illuminationlady

Keep us posted!

You all have such inspiring stories. I agree with the poster who said this site is awesome!!!

I have heard from people who are/were in your situation too. My support group leader also did not lose until the second year due to lack of restriction. Restriction is an important process and, I agree, should be taken slowly...at least for me. I do feel the pain of the OP. Perhaps that is why I have taken such an interest in this thread...it pertains to me also. Thanks to the poster for your story.

I can't feel mine. I had one fill and felt a "tightness" within but can't feel the band at all.

Thin people are treated better than fat people...in my opinion. I have been thin and I have been fat. But to me...in my mind...I always look fat. But I do agree with the poster who said she is treated better when her hair is curled. I know for a fact that when I am thin I am treated better...like I count!

I believe you are still swollen from the surgery as others have stated. Don't get disappointed if your hunger returns. I am in that time period awaiting true restriction from fills and it can be quite a let down. Best wishes to you though....

I've heard of this antinausea patch that you wear behind your ear. Call him and get a new antinausea med. I would insist!!! ps. I had liquid Phenergan.

Your post and the others are inspiring. I am in the same boat as the OP. I was banded on Dec. 16th and started with an empty band due to complications. I have had one fill and will get my second fill on Feb. 8th. Thank goodness that once the healing process is over my doc does fills every two weeks. To the OP: just hand in there. As soon as you reach true restriction you will lose as others have stated. I know how you feel and was depressed for some time. I also felt that it was anticlimatic. I went to a support group meeting and met people with restriction. Find out if there are any support groups in your area. I know there is a site: meetup.com. Check on there or with your local hospital. It really helped me to meet others who now are losing with restriction. Best wishes!!!

Can't wait to feel this too. I've only had one fill. I started with an empty band because of complications. I feel very discouraged at this point like it'a another failed attempt at weight loss. But I went to a support group meeting Wed. night and talked to people like you who have restriction. Can't wait. Cant' wait. Can't freckin' wait!!!!

I drink wine occasionally. Not a problem.

It is very common to feel the way you're feeling. You don't have true restriction yet. Yet, being the key word here. I am in the same boat as you. I was banded on Dec. 16th and have had one fill and lost only 12.5 lbs. since surgery. I went to a support group meeting mad as hell and there I met many people who have restriction and I met people who have lost the weight. This help me tremendously. All said that this period is very hard for us. Don't give up. Don't despair. Restriciton is just around the corner.

I'm with ElfiePoo. Restriction is not a cop out. I went to a support group meeting last night with banders there. Many who have restriction. One gal is struggling with it. She can only eat less than a cup of food in a sitting and is staying full for 3-4 hours. She also admitted to sometimes not chewing properly or taking too big a bite of food and PBing. When you have restriction the band tells you how much to eat. These people are losing weight (the one's with true restriction) and keeping it off. I was very impressed and can't wait to myself be there with restriction. It can take many fills to reach restriction. I would really question this statement made by your doctor. Maybe he ment something else; like the band is not magic and we all need to make good food choices. But you definetly need true restriction for the band to work properly for you. Best wishes to you.

Thank you so much for posting this. I went to a support group meeting for emotional eaters last night. The gal who runs it is banded and skinny. She says that we must all advocate for ourselves and push those doctors to fill us to our sweet spots. My doctor does the fills every two weeks until we get there. It was very motivational to be around someone who has been in my shoes (no restriction) and has won the battle of the buldge! Great meeting. And your post did help me a lot!!!

Try using GasX strips. They worked great for me. I would use 2-3 at a time and my gas went away quickly. I also walked every day for 30 min at a time.

I chew gum.

Target has it for 1.79. That's for the Fage. It's good with honey sprinkled on top!!! Yummy!!!

Hi everyone! I am already banded. My daughter wants to be banded. She has everything she needs to get approved. She went to her psychologist yesterday for her letter and the psych. said she would write it and that she's all clear. The problem is that she has never written one before and wants to know what to say in the letter. Any suggestions? I never saw my letter as it was faxed to the doctors office (I have a different psyc.). Does anyone out there know what one looks like or should say? Thanks in advance for your replys.

I have no restriction yet either. I had to have all the initial fluid removed from my band the day after surgery. I couldn't keep anything down. Now I have nooooooooooooo restriction. I, too, fear not having any restriction either after my first fill. Thank God my surgeon is aggressive with fills. Tomorrow is my first fill and they said they would put 4 ccs in, because I'm empty right now. Then I go every two weeks there after until I hit my sweet spot. I know I have gained a couple of pounds during this time period too because I got sick of being hungry too. I eat healthy also though so I didn't go crazy. Try some Greek style yogart for the severe hunger. It's frustrating. I feel your pain. But soon you will have enough fluid and be losing that weight. Best wishes!!!

My doctors policy is to let you heal after surgery (4 weeks) and then start the fills. After that he fills every 2 weeks until you get to that "sweet spot". I don't see any reason why you should wait all that time to get your fills. Talk to your doctor before you embark on this journey with him. Your fills are a very important part of your success.

Two weeks of liquids!!! That's nuts!!! I only have to be on liquids the rest of my fill day and then mushies the day after. My doctor says he wants us to eat regular food because you have a greater chance of feeling full longer. I hope everything turns out okay for you. But that's a long time to be on liquids after a fill. Best wishes always!!!

I can't wait to feel that restriction. Glad to hear you're feeling it. Also, I carry Papaya Enzymes in my purse. Those are also a natural way to get stuff to go through that might be stuck. You can get the chewables at GNC stores. They really work!!

Terri, We are all thinking of you today. Hope the test turns out okay. How disappointing this must be for you. I will say a special prayer for you. Keep us posted.

Yes, I'm having trouble also. I believe we are in Bandster Hell; a period when your swelling is down and you can't get a fill yet. Just sweat it out and maintain until your first fill. That is what I'm doing. Keep your protein up and drink lots of water. Oh and I chew a lot of gum...lol

I gained 2 pounds since I started on solid food. I will not go backwards. Therefore, I am logging all my food starting today. Wish me luck!!!

I gained 2 pounds since I started on solid food. I will not go backwards. Therefore, I am logging all my food starting today. Wish me luck!!!