Welll... Yeah....

[dhales 98]

Honestly I don't feel supported here at all only judged! I am a full time working mother of 4! I also go to school at night! The support groups are too far for me! I was hoping this one would help!

That's my problem to. I work full time - go to school full time (almost done thank goodness) and a family of two kids and a hubby that can't seem to function without me. There is an OA group in my are on Sundays at 7pm and every time I plan to go something seems to come up. So hard.

There is an OA group online that I thought to check out. This forum is great for support and questions...I visit it everyday and when I start to get unmotivated I look at the before and after pics on the main forum for inspiration. It's not easy...we are all here for a reason and if we could do it on our own we would have already. The more support you put in your corner via surgeon, family, friends, forums and therapists....the better your chances will be. I am a newbie...and I am still learning this as I go

[dhales 98]

I am on day 7 almost on soft foods, did you have your band filled during surgery or after post op

My first fill is on May 7th. I know he put some in during surgery to "prime it" but I don't know how much...I forgot to ask. One lady that had the surgery the same day said that he put 3CC in her band. I am not hungry...so I think he put some in mine too. Well at least I am not physically hungry...head hunger varies on the days.

I made the kids sugar free chocolate chip Cookies with Splenda....it was all I could do not to eat one! I did lick the spoon...so disgusted with myself. However if it would have been pre-band I would have licked the spoon, bowl and had about 1/2 of dozen of the cookies...not to mention I wouldn't have made them sugar free. So all in all...I feel like I came out ahead on that battle...now onward and upward to win the war!!!

[bridg29 2]

Yep its def not head hunger it feels like something is in there grawling to get out!!! i just sip crysatl light when it happens, I too forgot to ask when I left the hospital, when did you get the band in

[bigenuff 302]

Honestly I don't feel supported here at all only judged! I am a full time working mother of 4! I also go to school at night! The support groups are too far for me! I was hoping this one would help!

Why do u feel judged? I know exactly what u are going through.I was in the same situation as you I tried to eat a chicken wing on day 5 post op and paid dearly for it.I was in pain for the next day and a half.the advice people are giving is really good.All of us have dealt with this weight problem and went to this pretty extreme measure to get healthy and live. You can try what they are saying ( measure ur food,eat Protein,drink Water,see a Psycologist) or u can wallow in guilt and eat around ur band back to ur original wait.People may be a little tough but from what I can tell people are sincere and truly care about your success. the only thing they can do is offer you the things that they have tried.I know it's hard(chicken wing) but We all know U CAN DO IT !! My suggestion to u with ur busy schedule is to never be with out ur snack.pack up ur snack pack of Protein shakes Jello etc. and keep them with u at all times.even if ur in the middle of freeway traffic u can pull out something and eat it.Be blessed !!

[ssankofa73 2]

I'm so sorry you're feeling judged by people who responded to your post. Not all of us know how to help in a way that is actually "helpful." I was judged by people on this site before and I hated that feeling. My band was failing and I was made to feel as if I was a failure because I had stopped losing the weight. My doctor and a few of his P.A.s, my mother, and then I started to believe that the weight wasn't coming off due to non-compliance instead of a hole that had developed in my band. Its a terrible feeling when you think you are sabotaging yourself. You have posted that you're eating around the band so I can only assume that you want help. Journaling helped me a few months ago when I was preparing to get my band revision. Its a quick and tangible way for me to track my meals. Its something that I plan on showing my Dr. and his PA when go in to ask for a fill. I hope you try my suggestion. Good luck to you.

[NWgirl 574]

Honestly I don't feel supported here at all only judged! I am a full time working mother of 4! I also go to school at night! The support groups are too far for me! I was hoping this one would help!

Why do you feel judged? These ladies are trying to warn you that some of your actions may cause you problems down the road. No one has judged you. We are all in the same boat, with the same device, striving for the same goal. Sometimes we hear things we don't want to hear, but we know that they are not meant to hurt us. I think you're confusing the concern of others for your health with the idea that they may be judging you.

[Anglkrys2 24]

Why do you feel judged? These ladies are trying to warn you that some of your actions may cause you problems down the road. No one has judged you. We are all in the same boat' date=' with the same device, striving for the same goal. Sometimes we hear things we don't want to hear, but we know that they are not meant to hurt us. I think you're confusing the concern of others for your health with the idea that they may be judging you.[/quote']

I'm not confusing anything! No one knows how I'm feeling! Asking why I doing something to myself is not support! However, I was messaged from a few people who are very encouraging! I was mislead from my office. I was told I wouldn't be able to eat fully! I am NOT eating "around the band". I am hungry and not having any difficulty eating.....AT ALL! Some people heal quicker than others! I think I'm healed and ready for a fill! I did great the first week! I have bad days when I feel weak and depressed and others when I feel empowered! I will do this but will be careful on my depressed days not to post!

[Cindysmom (Ilene) 130]

I am going for my walk...but I sent you my email address....calm down....I will help you.

[Anglkrys2 24]

I am going for my walk...but I sent you my email address....calm down....I will help you.

I'm calm! Lol

[Jepegurl 23]

I'm calm! Lol

How are you today Angelkrys2?

I find that there are a lot of grey areas with this lap band. Some docs do things one way, others another. If we went to the same practice maybe I could help you.

There's a lady on YouTube BandedWendy that I've learned a lot from. She has a ton of videos. I was wondering how other people felt about her?

[NWgirl 574]

I'm not confusing anything! No one knows how I'm feeling! Asking why I doing something to myself is not support! However, I was messaged from a few people who are very encouraging! I was mislead from my office. I was told I wouldn't be able to eat fully! I am NOT eating "around the band". I am hungry and not having any difficulty eating.....AT ALL! Some people heal quicker than others! I think I'm healed and ready for a fill! I did great the first week! I have bad days when I feel weak and depressed and others when I feel empowered! I will do this but will be careful on my depressed days not to post!

I wish you the best, but please remember that we were all on the same post-op diet, so we know how it is to be really, really hungry and the emotional strain it is to break bonds with food. I had no difficulty with pain or activity after the second day and was feeling 100% the first week, but the reason why we go on the staged diet is for healing of the internal body.

We may feel ready to eat, but that does not change the fact that the stomach is still healing and that scar tissue needs to form around the sutures to create a better hold on the band so that the future chance of it slipping or other complications are lessened. If we eat too early against the advice of our medical doctors, we risk damaging the healing process. The diet has a real purpose, and is not just for torture.

Like I said before, don't take the concern that people expressed as judgement. Perhaps your Dr didn't stress the importance of why you should follow the stages.

I want nothing more for anyone on this board to find success, and when someone is doing something that may harm their success, it's important to make sure they understand why.

[Cindysmom (Ilene) 130]

I met Banded Wendy i las Vegas last year. She is very excited about her life. i am cncerned that the Dr's are not giving their patients rules and regulations for their post op. I know how it feels since I had to learn these things on my own.

[bridg29 2]

On my way to first post op visit will let you all know how it went,

[ssankofa73 2]

Hi Mandiman

How are you doing with the eating so far? Have you tried my suggestion? I'm interested in seeing how you've progressed.

[bridg29 2]

Post op went well lost 15.5 since 4/10 still very hungry but now I can eat some foods so its helping, next appt 5/20 hopefully they weill do a fill!!!