I just got banded on 3/28/11. I am to follow a liquid diet for a week, then a soft diet next week.. I am to try and have 40grms of protiein at least,daily. I kept feeling hungry over and over and I felt like I was not reaching a full point.

I finally gave in and called my doctor.

I spoke with a P.A. She told me I am hungry because my band isn't even filled yet for 6 weeks. I was so terrified I would choke on my small pills etc. too.

Is this true I never heard of this. I thought the band got filled immediatly.

please explain anyone

thanks so much

guyguys1

Nope. You gotta heal first. Then you go in for a fill. Some surgeons will add one or two cc's in the operating room but that doesnt seem too common. You are currently in what we refer to as bandster hell... because you are banded and on a strict diet but will feel hungry (and are technically capable of eating more than you should). Stick to your diet as much as possible, get your Protein (shakes are a great way to get added protein on your liquid/mushy diet - i still drink one every day for breakfast).

Also, it may take months to find restriction even after you start getting fills. I have 5cc's in an 11cc Realize band and I have NO restriction - so I diet and get my protein and drink tons of Water (if I dont the scale doesnt move). Keep it up, it is worth it - but it will NOT always be easy.

Yea your body naturally constricts while it's healing. You are just hungry cause you are on liquids, it gets better on soft foods .

Then you get your fill after about 6 weeks, then the fill, eventually will press on a nerve or something that prevents the hunger chemical from coming out. So you can eat a small meal and be satisfied for 5 hours.

Some surgeons put in a small amount of fill during surgery but some don't. Mine was empty until I got my first fill...

Hang in there, it does get better!

Hi, I just wanted to add that crushing the pills is important while your stomach is swollen from surgery, even if you have no fill. I have small pills and started taking them uncrushed about 2 weeks after surgery.

Here is what took me by surprise: After a fill you also swell and go back to liquids for up to 2 days. (More pill crushing)

If you are that hungry (such that it is making you mentally and emotionally uncomfortable and stressing your recovery ), maybe ask if an appetite supressant is appropriate for your situation.

Best wishes for you lap journey.

I just got banded on 3/28/11. I am to follow a liquid diet for a week, then a soft diet next week.. I am to try and have 40grms of protiein at least,daily. I kept feeling hungry over and over and I felt like I was not reaching a full point.

I finally gave in and called my doctor.

I spoke with a P.A. She told me I am hungry because my band isn't even filled yet for 6 weeks. I was so terrified I would choke on my small pills etc. too.

Is this true I never heard of this. I thought the band got filled immediatly.

please explain anyone

thanks so much

guyguys1

You are soooo lucky. I was also banded on Monday 3/28/11 and I can barely get down anything. Even tinny tiny sips of clear liquid cause stabbing pain in my chest and I feel like I need to puke. I just finally started burping today and that helps, along with the gas x strips. I was originally scheduled to start Protein drinks tomorrow but when I went to see the surgeon today, because I puked twice yesterday, he told me to continue to hold off on them. I have no desire to eat anything and can barely force myself to sip clears.

This was supposed to be a walk in the park and it's turning out to be my worst nightmare. When does bandster hell stop?

It takes about 6 weeks before they can give you a small fill to lock it in place.

Protein shakes will be the best thing to kill your hunger.

Actually, all doctors are different. I came out of surgery with 3cc's already in place and a friend came out with 4 in hers.

I wouldn't say it's uncommon to have fill placed at surgery, it's just an option.

stick to your post-op diet as best you can, it's to allow for healing and for the band to settle well in position before any adjustments (aka fills).

Be aware that some folks have to get 2 or 3 adjustments before their appetite is dimmed.

Best of luck to you.

Also dont assume its doing nothing. When I started eating, even with an empty band things would go down rough. It will all come together. Good luck!

After surgery our stomachs are very swollen so filling the band would be a terrible idea for most people. I know people who could barely eat for more than 6 weeks because their stomachs were so swollen with the band empty. My first band I came out of surgery empty but my second band I got 4cc put in my band during surgery and could still eat a horse.

All doctors are different on this matter. It is best not to get a fill during surgery for most people because your stomach needs time to heal. If you get a fill too fast that can cause problems ( ie not being able to eat, or even erosion).

Good luck on your journey

I was banded Jan. 10th and still have nothing in my band. My surgeon refuses to do a fill until you are the same weight two visits in a row. He claims that as long as you are losing you don't need a fill.

Yeah don't sweat it. You'll get there. It definitely takes time and you have to adjust to it. I was lucky in that I felt restriction right after surgery. But Trust me once you start getting fills you'll ntoice the difference.

You are soooo lucky. I was also banded on Monday 3/28/11 and I can barely get down anything. Even tinny tiny sips of clear liquid cause stabbing pain in my chest and I feel like I need to puke. I just finally started burping today and that helps, along with the gas x strips. I was originally scheduled to start Protein drinks tomorrow but when I went to see the surgeon today, because I puked twice yesterday, he told me to continue to hold off on them. I have no desire to eat anything and can barely force myself to sip clears.

This was supposed to be a walk in the park and it's turning out to be my worst nightmare. When does bandster hell stop?

I would guess that your surgeon put fill in at the time of surgery. I would suggest you have it removed if he did. I never really get why some surgeons do this. Seems to me that I read about problems from that sort of thing more often than I read about people having fill placed during surgery not having problems.

For you not to be able to drink Water is dangerous to your healing and your health. Check with your surgeon - I bet if you do have fill and it is removed - you will be back to a walk in the park. Seriously.

You're doctor didn't do a very good job explaining things to you. My dr. says absolutely no fill until at least 6 weeks out. You want everything to heal correctly.

I would guess that your surgeon put fill in at the time of surgery. I would suggest you have it removed if he did. I never really get why some surgeons do this. Seems to me that I read about problems from that sort of thing more often than I read about people having fill placed during surgery not having problems.

For you not to be able to drink Water is dangerous to your healing and your health. Check with your surgeon - I bet if you do have fill and it is removed - you will be back to a walk in the park. Seriously.

If you can't drink water (YOUR IN THE RED ZONE !) That's not good at all.

You should contact your surgeon and make him aware of this. He might take some out for you.

Hang in there. The weight loss will be totally worth it.