AHHHH!!! Help...Entering Bandster Hell!!!! HELPPPPPP!!!

[mskutz 0]

OMG!!!! Banded on 3/18/10, w/ no complications (thank you jesus!). Natural restriction from the swelling is going down quickly and I believe I am entering bandster hell because my appetite has not only come back, but come back with A VENGENCE!!!!! HELLLPPPP!!!! I am sooooo hungry. Beginning to feel hunger pains, cramps and light-headness!!!! OmG, if this is what bandster hell feels like, I dont know how I will make it until my first fill in 6wks!!!!!!! So tempted to eat somthing not within my liquid diet!!!! HELLLLPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!

[coloradobanding 5]

You are absolutely right and entering Bandster Hell! It is NO FUN, but necessary as we all know well. My best advice would be to find a hobby and quick! Whenever I got hungry, I would walk and drink Water. While that didn't always subside the hunger it certainly helped. In the meantime, DEFINITELY follow your doctor's order to a TEE and don't deviate from it at all without contacting your doctor first.

It is not easy, but you can and will get through it!! Best to you!

[vlp1968 83]

I have been there! About 4 days post surgery I got my appetite back, and like you put it, came back with a vegence. I couldn't wait to get to mushies, unfortunatley that didn't help either. I dealt with significant hunger until I had 3 fills. Sorry to say, hunger might be something you deal with for a while. On the other side, some people don't worry about loosing weight until they get restriction- I was so ready I stuck to a stringent diet. All the best! You can do it!

[ttm 0]

You are not alone I was banded on 3/18/10 too. And I am so hungary. I go back to the doc on Friday. I haven't even asked about fills yet. I don't know how long he will make me wait.

[nurselroy 0]

I was banded on 3/18 as well. I'm still stuck on a liquid diet until this Friday, though. I must still have some swelling because I am not really that hungry right now. Then again, I'm trying hard to make sure I get all my Protein in a day and not too many carbs or sugars, so maybe that is distracting me. I'm still pretty sore too, though I'm not taking the Lortab elixir anymore (gives me horrible nausea) and everytime I drink more than a few ounces, I get a really uncomfortable full feeling. I don't want to ignore that, but at the same time, if I didn't eat until that feeling subsided, I probably wouldn't eat much all day. It was a struggle to get in my 600 calories today. I know once the swelling goes down I'll be right there in bandster hell as well, but I'm trying to take things one day at a time and focus on my goals and the reason I chose to do this in the first place. Good luck!

[dontgoggilme 0]

i'm ten days out and i definitely have been feeling full hunger pains for a while now. i think the first three days or so were ok... as in no hunger pains. but after that, i started feeling them. usually i can eat just a little and they subside. i say eat, but i'm still on liquids so ya'll know what i mean. i'm so ready for the mushie stage though. i go to the doc day after tomorrow and am hoping they'll move me to mushies then. keeping my fingers crossed!

[parisluver 1]

i'm ten days out and i definitely have been feeling full hunger pains for a while now. i think the first three days or so were ok... as in no hunger pains. but after that, i started feeling them. usually i can eat just a little and they subside. i say eat, but i'm still on liquids so ya'll know what i mean. i'm so ready for the mushie stage though. i go to the doc day after tomorrow and am hoping they'll move me to mushies then. keeping my fingers crossed!

I'm post op day 4 and just starting to get hungry. This is the first day I can actually eat a little. The thing that satisfies me are Soups - creamy Soup like cream of chicken or split pea with no ham. I have to add extra Water but it is definitely more satisfying than broth!

[newgirlinwa 0]

You guys are so lucky! Just imagine going through Bandster Hell on day 4 knowing that you won't be graduated to mushies for another 4 weeks! It is not easy, but you know what they say. No pain, no gain...

[Arthemise 1]

I was banded 3/18/10, and I'm just starting to get that strong hunger and stomach cramping. Only another week until mushies...I can do this.

[tdawg874 1]

I am 7 days post op, and I am not sure if they are hunger gurgles, or just the gurgling I have had since being on the liquid diet. I find myself thinking about food alot more, but, I am sticking to the plan so far. 3 meals a day, no snacking. I think it'll be much easier to occupy myself once I go back to work next week.

[the new jill 0]

you need to realize that you're still in the healing process. its totally normal to get hungry even though you already have the band. the hardest part is behind you. make sure you are getting enough protein! be patient, once you get your fill, then its a different story. good luck!

[Kary 0]

This is my 14th day post op. This is the very first day on the mushies. I was hungry on liquids but stuck it out and lost basically a lb a day. So it's definitely worth it! Try not to cheat and just stick with it, you have the rest of your banded life to enjoy solid food. LOL. Love My Band! :thumbup:

[jensmallwood 0]

mskutz-- How much are you drinking? I assume you are on full liquids-- are you drinking Protein shakes, creamy Soups (I like the cartons of Pacific brand Soups in the organic section of the grocery store).

I'm just wondering, because if you're trying to stick it out on just clear fluids, or Protein Shakes and Water you may be not getting a decent amount of calories which could contribute to the hunger.

AND, on fluids, don't try to just stick to 3 "meals" a day... at least that's what I was told. Anytime I got really hungry, I had something to drink... a shake, some Soup, a yogurt drink... it really helped (and I still lost 10 pounds those first two weeks.)

[RavenClaw779 2]

You all are going to hate me. I'm two weeks out with an unfilled 11cc Realize band and I've only had a couple of fleeting hunger pangs and one "ravenous" which ended badly. Somethings that tasted really good before surgery (coffee - sob!) now aren't as good? I asked the nurse at my post-op if it was the restriction and she told me, "you have no restriction - your will power must kicking in!" Hmm - well that doesn't explain my one incident of eating too much and paying for it.

[jvw2009 0]

Thanks for sharing everyone. It's nice to know I am not alone in Bandster Hell! I was banded on 3/17 and am really starting to feel those hunger pains. I nearly cried as I watched my hubby have pizza for dinner last night - LOL. I am still on liquids, but I see my surgeon tomorrow, so maybe I can graduate early to mushies. Hang in there everyone -- it's going to be worth it!