Hey, I think the other poster was a bit harsh (I've been harsh before so I was really trying to not be).
Still, all the chewing in the world won't stop your stomach from churning to digest the food you put in it -- regardless of how much you chew it. And, although you'll probably get a golfball effect (food hurting your stoma and stomach but still being able to pass through) or have a productive burp (bring food back up) at some point, you certainly don't want it to happen early out. This can happen regardless of how well you chew. Sure, chewing well usually prevents this but I've had the painful golfball effect merely by eating a well-chewed banana.
It isn't just the chewing that's important. Again, you also need to be compliant with your surgeon's orders. Why do I say this? Because there ARE surgeons out there who put their lap band patients on three months of liquids post-op and there ARE surgeons out there who have their patients start eating food immediately.
I don't know if anyone has studied slippage/erosion rates for either group of patients, though.
Your question and our responses are the same as those asked on the lap band forum on an almost daily basis so you're certainly not alone.
You're in a bit different situation if I read your story correctly. I believe it looked like your surgeon wanted you to start eating solids earlier than mine so that's why I keep referring you back to your surgeon. When others say they're hungry and want to start eating x, y, or z, I usually tell them to ask their surgeons if they can advance their foods.
Whatever you do, it is your choice. I tend to err on the side of caution. Just go slow and don't eat anything you don't want to come up again (at the very least, you don't typically have the nasty bile taste and burning sensation like when you vomit when you have a PB -- it just really hurts).
Be aware of solid, dry proteins (like chicken and pork can be). I try to make sure I have some type of gravy or sauce (low fat, of course) on problem foods. Things like salmon go down so nicely that I've found with restriction that I'm naturally gravitating towards those softer solid proteins so I am very much watching what I'm eating, too, to make sure I'm not relying on soft foods too much. Its always something, lol.
You'll do fine if you follow your surgeon's orders. I was able to eat a 12 inch sub (with a toasted bun like Quizno's) post-op but it was about three months out from surgery before I really even tried. Now I can't eat anything there but maybe an occasional salad. Restriction really can change how well you're able to eat. Its odd but I'm still thrilled with my band.
Lori
