Just got the Lap Band and I have a few questions

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all of their support. I had the surgery on Tuesday but I have some questions:

1. Can I drink coffee after a few weeks?

2. Are Gas-X Strips okay to use for now?

3. Does it hurt when your bandages are taken off? 

4. What did you guys eat during Phase 2 off Post-OP?

Thanks in advance!

Glad the surgery went OK.

1. I did, but some docs say wait for up to 6 months.
2. OTC anti-gas meds are fine
3. No - well, mine didn't, anyway!
4. My phase two was purees but what you eat is down to your own doc. And docs give very, very different instructions. Follow your own doc's protocol!

Kate

 1- I do not remember how long I waited. I was initially told decaf. So I bought all decaf Keurig cups...and then after a few months,  I said something to my nutritionist and she said... If it does not bother your stomach you can have reg...so now I alternate decaf/ caf... (A friend of mine had the sleeve done and she is allowed NO coffee EVER again.... Aaaahh)

2- I used chewables... but the strips shouldbe fine

3- Steri strips? Usually steri strips just stay on til they fall off.. Patients are usually told not to pull them, so by the time they come off..no pain

4- Phase II is different for all... FOr me  it was puree... (I tried baby food-yuk)  but I tried to stick with pureed egg salad, tuna.. I tried to puree a piece of steak once.... Big fiasco... OH well.. Live and learn....''

Good luck and remember to listen to your doctors plan... 

 It's different for all of us...depends on what your doctor says and your nutritionist....

1. coffee- i limit myself to 4 to 6 oz a day....as to not irritate my stomach
2. i have a prescription for reflux.....don't know bout gas -x strips
3. No discomfort when bandages come off.....

Glad everything went well.  I had coffee pretty much from the third day after surgery but it is decaf and I only have 1 per day because it can dehydrate you.  The bandages came off by the 5th day as the hospital said they should.  Just keep wetting them when you shower and it won't take long.

Post op I had soup and liquids and progressed to hummus, corn flakes with low fat milk, egg, tuna or salmon salad, mashed potatoes, yoghurt.  Before you know it you're onto the next stage which I start tomorrow.  Chicken breast yeah!!!

Good luck!

According to Mayo clinic nutritionists, coffee is not dehydrating in normal amounts.. 2 or 3 cups a day.  If you drink more than that.. add an extra glass (or 2) of water for every cup.

My doctor says he won't tell anyone they can't have coffee anymore, but to watch what we put IN the coffee.  ie, no sugar or very low sugar, coffeemate isn't a good choice, skim milk is better.  or non fat dry milk.

Gas-X strips should be fine, but ask your doc to be 100% sure.

My bandages didn't hurt, but they weren't much more than gauze & tape and I don't remember if I had steri-strips over the glue or not.  I had another lap surgery previous to banding and I did have steri-strips with those incisions and they didn't hurt at all that I recall.  If there was pain, it was minimal.

I didn't have phases..  I was on clear liquids for a day or two, then full liquids and then soft foods.  by 2 weeks I was back on regular food as tolerated.  Tell us what your doctor says Phase 2 is and we can give suggestions.

1. Can I drink coffee after a few weeks?
I drank coffee within a few days of surgery.  My doctor put no restrictions on coffee post-op.  I continue to have 2 cups every morning with a half tsp of sugar in each.

2. Are Gas-X Strips okay to use for now?
Gas-x are ok anytime according to my doc.

3. Does it hurt when your bandages are taken off? 
No, I took mine off per my discharge instructions.  I did get a terrible rash from the adhesive used to keep the steri strips on that lasted about 4 weeks.

4. What did you guys eat during Phase 2 off Post-OP?
I'm going to assume you mean the puree stage...mostly soups that I put through the blender.  Safeway has some wonderful soups in their deli case that come in pints or quarts.  The southwestern bean is very good and as I progressed I added some cooked and finely crumbled ground turkey to it for more protein.  I also topped it with LF sour cream and some grated parm, delish.  I made lasagna with the ground turkey and peeled eggplant slices (roasted) instead of pasta, later in the phase.  I made a filling of ff cottage cheese, egg and parmesan + LF mozz and layered it...now my whole family asks for it!  I also ate cream of wheat and progressed to soft cooked eggs over the week.  I was on liquids for a week, puree's for a week and on solids by the beginning of week three.  I had no problems with progressing to solids.