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Monique – Lost 112 lbs
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Most newly banded patients can return to work or resume normal activities within 3-7 days after lap band surgery. It is important to get up and move around, take short walks, and get adequate rest while your body is still recovering from the effects of surgery. Please remember that there is no lifting greater than 10 lbs for the first 6 weeks. If your job requires any heavy lifting or twisting motions, you may consider taking a little more time off.
We recommend that you rest for 2-3 days, and then you may start driving again. Allow yourself at least a week’s recovery before returning to work. If you have any questions, just contact your Patient Facilitator.
Yes, in fact there are 10 rules that should be part of your everyday banded lifestyle. These rules are known as the 10 Lap Band rules, and they are your guide to a successful journey. If you are following ALL 10 of these rules, you will find that the Lap Band is a very efficient weight loss tool. If you choose to omit or skip some of these rules, you might end up struggling more than you need to and prolonging your weight loss results. We highly suggest that you print out a copy of the 10 Lap Band rules and place them on your refrigerator – that way you are always reminded of them and can refer to them if needed.
10 Lap Band Rules
- Eat only three main meals a day, plus two planned snacks.
- Eat slowly, taking pea-sized bites, and chew thoroughly until your food has a mushy consistency.
- Stop eating as soon as you feel restriction from the band. This will feel different from the “full” sensation you had prior to your surgery.
- Do not have drinks with meals or for one full hour after eating.
- Do not eat between meals or planned snacks.
- Eat a variety of high quality nutritional foods.
- Consume recommended amounts of fiber daily.
- Drink 64-100 ounces of non-caloric fluids between meals.
- Do not drink carbonated beverages of any kind.
- Exercise 30-60 minutes on most days.
It is extremely important for the long term health of your Lap Band that you follow the postoperative diet to the letter. The stomach normally goes through a twisting, wringing type motion when food is eaten. Because it is so important in the immediate postop period to keep the stomach as quite as possible, Dr. Kuri has chosen to have you on a liquid diet for the first 15 days after the surgery. No matter how much you would chew solid food, it is not possible to get it to a liquid enough state for you to avoid producing this motion in your stomach. It is of utmost importance to stay on the liquids as instructed until you may advance to soft, mushy foods. It may be tempting to stray from liquids and/or mushy foods as you begin to feel better, but “just a little bite” can interfere with healing and cause complications. Those complications can include: band slippage, occlusion of the stoma from swelling/irritation, inflammation of the esophagus, and band erosion, to name a few.
The post-op diet includes:
Days 1-4: Clear Liquids only!
Days 5-14: Full Liquids only.
Day 15-29: Soft mushy phase. These are foods that you could chew if you didn’t have teeth.
Day 30: Back to a regular diet. This includes solid foods!
We highly recommend that patients take it easy and rest as much as possible following their surgery. However, you can resume normal actives such as getting ready for the day, walking, ect. as soon as your body feels up to it. For some people that is the day after, for other it’s day 3. Please keep in mind that exercising, heavy lifting and other strenuous movements that can jeopardize your band are forbidden so as to allow your body to heal properly (about 6-8 weeks post surgery.)
If you ever require emergency care, go to the emergency room in your area. An ER is required to provide care to anyone regardless of where you had your procedure. Your Primary Care Provider should have no problem helping you. Let your Primary Care Provider know of your surgery so he can be prepared to assist you with your medical needs (even if it is only to stabilize the situation to allow you to travel to Dr. Kuri). If you do experience an emergency, please call your Facilitator or Dr. Kuri after you go to the hospital. They both can be reached at 1-888-223-4046 (Toll-free from US) and 1-866-782-5042 (Toll-free from Canada). Calls to the office will be transferred to Dr. Kuri in an emergency situation.
You can also connect with other banded patients in your area to find a band knowledgeable doctor that can assist you. Your Patient Facilitator and the online Dr. Kuri Lap Band Discussion Forum are both great resources.
