I am 10 days post-op and my appetite is coming back full force! I guess I should mention that my band is completely empty right now. Has anyone experienced this? Can you eat like you always did when your band is completely empty?

Yes you can eat like you always did but you shouldnt. It takes a few fills to start feeling more restricted. Hang in there it does get frustrating.

I just posted this in another thread:

We have restriction post-op due to swelling, which goes away in a week or so. The time between when you lose that initial restriction and when you get it back via a fill or fills is called Bandsters' Hell. During this time of healing, we have to exercise restraint, as many can eat as much as before installation and feel that they've somehow failed. This is normal, so follow the diet your doc or nutritionist gave you and hang-in there until you get filled. Good luck!

I am 10 days post-op and my appetite is coming back full force! I guess I should mention that my band is completely empty right now. Has anyone experienced this? Can you eat like you always did when your band is completely empty?

I thought it was just me. I stay hungry but I am trying to follow the 1/2 cup rule. Sometimes I forget to chew.chew. chew.. thank goodness I am still in the mushy foods stage. This is defintly a life change..

I thought the surgeon gives you a little bit of a fill during surgery ? At least mines does....I guess it's so little it doesn't help too much?

Just follow the diet and you should be fine, don't "test it" like oh I can eat anything I want so I will.

Yea, I'm eating a little more than a 1/2 cup, but still being careful and not eating anything crazy or fried or tons of fat.

I'm still at 1/3 of a cup each meal. I feel so lucky that I have no hunger.

I had that happen to me before I had my first fill and it was hard. I felt like why the hell did I do this to myself if I'm just going to feel the way I did before surgery. When is your fill date? Maybe you can call the dr. office and have it bumped up.