gentylwind

Yep, you are definitely ready for another fill!:biggrin:

I never believed it either, but I am getting close to my sweet spot and I have to say, after my fill earlier this week (my fourth one, taking me to 6.9 cc in my 10 cc band) I have had NO head hunger. Eating just enough has been EASY. I am averaging 900-1100 calories per day without effort at all. Prior to that, I was struggling with head hunger a lot. Good luck!

You sound way too tight.

You are still swollen. Small bites, very soft foods (you should still technically be on liquids by most postop instructions...you were just banded four days ago). It gets better, but the more you strain it, the longer the swelling will last. It will improve over the next four to six weeks. Make sure you are following your postop diet to the T.

I am three months postop and just now after a fill two days ago (my fourth fill, bringing me to 6.9 cc in a 10 cc band) able to eat and be satisfied around 950 cal/day. My doctor told me to stay around 1200-1500 per day. Do what you can but don't sweat it too much. Until you have good restriction you will find you are hungry.

Things go through the stoma more slowly. However, you are not particularly restricted yet, so things do indeed pass through right away. You are tighter than without the band, but not yet tight enough to completely create the pouch in the way the band is intended to work. Most people don't get that kind of effectiveness until after the third or fourth fill. So you can get stuck if you take too big of bites, but you are still passing food with relative ease compared to true sweet spot restriction.

Yep, sounds like you need a fill. Don't be ashamed to go to your doc. Follow up care seems to be directly linked to success! Keep your chin up! My doc told me this week even just walking 15-20 minutes a day is enough at first, so find the time to get that in (I need to lecture myself too...I have trouble making time for exercise. How's the old saying go? Those who cannot make time for exercise must eventually make time for illness?) Good luck!

Yep, I'd say your time to be self-focused has passed and now you have time and mental energy to offer something to others. Find a cause you believe in and volunteer. Get a hobby. Mentor others going through the surgery. And if you are mourning food still to to the point that you think being thin isn't worth it, you probably need to see a counselor who can help you define why you miss your drug of choice enough to get down about it.

Yep, I have used all three. www.mydailyplate.com is by far the most user friendly in my opinion.

FWIW, I am really glad I did mine earlier. I was nervous about it worrying I might get filled too tight. My doctor's office is fantastic and has a good system for telling that. The difference today from yesterday is just incredible. A container of yogurt filled me up completely an hour ago and I still feel totally full.

Its the measured amount. I don't think most people chew their food and then spit it out and measure it. *wink* Its the measured amount. A true half cup serving. Not more due to mastication.

Yes, the stoma is the opening, not the pouch.

Follow your doctor's guidelines. You can call and ask if you can add in soft foods, such as refried Beans, mashed potatoes, etc. But salad is hard to tolerate for some people even when they are fully healed and no longer swollen. That won't be on your menu for a while. But do call and ask your doc about adding in some softer Protein type foods. My first one was cottage cheese. It helps, but you will have to deal with some hunger until you get restriction, which can take a while.

Right now I am into the Atkins dark chocolate with two tablespoons of peanut butter blended into it.

I had 3 cc left in the band at the time of surgery. He gave me another 2 cc on my first fill. I had minor restriction but nothing that really affected what or how I ate. I had my fourth fill yesterday. Today is the first day I feel real restriction the way I hear others talk about it. I just had a container of yogurt and I feel full. Its a long road to get to restriction for most people. Be patient.

Does drinking warm liquids help at all?

Mine is same as Kiz....can't get past mushies for two weeks, then need a slight unfill.

I agree the less you rely on the band, the better! Less likelihood of complications and less likelihood of failure IF complications occur and you need the band out or unfilled. You are building good habits and doing FANTASTIC. Congratulations!

Just had it yesterday. I was scheduled for the 20th and asked to come in sooner. They put in .4 for a total of 6.9 cc right now in my 10 cc band.

Just had my fourth fill (banded 11/21/2008) and right now I am feeling great restriction. I felt it after my third fill too but it faded after about two weeks. First and second fills didn't make much of a difference here.

Cash pay. I could have had my surgery just two weeks out from my initial consultation. I waited six weeks by choice due to other things going on in my life.

I too was told no gum forevermore after the band due to the physical hazard it poses. Swallowing it once you are tight can cause an emergency situation that requires surgery. Best to give up that habit. I am glad you are okay this time.

I eat lettuce almost daily.

My cycles are totally out of whack. My surgeon said to expect it for 6-9 months, as a lot of hormones are stored in fat and a lot of obesity is hormone driven. Losing weight, especially this fast, can really mess cycles up. I am getting mine every 3-5 weeks. Was always always always every 28 days before. Getting another small fill today. I am struggling a lot with head hunger and reckless food choices. I've goen back to mydailyplate.com and am going to get a fill to hopefully help with between-meal hunger.

Plenty of competition for doing this surgery out there. Do some interviews and find someone who is 100% on board with helping you make this life transition. And then let the office manager of this woman know why you switched. Its competitive now...tons of doctors are doing this surgery. There's no reason at ALL for you to feel like they are doing you favors.