I am 4 1/2 weeks post op.

My surgery went great and I was healed up and back to my life in 1 week. Then the panic set in. I honestly felt NO restriction for 2 straight weeks. It was like I had gone through this major surgery and spent $12000 to feel no different!!! What the @#%@ had I done???

I even went through a dark time where I started overeating and testing my band. "if I dont have restriction, why cant I have a slice of pizza". I thought I was the only one who went through this, and maybe I am. It all happened sooo fast after surgery. Within 2 weeks I was back to a regular diet (yes I did follow my doc's instructions, he had me on liquids for 7 days, then mushies for 3 more days, then progressed to regular foods) so by day 14 post op, with NO restriction I could eat pretty much anything.

I was eating less, but I didnt lose weight, infact I gained 1.5 lbs post op.

I am sharing all of this because no one told me that this would happen and I was not prepared for my old eating habits to pop back up sooo soon after surgery. I read all of the threads about bandster hell, and they did help a little, but I still felt lost and regretful.

Well I got my fill on monday ......

(que the chior singing Hallelujah:thumbup:)

and I hope to save someone from the torture I put myself through for 2 weeks. I was feeling like the weight loss failure I had always been. Losing weight pre op, then gaining and falling back into old habits post op.

I weighed this morning and I have lost 3 lbs. I know that I will loosen and need more fills but right now, I am NOT HUNGRY. I can now see, or I should say feel, how this band will help me lose weight. It was not a mistake. I had 1 scrambled egg for breakfast and I am still full, 3 hours later!

If you are freaking out or going to a dark place of self doubt, please dont! It all gets better soon!!!

I know that I have tons of work to do and I know that my bad habits wont die with one fill, but right now, today, I feel like I can do this. That is a damn good feeling and I wanted to share it!! Sorry its long winded:redface:

Thanks for posting, I will have my first fill on tues 8/3 and I cant wait. I feel like i can eat anything at the moment :cursing: I hope it gives me some type of restriction. thanks again and congrats on your 3 1/2 pound loss:thumbup:

Love it! I'm glad you posted this. I have my first fill 8/19. I have had pretty good restriction since my surgery on 7/8 but, I have begun to be able to eat more and that has worried me. I lost 12 lbs. at my first post op follow up and believe it or not...I was disappointed! For some reason...I think I am supposed to drop this miraculous amount of weight in a short period of time...even though I know this is not how it works. Anyways, your post made me feel better about all of this. Thanks! =)

You are certainly not alone.....I am 4 months post op, and just had my second fill today. I have not had any restriction to date, but hopefully will have some now. I have not gotten myself too worked up because i have been reading these boards and many blogs for months, so i DID know what to expect....but that didn't really make it easier. I think though now i am getting a better idea of why the gradual increase in restriction works from reading this blog: S.O.B. Stories After reading the process of sucessful bandsters the "light has dawned" so to say. I think we need time for our brains to really "learn" the new habits. Sure we can recite the "rules" backwards and forwards....but it takes TIME for our brains to catch up to our bodies. Our bad old habits didn't just appear over-night.....so why should we think our new healthy habits will happen over-night? When i stop to think about the fact that i have been obese for 30 years, 18 months to become thin dosen't seem that long. Be good and gentle to yourself.....you will see the changes soon.

Edited July 29, 201016 yr by stargate713

Thanx for the responses. I am still feeling great and sooooo glad to be through with bandster hell. I hope everyone out there understands that it does get so much better!

Thank you so much for sharing. It was inspiring. :rolleyes2:

Thank you so much for posting this. Im just started to get that worried feeling and im glad to see its *normal*

THANK YOU! I was banded Friday and I'm feeling terrible with this liquid diet... for two weeks? It's like a drop in an empty well! The family is eating and I'm upset. I just keep thinking about a few weeks from now when I will be able to sit at the table with them... and be full after only a few bites.

Great post, let me ask this question...Im suppose to get my first fill on August 19th and Im feeling restriction now. Is this gonna go away as time goes by? Im 18 days out. A pack of instant oatmeal and an egg white feels me up right now. I should not be eating more than that at 18 days should I? I just dont want my surgeon to give me a fill and it be too resticting.

You can do it, so go you!!

I am 9 days post op and it is like you have read my mind! Thank you sooo much for your post! It has really helped to put my mind at ease.:wub:

Edited August 1, 201016 yr by SKRIMP

Im sooo glad to hear all of your responses. I did really feel so alone 2 weeks post op, I hope none of you do!! Trust me, I went through a really tough time.

Now, 1 week post fill, still feeling great. Hunger is not an issue, so food is not an issue. So thrilled about how I am feeling!

Laylas grandma, everyone is sooo different and you may not have the same experience as I did. My doc has me fill out a form explaining how much food I can eat at one sitting and how long after eating I stay full. If I can eat more than 2 cups of food and stay full for less than 2 hours then I get a fill. Im sure your doc has guidelines for your fills but if you have restriction you may not need a fill. Many banders lose lots of weight b4 they need a fill.