a year or two out whether they screwed anything up. Talk to your doctor. That is your best source of advice. Its not popular around here to encourage people to stick to the preop diet, but it really isn't wise to fudge on this. Best of luck to you.

[TQUAD64 9]

You cand do this, so just start back on the appropriate phase you should be on.

I asked my doctor details on this subject. She stated the same thing as restlessmonkey's doctor stated. Plus my doctor said that the little pouch can only hold so much.

After surgery, if I go straight to foods instead of following the stages, I take the risk of filling the little pouch, which causes it to be heavy, which can cause it to slip through the band. The sutures need time to heal, so stay on the proper phase diet as your doctor directs you. :-)