Why Liquids for sooo long????

I had a band placed over my bypass March 1st of this year, was pretty much smooth sailing until three weeks ago when I started having pain in my chest area every time I ate solid food.  It would go away after a few minutes and I could continue eating.  Last Friday I was unable to get anything down and since my surgeon is in Mexico, I went to the ER.  I thought my band had slipped.  I was admitted and had a Fluoroscopy done and they took out all the fill in my band then did another one.  They found that I was very swollen and needed for that to subside before eating solid foods again.  The surgeon wanted to take my band out at first but then changed her mind the next day.  I was released and told to be on clear liquids for 2 weeks then mushies for 2 weeks.  Mushies I can deal with but the clear liquids for 2 WEEKS seems extreme.  I was only on clear liquids for 10 days after my surgery.....I am in my 5th day of clears and am about to lose my mind.  I didn't have any problem after surgery but I didn't feel like eating or drinking for that matter.  This is torture and I wanted to know if anyone has gone through this and if so is clears for 2 weeks excessive?  BTW....my surgeon in Mexico suggested one day of clears, one day of creamier liquids, one day of mushies then on to solids....this is a huge difference!!

For them to prescribe full liquids for such a long time, you must have some pretty extreme swelling and/or damage. You know what causes that pain in the chest when you eat solid foods? The Vagus nerves that run through the diaphragm and into the stomach... where the band is. And those nerves, once they become irritated, tend to stay irritated. I'm thinking that is why they've put you on liquids for so long... so you can hopefully avoid permanent damage.

If, once you start on solid foods again, you have pain, please get checked right away. It's been over 7 years since I had the band removed and I still get pain on occasion from the damage it did to my nerves. You want to avoid this, if you can.

Did your surgeon give you an indication as to why she decided NOT to remove the band? Did she think that the swelling would make it difficult to remove it? 

Hope you can hang in there and feel better. Take care.

I did two weeks of liquids post op and that was the longest two weeks. I was allowed tomato soup and i could make a protein shake in the blender w/ a banana and ice -  those two things got me through the second week.  Hang tough, it's probably for the best. Consider taking up smoking (just kidding).

Welcome to the world of banding.  That arificial opening can give us fits.

Did you see a bariatric specialist?

Can you call your original surgeon to discuss your symptoms, diagnosis, treatment?
What is your plan after the 4 weeks -- is this person (who you saw at the ER) going to start to re-fill your band?

I hope you can get a local bariatric surgeon who will manage your band with you  --- and give you a second opinion on the best eating plan to be following through this time.

That you all for responding.  The surgeon that admitted me to the hospital is a bariatric surgeon and actually has operated on me three times previously for issues with my RNY.  She does not do Band Over Bypass and that is why she didn't do this operation.  They were unable to tell from the testing if it was swollen or if it is obstructed by scare tissue.  Once I'm done liquids and move on to solids if I can eat then it was just swollen, if I can't then they will remove it.  I don't want that to happen since I am having so much success.  I had all the testing sent to my surgeon where I had this done and he differed with that opinion, he said he would have me do one week of clears, one week of thicker liquids and one week of mushies.  I don't want to take any chances so clears it is.....and keeping fingers crossed.

 I just wanted to mention one thing to you that saved me during liquid phases!  I took the fat free cream of chicken soup (or whatever you like, mushroom etc.) and added at least a full can of water and a small can of chicken breast, put it all in the blender until it was complete liquid, then heated it up and used a baby spoon to sip it.  It was SO flavorful, had lots of protein, and by adding extra water it's pretty thin consistency wise.  When I was ready to lose my mind, this little concoction saved me!!  Good luck, I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this!!

 Hijack! That is a great idea for the liquid phase! Thank you! And OP, you have has a lot of success with your BOB! Congrats! I hope the rest fixes your swelling and you can return to eating normally!