You have just had your surgery and you are likely have lots of questions for your surgeon about the Post Gastric Banding Surgery and what your life will be like afterwards. Here are some typical questions that you may have.

1. Will I be sick a lot after the post gastric banding surgery ?
2. Will I feel hungry or deprived after the post gastric banding surgery ?
3. Can I eat anything in moderation?
4. Can I drink alcohol?
5. Can I go out to eat?
6. Am I allowed to have my gastric lap band opened for a special occasion?
7. Does the gastric lap band limit any physical activity?
8. Do I have to be careful with the access port just underneath my skin?

1. Will I be sick a lot after the post gastric banding surgery ?
The gastric banding will limit the amount of food you can eat at one time. If you always feeling nauseated on a regular basis, it probably means that you aren’t chewing your food well enough or that you aren’t following the gastric banding post-surgical diet properly, other reason could be that the placement of the gastrc band have a problem, so contact your doctor if you continue to get sick. You must avoid vomiting as much as possible because it can cause your small stomach pouch to stretch. It can also lead to slippage of the band which will offsetting the effectiveness of your surgery. In some severe cases, damage due to vomiting can mean another operation.

2. Will I feel hungry or deprived after the post gastric banding surgery ?
The gastric lap band makes you eat less and feel full in two ways:

• By reducing how much your stomach can hold at one time
• By increasing the time it takes food to get through your digestive system.

After a small meal, the amount of which varies from person to person, you should feel full and satisfied for some time. If you follow the nutrition guidelines when you choose your food and then chew it well, you shouldn’t feel hungry or deprived at all.
3. Can I eat anything in moderation?
After your stomach has healed, generally you may eat most foods that don’t cause you discomfort. Since you can only eat a small amount of food at a time, it is important that you choose nutritious, vitamin-rich foods. You may click here to find out some problem foods after you avoid after gastric banding.

4. Can I drink alcohol?
Alcohol has a lot of calories and breaks down vitamins. An occasional glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage is not considered harmful to weight loss.

5. Can I go out to eat?
Order only a small portion, such as an appetizer and try to eat slowly. It may help if you stop eating at the same time as your dinner companions too. Best to explain to your host or hostess know in advance that you cannot eat very much.
6. Am I allowed to have my gastric lap band opened for a special occasion?
While it is tempting and easy, your gastric lap band should not be opened to eat a big meal at a special occasion. However the gastric lap band can be opened for medical reasons such as pregnancy, when you will need to increase your nutritional intake.

7. Does the gastric lap band limit any physical activity?
It should not hamper any type of physical activity. You should be free to do aerobics, stretches, and any strenuous exercise you enjoy once you’ve completely recovered.

8. Do I have to be careful with the access port just underneath my skin?
The access port is placed under the skin in the abdominal wall, it should not cause discomfort or limit any physical exercise at all. The only sensation you may experience from the port occurs when you go in for adjustments. If you feel persistent discomfort in the port area, see your doctor.

Hope this explains better the questions on post gastric banding surgery .

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Diet after Gastric Banding Surgery

Immediately after your surgery you needs consider your diet after Gastric Banding surgery has been completed, it is important to let it sit and rest so that scar tissue can form around it which is crucial to helping it fix in the correct position. If you were to eat a normal solid diet immediately after the operation your stomach muscles squeeze and churn to break down the food and put stress and pressure on the band and any stitches holding it in position.

The Gastric banding idea is to limit how much food your stomach pouch can contain, so you need to get to grips with your diet after Gastric Banding Surgery if you are going to get the best results. Whilst individual surgery centres do vary in their specific eating plan advice, here is general information and guidance for Gastric banding patients.

Your food will alter as time goes by and can be broken into two different time frames, the first being within the first four weeks and the other being beyond four weeks.

The first four weeks

You will start taking sips of water the day after the gastric band surgery and following day you will probably be able to take free fluids. Once you are taking fluids easily the next step is moving to puree.

The key point to your eating plan for the four weeks after gastric banding is to make sure all your food is pureed and that you eat small quantities (4–5 small meals per day).Here’s the key points to take note when preparing your diet:

• The texture should be something like smooth baby food and this can be achieved by using a food processor or hand–held blender, or push though a sieve to remove any lumps and remember to add a little water to make a smoother consistency.
• The size of your meals should be about 100g, or 5–6 tablespoons is the correct amount. Ensure you eat this slowly and eat in small mouthfuls.
• Stop eating as soon as you start to feel full as your pouch is at the top of your stomach, the feeling of fullness you will get is different from the feeling before and has been explained as a tightness in your chest not your stomach.
• Drink 1.5 litres of water (2 1/2 pints) every day in 100-200ml portions which is too be taken between meals and not with the meal as it could fill you up fast.

Example meals during this stage:

By controlling your diet after Gastric Banding Surgery you will gain the maximum comfort and results, combine this with a exercise after gastric banding surgery routine and your gastric surgery recovery process will be improved.

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