SageTracey

Getting stuck hurts and it is the best way to learn how to take small bites and to chew properly!

Congratulations on making sure that you are eating healthily. Please continue to do so as you don't want to slip into an eating disorder now that you have taken such a positive step to manage your weight.

Good luck in getting back on track. Hope you haven't stretched your pouch.

I hereby declare myself to be a band success story. I have lost more than 75% of my excess weight and I have rediscovered the joy of living. I love exercise, I think carefully about what I choose to eat, and I have much more energy. My relationship with my husband is significantly improved (and it was great before) so lucky us! I wish that I had never become morbidly obese in the first place, but I did so now I am proud to have overcome it. It hasn't been easy, but I have always known what I needed to do and have the support of my dear husband and a great surgeon to get me there.

Yes, you are normal. Now is the time to practise your band eating rules until you get sufficient fills for the band to really do its job for you. Good luck.

Why are you so sure that you stretched your pouch?

It's quite common that your first fill won't give you restriction. The time between your fills is entirely up to your surgeon although many won't go earlier than 30 days because it can take several weeks before you actually feel the effects of a fill. For example, my last fill was early November, now mid-January, I am feeling a significant difference, almost to the point of going for a slight unfill. First thing is to carefully monitor my bite-size and speed of eating to make sure that I am following the rules. Good luck.

OP has posted in the POST-Op board and a quick look at her profile shows she had surgery on December 28 which makes her about two weeks post-op. My gas pain was gone at about 11 days so if I was you, I would speak with your medical team. Good luck and hope you are feeling better soon.

Congratulations you are doing really well. Sounds like you are in control of what you are eating, rarely feel hungry and are losing steadily. I wouldn't be surprised if your dr says you don't need a fill at this stage. If you start to get hungry in less than three to four hours after a meal could mean you need a fill. Feeling satisfied on smaller portions - you don't need a fill. good luck.

Oh my gosh! Yet again I am grateful for the Australian healthcare system. If I had your symptoms my surgeon would be doing all the necessary investigations and it would be covered by our national health scheme, Medicare! I would not have to pay a single cent. It terrifies me that you cannot get what sounds like essential health care unless you pay big bucks upfront! I really hope that you are able to get some investigation and relief quickly.

Most times you will find that getting a fill is just like that, no big deal. It is the fear of the unknown, will it hurt, will I feel it going in, will I feel the effects of the fill immediately, how much should I get etc etc that makes us worry about getting fills.

Yes, perfectly normal. You have healed from the surgery and although the band is in place, it hasn't been adjusted yet so it cannot start to work for you. As Honk says, at the moment this is entirely in your hands. it is also normal for people to gain some weight in this period but it doesn't have to happen. You can harness the excitement and motivation of your surgery journey for a bit longer to stay on track, follow the band rules and continue to lose weight while you are getting fills and moving towards that elusive green zone. Best of luck.

In some respects we have to go through a grieving process as we change our relationship with food. Sounds like that is what you are going through at the moment. But be 100% sure that you can change your eating habits or you will have serious challenges with the band. Good luck.

I think her key message re the scales was buried and the important thing was : "let it be a tool for you to learn what a proper portion size looks like" Once you know what a portion size looks like then you can cope better with eating out situations.

Perfectly normal! As DetChatt says, it is the swelling going down post-op. Good luck with fills and your journey.

My surgeon recommended two weeks and I was glad that I took them. I am also a desk jockey. It is not only the actual surgery but also the general anaesthetic that you need to recover from. Don't rush going back to work.

Fantastic list of NSVs - congratulations.

It's also a good test of how compliant you will be post-op. You've done it now, you know there could be consequences so firm up your resolve and stick with it to get the success you want.

Their loss, not yours. Good on you for putting yourself out there for people. At the very least, each time you tell your story to someone else, you are reminding and reinforcing to yourself just what has worked so well for you and that has got to make it easier to keep on doing what works!

Sorry you are feeling so frustrated but it does take time to reach your green zone with the band and even when you get there, as your body changes, you will need further adjustment of your band. Remember that as you lose weight, the pad of fat around your stomach shrinks and your band can get loser, so that 0.5ml that you had taken out could be perfectly fine on your next fill. Hopefully your surgeon explained that the band is not a set and forget measure and that it needs to be managed for the rest of your life. Good luck.

That is so frustrating, isn't it. But I've found that people can be hesitant to comment on your weight loss because they feel as if they are saying you looked really bad before! Plus, if you are wearing the same clothes, it might not be as noticeable to them as you think. Hang in there, they will notice and start commenting very soon! PS Congratulations, You are doing great.

You will feel better than normal. Once you start to lose weight you will feel fantastic! I rarely think of my band, except when, as everyone else has said, I am eating. Good luck.

Be sure to get advice from your surgeon on what you can/cannot eat after a fill and pack accordingly. Many require liquids or soft foods for a day or two and you wouldn't want to be caught out with foods that you are unable to eat. Remember to allow for extra energy as you will be working hard on your hike. Enjoy.

It could have been much worse, you could have eaten actual solids. BUT - if you want to succeed with your band, then you need to understand and follow your medical team's rules. They are there for a reason. Some people follow rules just because they are rules, other people need to know why the rules exist. Whichever type you are, figure it out and work with it. You can do this!

They put curves/bends in freeways to keep drivers awake. Think of this as a bend in your highway that has woken you up. Now you know how close you came to crashing out you can refocus and concentrate on staying on track from here on in. Good luck. You can do this.