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Not supposed to do a fill until 6, but I'd kill for one right now. I use Watson out at UT Southwestern and he waits 8 weeks. But I've never felt like a number. The staff, nurses and doctors are fantastic.

Like many overweight folks, I had it before surgery. My surgeon did something called a fundoplication. They kind of wrap part of the stomach around the esophagus. He said I should never have reflux again. Now I've had a lot of gas since surgery. And if I eat too big a bite or too fast I feel a similar pain. But no actual reflux anymore.

He says it is the hidden calories. According to the surgeon, you can follow the diet perfectly all day, grab a handful of almonds and a glass of milk and gain weight. Nuts go through the band very easily, so they don't fill you up but add a ton of calories. Same with milk and other dairy, right past the restriction so don't fill you and have a lot of calories. Every time I see the guy, he goes on about nuts and milk. It is to the point of being comical.

Even my ultra conservative doc (waits 8 weeks for first fill) only warns of the empty calories and carbonated mixers. He's more concerned with nuts and milk than booze. As long as you're considering the calories and you aren't on pain meds anymore, it shouldn't be a problem.

So the teeth brushing thing after each meal actually does something? I'm going to follow your idea of the little cups measuring.

I feel your pain, and from responses I've gotten to various posts, this is pretty common. The protein drinks really helped, but not as much as when you can switch to mushy stuff. Call your doctor or nutritionist. But be warned, after a few days on mushy stuff, it stops working too. It only gets better after a fill, and I'm told it may take 3 or 4 fills. So, protein is the most filling and lasts longest. The ones I used at that point were by premier nutrition. I found it thicker than the rest so more filling and fairly good when cold. Plus, 30g protein, 1g sugar, no saturated fat and 160 calories.

Thanks for the responses and support. I don't have anyone around here that has had a band. Sooverit, I wasn't prepared for the loss of restriction as the post-op swelling went down. I went from getting full quickly to back to normal appetite. 6 weeks is average before the first fill to allow time to heal. Not entirely sure why my doc waits an extra two weeks, but can't argue with his success rate.

I lost quite a bit pre and post op. But now that I'm on solids and have no fill, I've gained a few pounds back:frown: I'm trying hard to follow the rules about how much to eat. I'm learning to take small bites and eat protein first, etc. But darn it, I'm starving by the end of the day. I still have 3 weeks until a fill and am worried I'll gain the weight back. The doctor says don't worry about it, this isn't the time for losing, this is the time for healing and re-learning how to eat. But it bothers me. Should I just suck it up and go back to starving until my fill or not worry about it? Is this just me?

For me, it was one day Clear Liquids, 2 weeks full liquids, 2 weeks anything you can crush with a fork. What I hate is that my doctor won't do a fill until 8 weeks post op, so basically 4 weeks regular food. On the straw thing, I'm 5 weeks post op today and I have trouble drinking from a straw. Maybe I'm just drinking too fast.

I slept mostly propped up with a couple of extra pillows. I gradually reclined by reducing the pillows, but still had to sleep mostly on my back. I'll be one month the day after tomorrow and am glad to say it has gotten better. I still can't sleep on one side very well and have occaisional pain at the port. The doctor told me this is normal and to take some liquid adult tylenol. That helped. Others on this site have suggested drinking some warm liquid like tea. Haven't tried that yet.

I logged on to ask about this. Sharp pain just above the scar where the port is, sometimes further to the right by my rib. I've been really good about following the doc's orders, even on Thanksgiving. I'm going to try the warm liquid and hold off calling the dr for a couple more days. I thought I'd pulled something. Also, I have what appears to be the end of suture sticking out by where the port is. Anyone else have that? Think I can just clip it off?

Remember guys, those of us only a couple of weeks post op don't have anything in the bands. So once the swelling is gone, it is pretty much just the regular stomach volume. That means being hungry. It is really tough, especially when the family is eating stuff you love and you're having soup. But keep thinking about the long term. Whenever I want to eat something the dr told me I shouldn't, I picture going back to the hospital and an open surgery to repair damage. Even if that is an exaggeration, it reminds me why I'm following orders. Be strong. We can do it.

I'm day 16 post-op and have been playing with different soups for a week. Now that I'm on mushies, don't have to use the blender quite so much. The problem with the cream soups is the extra calories, so I make my own. But I follow the doctor's orders fairly close. He and the nurse scared me enough with consequences of extra surgeries. But that doesn't mean I can't get creative. Adding some chipotle and lime juice to chicken broth and it isn't as much of a hardship. I added a little potato and pureed it so it was still a thin liquid but had some body and was more filling. I still can't wait until my first solid food, but I am not rushing it and risking a set back.

I'm there with your husband, banded only a few days before. But my surgeon made it very clear that I could do some damage if I went straight to solids. He told me I could damage the stitches holding the band in place and might have to get another surgery to correct placement. I was initially told only 1 cup mushy stuff and 2 protien drinks, but his nurse and dietician said I could do 2 cups of that and 1 cup protein drink. That and varying the mushy stuff really helped. They tell me it gets better with a fill, so there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I know how you feel. I had to postpone my for 6 months because my insurance didn't like the documentation from my dr supervised diet. So, I had to do it all over again. Seemed like forever. But I'm 2 weeks post-op and, after 2 weeks pre-op liquids and the post-op liquids, I am down 30+ pounds. You can make it! Just focus on the goal and the time will fly.

Thank you so much. I had found and made the tracker, but couldn't get it to attach by adding the url to the space for them. pasting the code in text box was the secret.

Hello all. I am 2 weeks post banding:thumbup: and just joining the forum today. I've seen severl of the posts, and they have been really helpful over the last couple of weeks. I see a little tracker showing starting weight and amount lost at the bottom of posts. How do you get that?