I'm a RNY, but curious about Lap Banders

I had Open RNY on Friday, May 2nd. My co-worker had the Lap Band on Thursday, May 7th. She had told me that she would be staying home over the weekend and back to work on Monday the 12th.
Today (Tuesday) I started back to work (half days), but she still can't make it in. She called her supervisor and said she was still in a lot of pain, and very weak from not eating. She said last night she was so weak that she finally ate some fish.
Those are the only true facts that I know. But I was wondering what exactly do Lap Banders eat after being banded? Are they supposed to be following basically the same diet restrictions that I need to follow for the first couple of months (i.e. liquids, then puree's, then soft, then on to "normal"?
I want to be able to call her and give her any help or advice that I can, but I know nothing about the Band.
Your help (input) would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Fran

well everyone reacts and recovers from surgery differently so it is hard to say when she should feel up to going back.    I took a week off and I felt ok going back but I still got tired very easily for awhile. As for the diet...LOL  I am not going to get into that.   It seems that every doctor has different instructions.  I don't think ours are nearly as rigid as RNYers,  ( at least mine were not).   I was on mushy food at 3 days out but that is what my doc recommends.  Some are on liquids much longer. FYI- Congrats on your surgery and best wishes to you

Well, every surgeon seems to have a different post-op eating protocol.  And different people have different pain thresholds and different reaction to the trauma of anesthesia. My post-op routine was: 3 days clear liquids 11 days full liquids 14 days purees then transition from soft (fork-tender) to solid food as tolerated This eating plan emphasizes protein, non-starchy vegs, fruit, and FF/LF dairy produts. If your friend is weak from not eating, she needs to add more protein - maybe in the form of protein shakes - as snacks throughout the day. Jean

Hi.  I just got banded so I'm certainly no expert.....but here is a rundown from the extensive binder that Kaiser gave me..... Clear liquids for 1- 2 days- broth, water, coffee or tea (no cream), SF Jello, SF popsicles, etc.  Goal is 20-30 oz a day.  (Dietitian said it would probably be more like 20 oz for females. Full liquid diet for the next 1-2 weeks.  Cream of Wheat, applesauce, SF pudding, yogurt, etc.  Goal is 3x/day of 1/4 to 1/2 cup.  Liquids btwn meals, of course. Puree for the 4 to 5th week.  Puree meats, cottage cheese, tofu, egg, etc.  Was told to focus on protein first.  goal is 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup per day. Soft Diet  You do this until about 12 weeks post-op.  Anything soft and solid is fine.  Protein to be eaten first (1/4 cup to 1/2 cup).  then 2 Tablespoons of fruit or veggie and 2 Tbsp of starch.  You do not eat these unless you're comfortable to do so. Then regular diet of 2-3 servings of protein 1/2 serving of veggies or fruit and 1/2 serving of starch.  Again, eat the protein first. I hope this helps.....again, I literally just got banded today.  I'm coping this from my info binder.  Best of luck to you and your friend.

I took 3 weeks to get my self up and feeling ok.  As for foods.  yes liquids, then mushies then food.  All Dr's are different.  I am able to have ketchup, salads and a bite of a sweet here and there and no problems.  The surgerys are so different, but the goal to lose weight the same.  Hope you two join positive energy to see each of you get to your goal. ~Ann~

I was on full liquids for 2 weeks after surgery.  So, every doctor is indeed different.  I did sneak in some SF/FF pudding and SF fudgesicles........I was freaking starving and needed something other than broth and hot tea!   I hope you both do well and congrats on the surgery. 

Everyone is sure different, huh?  I had my lap band procedure on a Friday and went in to work on the next Tuesday.  Now I worked a sort-of limited schedule for a week or so, and I got tired, but nevertheless I did OK.   We never know what to expect from our own recovery, so it is a good thing we all do our research and decide on our WLS ourselves. She will probably just appreciate you being a friend.  It is pointless to "compare" but we all have the same wish..to loose weight and be more healthy.   Congratulations to you on your WLS and best of luck to you and your friend.

HI Fran, I see you are from Tacoma - my home town (well, I claim it as my home town since I lived there from age 17 to age 43).  I know live in Seattle.   First the pain.  The bad surgery is actually more painful than the RNY due to the port being sewn to the muscle.  That said, for most it is managable.  If your friend has either Dr. Srikanth (my surgeon) or Dr. Oh, I can give you extensive information on the after surgery diet. Let me know her surgeon and I'll see if I can help you with more details. And thank you for caring so much for your friend.

I wish I had the time to reply to each and every one of you separately, but I have to get ready for work.
So.......in a nutshell, your comments will all be helpful to me to help her. I plan to be as supportive as I can, but needed some guidance on what she needed.
I'm going to talk protein with her today and head hunger. I know my first few days (and about every 3rd day since surgery) has had rough moments with head hunger. But now, almost 2 weeks out, that is getting more manageable.
Her surgery was done somewhere up North, but I don't believe it was done by either Srikanth or Oh. I seem to remember it was done in Bellevue, but I'll ask today if she makes it in.
Thanks all so very much for all your help and support.
Fran

People have different pain thresholds.  I was off pain medications from the time I left the hospital and rode my exercise bike an hour just a few days after.  I've read posts on here from people who are three weeks out and complaining about having lots of pain.