ABLOND

You haven't messed anything up. Not knowing your post op diet, all I can say is you don't have enough fill in your band so as the swelling from surgery goes down the hunger will return.

You probably have not messed anything up, but stick to your Dr.'s orders. In the mush phase food should be blended and really soft. Things like lettuce can often cause hangups in the stoma for some, so wait on that until your doc tells you it's OK to start eating it again.
I was very hungry right after surgery and it was hard to stay on point with the post-op diet but you want to heal and you want your insides to have the chance to heal. Eating things that are solid too soon even though they pass through and you don't feel that they "hurt" you make the esophagus, stomach and intestines work harder then they should be right now while the focus is on healing.
There are many good yummy foods that you can mush up and enjoy for now, one of my favorites and still a winner when I have a fill is to get a chilli from Wendy's or make my own Turkey chilli is even better, but I will throw that in the blender for a few seconds and it's like a thick pasty Soup. It's so filling and delicious.
You could even do that with the Taco salad your hubby made for you, minus the stringy lettuce

Hello and welcome!!!!

Hello and welcome!!!!

yes there were restrictions, I'm now in the "mush/mush" stage of eating..lol But I pretty much just stick to eating Soup (cream of chicken, or chicken broth with crackers that have gotten real soft).....I'm not eating real food, except for the dinner I tried with my husband. Just kicking myself and wondering what if I messed everything up with trying the food too soon....just worrying...lol
Thank you all for the comments it's great knowing people that have been there, are at the end of my finger tips ready to help.

looking forward to my first fill on the 30th ... god knows why and is it sore ? but I've had a really negative day today regarding my band and I know by reading every ones lovely messages and ideas it will get better .. having such a life change and change of routine is difficult but I know im not the only one sailing in this boat x good luck to every one who's going for , post opp and experienced banders,,, its lovely to be able to chat on here with like minded people xx

I guess I thought she might fill me a little more than just 2cc. I just dont feel like I get full. But she said that its a slow process.. I want the restriction now. I only ate this morning out of a 6inch Subway egg white/steak flatbread sandwich (which I took the bread off) I only ate like 3 inches of the meat and egg white. I felt full..Im still not hungry and its almost 1:30pm..and I ate at 9:30am. So I guess its doing the right thing. I wish everyone the best of luck.
Stay in touch..Add me as a friend..I need as much support as possible. I live in Missouri..(Jefferson County) and still have yet to find a support group close to me.
Lapbandchic73

Hello my name is Anissa. I'm new to the group. I am scheduled for surgery on Feb 13. I started my pre-op diet on Jan 30th. I am 36 years old, 5 foot tall and currently weigh 314lbs. I started the process for surgery Nov 2012. It has taken me 14 months to get everything right with the insurance . I was required to loose 25% of my body weight and keep it off fir 6 months. When I started the process I weighed 382lbs. It has been a long and hard road. I'm very excited to have my surgery and hopefully soon my body will be able to do all the things that my mind wants to do. I am looking forward to meeting new people that are or have gone through what I currently am.

Howdy!
It seems I signed up for this site after finally reading enough to see that this is where I belong.
I was banded 5 weeks ago and haven't had any major issues except for hunger.
I weighed 315 when I decided to make a go of this. I had recently been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea (AHA of 161.5 for those of you playing along at home). I weighed 318.6 at my highest and next to last pre-op appt with my surgeon. I lost 10 lbs as required by him before surgery; however, the day I went in for surgery I was back up to 317 -- Water weight for sure. After surgery I dropped the weight and the water weight and went down to 306 really fast. Like lightning fast. At the moment I'm at 294.
I just had my first fill 7 days ago and still feel zero restriction. I have the APL, and assuming it started with the factory/surgery 4cc, with 2 added cc, I'm at 6cc. (My surgeon confirmed there was some saline in there prior to my first fill, but wasn't exactly sure how much as a certain amt can be lost during tubing attachment/length sizing.)
I know bandster hell all too well and am trying to keep it sensible.
If I can do it, you can do it.
Two weeks before surgery I quit smoking, carbonation, and carbohydrates. One week before surgery my elderly mother was put in the hospital with a prelim diagnosis of lung cancer. (She quit smoking 8 months prior.) Three days after surgery I was diagnosed with bronchitis. Three weeks after surgery I was diagnosed with ringworm (WTH???). I'm still mostly carb free, and totally smoke and carbonation free. I do drink about 128 oz of Crystal Light a day!

Congrats to you & much success on your new journey.

I don't get my first fill until the 23rd February. Six weeks after my post-surgery appointment. Lost 12lbs so far hoping to lose 66in total. Still a long way to go, hoping to start pilates and yoga this week to burn a few more cals up!

Ablond, my NP said close to 6 weeks after surgery. Mine was the 9th of jan and my first fill will be feb 17

My doctor scheduled my first first at my 1st week follow up appointment for six weeks after surgery. He said he needs to make sure I have healed all the way before he puts a fill in.
Hope this helps!

Well done everyone sounds like we're all almost done and ready to kick some butt. Am looking forward to the gym tonight. Can't believe this sat it was 4 weeks ago already! Am looking forward to the first fill and getting some tightness and restriction so more consistent weight loss happens

Hello e everyone. I was banded on January 17th. Doing great so far. I have a question. When do you normally get fill in it band? I don't have any in mine yet.

So I'm at my Pre-op this morning, sitting in the resulting room reading over the 1000 pieces of paper I need to initial. There's 2 women and myself .
One woman asked which surgery was I getting. (bold question) anyway I told her lap band. She asked why? I gave her my explanation of that I wanted none of my organs removed, cut, rearranged, etc. Then I added less recovery time. The other woman (we'll call her Drama) just starts in with me.
Drama: "Well when do you plan on going back to work?
Me:" okay..... Uh... surgey is on a Wednesday, going to work on Monday. I have a desk job."
Drama: " Naw Honey! You Gon need two weeks!"
Me: "To each his/her own. Thanks but I'll be fine. By the way, what surgery are YOU having? "
Drama: "Oh I got the band 2yrs ago. "
By this time the other lady bucks her eyes and say "well how much did you weigh!? "
Drama: "345"
Lady : "How much do you weigh now? "
Drama: "266"
(drama back to me)
Drama: "You really need to rethink taking more time off. "
Me: "why? Is the pain that bad? "
(wait for it)
Drama: "Naw!! Cuz you Gon be hungry! "
Me: long blank stare..... "Are you kidding me?....... "
Thank Goodness the nurse called my name because I was getting ready to drop the mic and exit the stage!
I just had to share. Are people really that bold?
Lol!!
Starfish n coffee

Normal, try laying on your side and walking helps too.
My first band in 2008 and gas was real bad because I didn't know what it was.I didn't know to move and lay on my side. This time 1/14/14, my Dr tries to get all that air out because he knows how bad it can be.

my port area was tender for about a month....soon you will forget it there...
i can see mine now.....hub said in the summer when i tan, he will see if it pops up to tell me i am done......MEN, what can you do

Size of meal : small to medium portions
Length of meal : 15-30 minutes
Stop eating : when satisfied, not stuffed
Times/day you eat : 2 to 3
Time in between meals : 4 to 5 hours
Swallowing food : fine, if you take small bites and chew thoroughly
regurgitate/vomit : rarely or never
Night coughs or wheeze : never
Mostly eating : Proteins, and vegetables / fruits.... not sliders like ice cream
Appetite : not always hungry...satisfied until it's time for your next meal

Can you describe what green zone means ?

I understand your decision completely. I only told my husband, my oldest son (15) (not my younger son, 7), my mom, my sisters, brother and best friend. I wish I had NOT told my brother and sisters. I am a little sad for you that you don't feel you have a least one person that you can completely and unconditionally trust. It is completely your decision to make and we will all be here for you when you need us. I hope you have a wonderful surgeon that has a wonderful staff. I see the Nurse Practitioner for fills and LOVE him! He has been a wonderful support and source of encouragement; I hope you get that as well, especially if you share with no one else.
Fills are no big deal. The first one is only because you don't know what to expect. My NP has me lay down with a pillow under my lower back, hands behind my head and then he feels for my port and fills. The most uncomfortable part is him pushing on my belly to locate the port; and uncomfortable is a strong word for it. The actual putting in of Fluid (after drawing a bit out to make sure they are where they belong) is a little weird. To me it feels like a heartbeat in that area. Weird, not painful. I went to my first one and all subsequent ones by myself.
I am a mom of two boys; I didn't want my little one knowing what was going on...partly because I didn't want him to tell everyone partly because I didn't want him to worry....so I was back up and running pretty much after a few days post op...the gas was the worst for me and the bloating. I took it easy, don't get me wrong, I got them off to school and had the day to rest.
Green zone...don't think that is going to happen right after surgery (it does rarely). I am almost a year out and am not quite there. It takes some work but the band is a wonderful tool if you use it wisely. Follow doctor's orders with what and how to eat and you WILL succeed. Changes will not happen over night, but they will happen! Best wishes to you and I hope this helped!!!

This sounds like a solid plan to me -- surgery Tuesday then recovery through the weekend -- hopefully the conference is low key and if you're tiring easily you can go rest between sessions if need be. My concern for you is the after care. Will you be traveling back to AZ to get fills? Some surgeons prime the band so you have a partial fill from the get-go. I just had a regular empty band and now I've had four fills since November 5. I think my surgeon has a fairly aggressive protocol for reaching the green zone. This is being satisfied on a small amount of food for 4-5 hours -- a dimmed appetite which allows the individual to pass up the food cravings that got us fat in the first place. Emotional eating can still occur so it's important to sort that out so you can override those old habits. Good luck with all!

Well, I'm 70 and telling everyone..I want as much support as possible and as many prayers for success as possible. I am being banded on Jan. 27..can't wait. I just read "banded I will control the quality and the band will control the quantity.." Isn' that a wonderful thought? I will say a prayer for your success..but, rmember most people are there to support you not hurt you.
Wishing us both a happy future.

Thanks for all your replies. Very helpful and supportive. I'm literally only allowed 2 pints of milk with added coffee or vanilla essence, 1x 250 gram yoghurt and 2 litres of Water. I'm on day 10 now and doing great. Only that one slip up. The aim for me isn't to loose weight but to shrink my liver. Weight loss is a side effect but not the aim for me. Hopefully I've done it right and all will be ok. I lost 10 lbs in the first 5 days but nothing since. Maybe it's too low in cals to continue loosing weight. I'm ok with that though as long as it's shrank my liver for surgery. Xxx

I have my surgery on January 10th, so I have no idea what you are dealing with, but wanted to say "good luck and hang in there"...and please keep us posted as to when your stuck feeling ends and what your doctor said.