Sunnybank Obesity Centre

[sunnybankoc]

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. - I'm hungry? ...not uncommon in the first few weeks, as the band does not hold up fluids and therefore the stomach empties quickly.
A.-Try slightly thicker fluids, perhaps add more in the way of protein drinks. Talk to Dr Nicholson or his Staff.

Q.-I'm weary.....Most patients are tired for a couple of weeks after a general anaesthetic, let alone a major operation.
A. - Are you sleeping well? Are you starting to mobilize, getting any exercise? An increase in all of these will often unleash additional energy.

Q.- I'm sore, my pain is increasing...The pain of your surgical wounds should fade very quickly and the shoulder tip pain due to the gases used in the abdominal cavity, to give your surgeon room to work, should not persist beyond the first few days.
A. - If you are getting worse and cannot explain why (have you taken foodstuff inappropriate at this time?), you should be calling the Doctor's rooms for reassurance and management.

Q. - When do I get to eat??? O.K.....I've had four weeks of fluids, what now?
A. -Slops!!.....This is a description of consistency rather than specific food. You should refer to your dietician’s handbook at this time for nutritious ideas about this, however the band is still settling in so some caution is still required.
-Imagine squeezing your food in your hand....if it moves out through your fingers, not leaving a plug behind, then it is slops and appropriate for this next stage.

-Try creamy rice, tinned spaghetti, scrambled egg and foodstuff such as that. The fluid intake should now be of no calorie, water or black tea/coffee, or low calorie, add a little skim milk or take low-calorie soft drinks etc.

- Beware fizzy drinks early in the piece as they may cause discomfort. Don't drink with meals, take fluids before meal or a couple of hours after otherwise the food will come up or be washed through too quickly and hunger/grazing will follow.

- Persist with this regime for two weeks and also with the start of solids; do it cautiously at first, chew well and "sneak" up on food, take some, chew it well, swallow, wait, see how you feel and then if O.K. take some more.
- You'll get used to a smaller volume and the correct consistency swallowed if you allow a little time and consider the fibre content and coarseness of the swallowed food as it goes down.
- Once again, don't drink with your meals.

The dietician’s handbook that Dr. Nicholson gave you earlier, will give you many ideas of what can and cannot be taken at this time and into the future.

Q. - When can I finally have solids?
A. - Usually you will stay on sloppy food for three to four weeks; then you can move with due caution to “normal” solid food. Make sure you take solid foods cautiously at first, chew well i.e.: thirty (30) times and "sneak" up on food.
- As these solids resemble your present intake, in quality of foodstuff not quantity, so vitamin supplements may be tapered off. A mixture of foods, avoiding fats as much as possible but including greens, fruit, milk products and meat/fish/chicken will lead to good health and still enable good weight loss.


Q. - How much and at what rate may I expect to lose the excess?
A. - This is variable and governed by sex, age, the amount of that excess, the adherence to the diet and of course, the amount of exercise the patient is able to indulge in. Big people lose more, they have to use more energy to carry their bodies around, and females, in particular, tend to vary during the month due to their hormonal cycle.
- Dr. Nicholson encourages people to only weigh once a week and to record this. Plateauing of the weight may occur; however an even greater loss is likely to occur later on, to make up for this period.

Q. - What if I break the rules?
A. - Don’t be scared, call Doctor Nicholson or his supportive staff. Remember we’re all human and it’s impossible to be good and follow the rules 100% of the time. If you think you’ve got a blockage, RING NOW. Always have some soda water on hand. Try this immediately, starting with small sips to see whether this will dislodge the wedge of food that’s stuck.

Q. – What if I think my band’s too tight?
A. - RING NOW. Adjustments are very simple and easy to do and will give immediate relief. So if you find that you cannot tolerate food or fluids of which you were previously able to manage in larger amounts, prior to your fill, please call and check with Dr Nicholson’s staff. If you find that you have a choking or full feeling (like a lump in the throat) when you lie down at night, or you are coughing during the night, or if you suddenly have reflux, all of these are symptoms that your band may be to tight. So ring us to have this easily remedied.


Q. – How much alcohol can I now have to drink?
A. – Very little. A lot less than you could drink previously. Because the alcohol is readily absorbed in a much smaller pouch you will usually become inebriated after just one drink.