Just banded a week ago. Lost 18 pounds already. I am still on fluids, and feeling ok. Not much energy, and I am not a big protein drink person. Anyway, I guess only bandsters have this feeling. I CAN NOT FIGURE OUT IF THE FEELING I HAVE IN MY STOMACH IS HUNGER OR FULLNESS. This is very weird feeling. I feel like I want to eat, but the minute I drink some no fat chocolate mike or gatorade I feel, I think full....??????

Hi Marc,

You are experiencing the feeling of having a stomach only a fraction of its former size. The feeling will fade as your postop swelling decreases, but for now you're feeling what we refer to as "restriction." Large amounts of anything, even liquid, don't go all the way down very quickly, and you are aware of their presence in your pouch.

It may not be "fullness" that you're feeling, yet, but you're in the neighborhood. Things will feel a bit different as you get farther away from surgery and before a fill--you might even be able to forget you have a band at all from time to time. And yes, you might gain some weight during this time. But when you get filled you'll have this feeling back, so it's good that you're getting a sense of how it will work later on.

Congratulations on being banded, and welcome to the forum!!