Hi everyone! I'm terrifying myself...can anyone relate? 5 weeks post-op, and I know I am eating too much. Doc says 1/2 cup, and I can lie to myself and say it's 1/2....but I would bet it's a whole cup (or more!) I'm eating (volume-wise). So now I'm scaring myself. I've been told that I feel like I'm starving because I don't have a fill, and to make sure I stick to the 1/2 cup. So, I tell myself, next meal = 1/2....and then how much do I eat? Way more than 1/2 cup. My weight loss has been great....34 lbs including pre-op diet, so I can't complain there. I'm just worried that I have now stretched my "top" stomach before I have my fill! I don't feel any restriction, and have even thought (jokingly) that they really didn't even put a band in there...just put some cuts on me to convince me.

I don't do too bad with WHAT I am eating, just the volume (although the Hershey's kisses beg to be eaten occasionally, a few of them each time). SO WHAT HAVE I DONE TO MYSELF? :angry Oh no, I'm not hurting one bit, physically - I don't stop eating because I feel full, I stop because my brain *finally* screams that I am going to stretch my top stomach! But by that time, I have eaten way too much. Have I already stretched my stomach? I go see my dr in a few days...scared to tell him I'm overeating....and he's just going to say the same ole "eat 1/2 cup".

How bad have I messed myself up if I've been doing this for the last two out of my 5wks post-op?????????:eek:

I would appreciate any comments!!! I don't get to get on here near as much as I would like (3 & 5 yr old always clamoring for my attention, LOL)...but sure hope you all will respond and give some advice. Thanks!!!

Why would he expect you to get by on a half-cup BEFORE a fill? That is insane. The band is healing into place, your stoma is no longer swollen...OF COURSE you can eat.

Has he DONE this before?

Beachbander, hang on. You are normal and you aren't hurting yourself or stretching out your upper pouch by eating 1 cup of food. That food is sliding right down through your loose unfilled band. Just continue to chew well, eat slowly, choose good foods, and by golly, quit beating yourself up! When the doc says, "only eat a 1/2 cup of food" say "Okay" and give it your best shot. Just wait till you get properly filled, that 1/2 cup of food will take 20 minutes to eat, or more!

Honestly, I can eat more than a 1/2 cup of food. I had a 8 ounce bowl of chili for lunch, with crackers. I ate it slowly, chewed well. I was full! The 1/2 turkey sandwich that came with it was dinner. I have about 2cc in a 4cc band.

So, be patient, choose wisely, you are doing great!!!

Yep, I will agree with all that has already been said. Your band is designed to work when it is filled. So if you have not fill you are going to be able to eat with little problem.

I'm 3 weeks post-op and am having the same challenge with mushies - thank you so much for posting this!

I thought I was crazy when I told the nurse how hungry I am and she basically said, "tough it out."

Nice to know its not just me :eek:

:eek: Don't worry, like others said you're not hurting yourself eating 1 cup of food, it's just sliding on down. So are they going to give you a fill at 6 weeks or make you suffer indefinitely? :paranoid

Whew, thanks, guys...I feel better! As one of you said you heard from your doc, mine has the same opinion, "tough it out".....but he will schedule a fill for 6 wks if we want it (I do!). I've read bunches of posts, and have to admit I absolutely cannot understand (and almost can't believe) that there will be true restriction. I mean, I really cannot imagine that I will actually feel full at 1/2 cup, but I sure hope it happens! Please, please, please let there be restriction! Thanks everyone, I feel better....and I see my dr Wed....will ask to schedule fill!!!

My friend who had RNY came home eating a cup of food with the dr's. orders. She had no problem with it, and it sounds like you are losing weight like crazy. This friend of mine ate lobster the night before her surgery...it was much different then lap banding. She came home the day after and cried for 2 weeks over what she had done. She had a psych eval, but I don't know if anything prepares you for a permanent change like that. She loved food and had the surgery for the wrong reasons...she had it for her husband. She is doing better now, but has gained back some of what she lost. She drinks loads of sodas (something we aren't allowed). I guess all surgeries are different, but she doesn't eat right on hers. I would say if you are eating a cup of food you are doing awesome. Keep up the good work.

beachbander, My wife is practically begging for ANOTHER fill. She had her first one on 2-2-06 and for the first couple of weeks she was doing great. Lots of restriction. But now, I guess the swelling has gone down and she has gotten use to the feeling and she is eating anything and everything. And she isn't due for another doctor visit for another two weeks. By then I think she'll put a strangle hold on somebody until she gets another fill....LOL

I'm so sorry you are so stressed over this. Basically without a fill, you are almost like you were never banded in the first place. Were you happy with 1/2 a cup of food before banding? Probably not, since you got banded (laughing).

Please stop beating yourself up over this! You are doing great!

I have no patience for people who are supposed to help us who give us crap. Telling Gwendolyn to "tough it out" sure wasn't helping her, or giving her any comfort. I sure wish you had been told "do your best" instead, since that is all you can do.

(((hugs))) everyone.

I was just banded recently. My plan is to use Meridia and phentermine diet drugs when I am not restricted. For me these work very well for short periods of time.

I was just banded recently. My plan is to use Meridia and phentermine diet drugs when I am not restricted. For me these work very well for short periods of time.

Do you use both of these at the same time? I have heard of band docs prescribing appetite suppressants for use when you have no restriction...such as post-op. I, personally, think it's a fine idea. I'm just not sure about those 2 drugs together?

I take phentermine one day and Meridia the next. These are effective (for me), but I probably would not bother after banding except that I have a large supply left over.

My surgeon believes that eventually the lapband protocol will include the use of diet drugs.

Scott, I have taken my leftover Phentermine since banding. A whole 3 times, but it isn't so much for the hungries (for me) but a jump start on breaking a plateau. I was super tight post-op, so I never had the "I'm starving!" phase. Not everyone needs them, but they are a very useful short-term tool.

HHMmm...I never thought of using these drugs post-op...and I certainly have some left over! Let me go dig through my cabinet....at least they may help til I get my first fill!

Hi Eficka,

I have been banded 2 years and 8 months and only can remember one time where I was eating 1/2 cup and getting full. Even now, I eat about 6-8 oz at a sitting 4-5 oz of meat and a couple oz of veggies. Everyone is different. As long as you are losing weight and making smarter choices and eating less than you did before (less than 1/2) usually you will lose at a nice steady pace of 1-2 pounds a week if you are making Protein choices which fill you up when you have a band. Dont stress. I still love and enjoy food and get much fuller with a smaller quantity.

Babs in TX

334/180ish