After Surgery No No's

[robbynnoel]

(((((((((((((((((((Hugs Everyone))))))))))))))))))))

I have a question for those who have been banded, I know there are several things that change once you're banded. I'm trying to keep a list. This is what I have so far. Let me know if I've missed anything or if there items on this list that some doctors allow patients to have.

1. No Straws (started)

2. No Gum (started)

3. No Hard Candy (started)

4. No Carbonated Soda, Water, Liquor or other Beverages (started)

5. No Liquor, Wine for at least 1 year (started)

6. No Caffine (started)

7. No Beverages while eating (wait 1 hour prior to eating and 1 hour after)

8. No Popcorn (started)

9. No Nuts (started)

10. No Flour Based Pasta's or Rice (technically I started this today...lol)

11. No Bread unless it's Toasted (ditto)

12. For OCC Patients ... No protein drinks until post op diet allows.

13. Take a MultiVitiamin each day (started)

14. Take a calcium supplement each day (started)

I know I've forgotten a dozen things...I need to pull my paper work again.

[Babe]

hey robbyn,

i'm assuming you're getting banded with at OCC since you're on this forum. Some of the stuff on your list is not mandatory, but more of a suggestion.

Here are the key things:

1. No drinking with meals - No liquid for 45min to 1hr post meal, but you can drink right up till mealtime (you will slime if you try, trust me).

2. No carbonated beverages

3. No gum

4. Eat your protein first, then your veggies, and the anything else if you're still hungry.

5. Eat small bites and Chew, Chew, Chew

6. No straws

Recommendations for max weight loss:

1. Get your protein from lean meats more than the softer forms (like cheese)

2. Try to stay away from refined and processed foods

3. You can eat carbs, but try not to have too much and stick to whole grains.

4. Try not to have liquid calories (ie. milkshakes, protein drinks, undiluted juices, sugared teas and coffees)

5. Exercise 30 min every day once once you've recovered from surgery.

6. Follow Dr. Miranda's guidelines and if you're ever unsure about something, email her or Dr. O. to find out what to do (don't rely on stuff you read online, because it's not always accurate).

7. Take a chewable multivitamin daily.

8. Remember that the first 2-3 months post op is a healing time, so weight loss shouldn't be a priority. You may not have restriction until 2-3 fill in, so be patient with yourself. You may need to depend upon your will power for a while, so learn to measure out your food and maintain portion control until restriction.

9. Use a food journal like fitday.com. myfitnesspal.com, sparkpeople.com

10. Try to get in 50 to 60 grams of protein daily. Unlike Bypassers, we don't need to up our protein intake, just maintain our a healthy amount.

Lastly,

Foods like popcorn, nuts, breads, and more glutenous products (pastas) are difficult to eat for SOME bandsters, but not most. You should be able to eat everything you want, just in smaller portions. You'll discover what foods you band allows once you start eating solids again. You'll need re-assess this after each fill.

Also, Dr. M. told me it's ok to drink caffeine and alcohol (i started after clear liquids). The main concern with the latter, is the empty liquid calories.

Dr. Miranda will give you specific guidelines tailored to you and your health regarding what should or shouldn't eat to maximize weight loss.

Hope this helps

Babe

[robbynnoel]

(((((((((((((((((Babe))))))))))))))))))))

Thank you thank you thank you! This is a wonderful post.

[ValleyGirl]

I couldn't have survived without my morning coffee- I was never told not to have it!

Sabrina:)

[ToddS]

Wow, quite the list of no no's. I had not heard of most of these.

1. No Straws (started)

2. No Gum (started)

3. No Hard Candy (started)

4. No Carbonated Soda, Water, Liquor or other Beverages (started)

5. No Liquor, Wine for at least 1 year (started)

6. No Caffine (started)

7. No Beverages while eating (wait 1 hour prior to eating and 1 hour after)

8. No Popcorn (started)

9. No Nuts (started)

10. No Flour Based Pasta's or Rice (technically I started this today...lol)

11. No Bread unless it's Toasted (ditto)

12. For OCC Patients ... No protein drinks until post op diet allows.

13. Take a MultiVitiamin each day (started)

14. Take a calcium supplement each day (started)

Some of them I actually heard the opposite. Like sugar free gum, it helped get through liquids so you actually had something to chew. Nuts are an excellent source of protein in a small serving after the liquids stage. Drink up until eating and wait 30-45 minutes after. I also have been told that you do not need any supplements if you are eating right. That is one of the things that makes the band better than some of the other surgery options. As far as popcorn, bread, pasta, tortillas etc. the reason to avoid them is mostly nutritional. However, some do get stuck with these foods. If you want them every once in a while you should be able to have them. I say all of this without having had a fill and being only a month in after banding... My theory, and it is just a theory until I have restriction, is that the reason why "everybody is different" is mostly due to how well they chew combined with their ability to produce saliva. If you always have a dry mouth and cannot really liquefy the food you eat before you swallow, you are going to have problems. Anyway, I have always been a multiple diet coke's with my meal kind of guy so it was hard not to drink at first. However, I now find it is easy and my mouth really does not dry out.

It is funny how many of us get our information from the same sources and yet, we all have differing opinions on what we are and are not supposed to do. I do not claim to be an expert and your list may be much more accurate than my information.

Good luck on your journey and in finding what works for you!

[IrishRN]

I did not hear anything about the first 3. The no straws is understandable as it can produce more air and burping but no gum or hard candy i had not been told.

[tootsie_lou]

On the "no gum"--I tried chewing sugarless gum (post-op) for the very reason that ToddS stated, but I ended up with terrible gas pain (I think because of all the swallowing of air), so I gave up on it. :lb12:

[leahwebster]

(((((((((((((((((((Hugs Everyone))))))))))))))))))))

I have a question for those who have been banded, I know there are several things that change once you're banded. I'm trying to keep a list. This is what I have so far. Let me know if I've missed anything or if there items on this list that some doctors allow patients to have.

1. No Straws (started)

2. No Gum (started)

3. No Hard Candy (started)

4. No Carbonated Soda, Water, Liquor or other Beverages (started)

5. No Liquor, Wine for at least 1 year (started)

6. No Caffine (started)

7. No Beverages while eating (wait 1 hour prior to eating and 1 hour after)

8. No Popcorn (started)

9. No Nuts (started)

10. No Flour Based Pasta's or Rice (technically I started this today...lol)

11. No Bread unless it's Toasted (ditto)

12. For OCC Patients ... No protein drinks until post op diet allows.

13. Take a MultiVitiamin each day (started)

14. Take a calcium supplement each day (started)

I know I've forgotten a dozen things...I need to pull my paper work again.

Hey It looks like we are getting banded about the same time!

I really want to Start or be Part of A Biggest looser Challenge! My surgery date is 5/19/09. Is there one starting on or soon after May 19th? Or should we start one?

The Success of the Challenge!

[robbynnoel]

(((((((((((((((((((Everyone)))))))))))))))))))

Good info. Thank you very much. I started with a different doctor and then switched to the OCC, I want to make sure I'm following their guidelines rather than my old doctor so this helps!

[IrishRN]

On the "no gum"--I tried chewing sugarless gum (post-op) for the very reason that ToddS stated, but I ended up with terrible gas pain (I think because of all the swallowing of air), so I gave up on it. :lb12:

wow.. yeah. I dont even want to try gum. Makes sense and not worth the pain.