2muchfun

Just be prepared to have to work real hard at this? This is not an easy way to lose weight, but if you follow the rules you have a great shot at being very healthy. You will have good times and some bad times. This can be a roller coaster ride. You will have to learn to listen to your body and your band. Good luck!

For me, it was discovering that I ate big bites, didn't chew well enough and I ate much too fast. This caused several stuck episodes. I noticed from fill 1 that I ate less food and was satisfied just a little sooner than pre-band. But, a lifetime of eating fast and big was the most difficult issue for me to deal with. Fill #3 really hit home and required that I eat slower, chew more and eat much slower. With each new fill I felt satisfied longer.

I do like your attitude! Here's a comment from another bandster's blog from several years ago. I've posted this many times but it seems to hit home with me every time: "In my case, the most fearful thing I had to do in order to succeed with my band wasn't switching to skim milk, surviving a liquid diet, or giving up bread. The most fearful thing was giving up my emotional attachment to food. In the nearly 5 years since I was banded, I've made a lot of progress with that, but the attachment is still there. It forms one of the innermost layers of my turtle shell. Working on that layer will probably be a lifetime job for me. At times I'm not even sure I truly want to get rid of it altogether. At times I'm afraid that if I shed my shell completely, I won't be able to survive. On the other hand, I seem to be doing fine without that thick old b***h layer. So I'm going to pay attention to my dreams rather than my fears and pray for a miracle. And why not? It can't hurt to try!" Welcome and good luck to you.

What are you eating for breakfast that is getting stuck?

Egg drop soup was one of my staples at this stage. Protein and very satisfying.

Bagel dough is the worst for we bandsters. I still eat bagels a few times a year but I buy the orowheat flat 100 cal bagels and go very slowly. I try to make sure each bite makes it through before munching on the next bite. You're so lucky to have a doctor who responds so quickly.

If you lose enough weight it could be visible. Men's ports are usually sewn into the muscles on our rib cage and protrude somewhat. No big deal. tmf

I had no pre-op diet so I'm not much help? But, you might get better comments if you could post what your doctor's pre-op diet plan is? We all have different doctors and each Dr has their own protocol? tmf

One last comment? Eating slower will be one of the most difficult issues for you to deal with. Don't beat yourself up, it takes months to break this destructive habit. You cannot just change a lifetime's eating habits in a few weeks or months. Especially during the post op phase. Once you can sit down with a normal meal, and your band is adjusted properly, you will be forced to eat slower and chew bigger. Or, you will have stuck episodes, painful stuck episodes. So, it won't come overnight, and it may not come in months, but these new skills can be nurtured and developed over time if you just commit to it and focus on them. tmf

From the 2nd week through my 16th week I had virtually no restriction. Like you, I was in Bandster hell. It's no fun and it pissed me off that no one ever told me about this part of my journey. I read about it here all the time and advise others that they are in "Bandster Hell" but I never saw it before my surgery. It's just a situation you'll have to find a way to deal with. For me, I ate more than the one cup of food but I tried to make sure I was filling up on healthy foods. I did stay away from pizza, taco bell and fast foods(occasional slip) so I lost 12 lbs initially and didn't gain or lose any more weight till my 3rd fill 4 months after surgery. I think I'm somewhat typical. From what I read here on the forum, most people don't start to feel any satiety/restriction until their 2nd - 4th fill. There are many on either side of that ratio and most all of us have went through some stage of Bandster Hell. It can seem like you're hungrier now than before surgery. I know that's how I felt. You're going to have to hunker down till you get that fill that takes away your hunger. Just concentrate on eating good, healthy food. Good luck. tmf

I'm curious? What kind of diet has he put you on? Seems like you would want to stick to slider type foods so that you don't do any more stretching?

I avoided "events" for a month after surgery(11/28/11) Did have to go to a couple of xmas parties so I ate before I went. Wasn't that big a deal. You're still healing and eating foods that could damage your surgery is highly not recommended. I ate oatmeal, refried Beans, thick soups, lots of Protein shakes to keep eating demons at bay.

3+ lbs a month sound about right if you're consuming 1500 calories a day? Most women only need about 1600-1900 calories a day to maintain their current weight. If you're burning 300 calories a day more than you consume, that's 9000 calories burned a month. You have to burn off 3500 calories to lose one lb of fat. So, sounds like you're right on?

If it's on the internet, it must be true!!!???

40% failure rate? BULL! Where's your documentation? People like you come here often to lay down these awful assertions and then provide no evidence to back up your silly claims.

???

Bandster hell snuck up on me too and I never heard about it before surgery. LOL Pissed me off too.

All WLS techniques have their pros and cons. But the band does require more maintenance than the others? Surely you knew this going in right?

I have two friends who also went bypass and did well. I researched everything but the sleeve and still came up with the band. For me, I felt like all I needed was something to help with the satiety and help me to eat less food. Also, I liked the idea that it was adjustable and if it didn't work out I could have it removed or revised to bypass or sleeve. Keeping my stomach intact was important to me. You have to decide what's important for you. WLS may be what you need but only you know what the right choice can be? tmf

Your doctor knows when you can start eating solids and he's seen your stomach and knows how much damage has been done. So, you really need to follow his orders. I couldn't eat solids for 30 days. I did eat soft foods after 7 days and mushies after 10 or so.

The beauty of the band, and one of the reasons many opted for the band, is the fact that you still can have the sleeve. If you would have went with the sleeve and you weren't happy with your results, you can't replace your stomach after it's been removed.

Good for you. We all remember your posts prior to being banded and seems like you've really taken control of your health? tmf

NaNa is right. You're in Bandster Hell. You won't feel any satiety until you get enough fills to help you feel satisfied faster and longer. It took me 3 fills to get to that point. Others it took 0-13. Nobody told you about this before surgery? Boom!

Took me 3 fills and 4 months to feel restriction? I assume that's what you mean? Some patients take 6 or more fills to feel restriction/satiety.

So many reason this could happen. Fat dissolving between the band and your stomach? As the fat melts away from fat loss, the band can appear to be looser. Or, the band may shift itself around your stomach. Sometimes creases or overlaps in the stomach/band area re-position themselves. My doctor told me that our pouch and/or esophagus adapts to the band and becomes a stronger muscle pushing food through the band making it appear that our band opening may be wider when it's not? Your doctor may be able to tell you but I'd recommend getting fills till your feel more satiety.