advice needed on eating solid food after a gastric band

[sparky42]

hi everyone i am going onto solid food on monday what kind of food did other banders eat eg can i eat salad, fruit, salmon, prawns im a wee bit scared to eat solid food is this normal?
Julie

 

[swizzlestick]

Hi Sparky,

Sorry I can't help you with this one as im still awaiting surgery myself. I didnt want to read and not reply

I'm sure someone will be along to help out though Xx

 

[sparky42]

thanks swizzlestick, i have read loads of literature on this but i think its better getting advice from the people on here they have been very helpful to me with my many questions over the last few weeks. Have you got a date yet for surgery?

 

[serenitylove]

hi if your fine with your mushies then just start it will be fine on with back to normal eating meat make sure you cut small and chew well ,prawns are great i have good restriction and they are one of my easier to eat foods so may be a good place to start as you havnt had a fill you wont have great restriction yet, avoid rice and pasta tho as they can swel in tummy and can bung up your hole lol alot of it is trial and error as different people are good with diff things, jacket potatoes are also good

 

[j.u.s.t.l.i.z.]

just gradualy introduce solid food its trial and error you wont know what restricts you until you try, the food markers to avoid are bread, rice, pasta, red meat. some banders can eat these foods before a fill but its not advisable.

two key factors thats very important to remember is to EAT SLOWLY as if you put the food in the pouch quicker than it can pass through the band hole its similar to blowing up a balloon, the balloon would bust we are "sick".

the second this is to CHEW WELL as if the food isnt chewed enough big lumps of food thats not been broken down enough will just block the band hole similar to a blocked plug hole which will also make you vomit if food is continued eating after this occurence.

maybe try a small tennis ball sized jacket potato with either baked beans or tuna as a filling make sure the skin is chewed well if you desire to eat it.

follow the above rules and you will be fine, and STOP eating when the pouch feels full as going past the "feeling" will also result in vomiting.

liz x

 

[yasmine-samara]

I had a band fitted in 2001 but sadly had most of the post op complications that can occur later on. This isn't typical of most band patients so please don't feel alarmed.

I found bread a struggle and pretty much and anything that had a skin on it!!
eg. sausages, peas, tomatoes, apples, plums etc etc I did well initially with it before I started to have issues.

Best of luck!!

 

[sparky42]

thanks for all your advice, i will just make sure i chew really well and reduce my portion sizes, what happens if food blocks are you immediatly sick? i think thats my worst fear!

 

[j.u.s.t.l.i.z.]

thanks for all your advice, i will just make sure i chew really well and reduce my portion sizes, what happens if food blocks are you immediatly sick? i think thats my worst fear!

you wont imeadiatley be sick that will come if you continue eating as the food backs up and has no where to go.

 

[swizzlestick]

Hi Sparky

I've been told hopefully autumn, I shan't hold my breath as I was told last year it woud be before christmas and it didnt happen Xx

 

[sparky42]

my goodness swizlestick. thats awful why the hold up?