Hello everyone!

This is my first time posting, I believe some of you may already know my husband (Laserjock).

Anyway, I've been reading this board and have obtained a lot of very helpful information, so I decided to join in and maybe help someone else if I can and seek advice from others that have been banded.

I went to Mexico to have surgery last Monday. Surgery went very well except for some nausea episodes and soreness, but I'm feeling very well today and it's only 4 days after surgery, so I'm very happy!

Today I'm struggling with hunger pains - I started feeling hungry yesterday afternoon and it hasn't left me since. I'm drinking Water, apple juice strainged chicken noodle Soup and Jello. I was just wondering if everyone goes through this during the "liquid phase"?

I never thought I would look forward so much to get to a "mushy phase" haha!

Yessum. Everyone goes through this on the liquid phase. Your tummy is beginning to heal and there will definitely be hunger pangs. I just keep pouring more stuff in it. I think that helps.

It seems like the one very important thing that many people are not told is the the first 6 weeks are sometimes the very hardest. You're on liquids and mushy foods to begin with to allow your stomach to heal without having to work to grind up more solid foods. This time is needed to allow the stomach to become 'seated' and grow scar tissue that hopefully helps in preventing the band to slip sometime down the road.

Often people begin eating much faster without really understanding how important this initial 6 weeks of healing is for.

I'm doing liquids right now, too and will be moving into soft/mushy foods this coming week, so I feel your pain. I've been tracking my intake on www.fitday.com and even though I feel like I'm continuously pouring something else in, I'm still not getting in over 800 calories a day.

Are you restricted to Clear Liquids or are you able to also take in full liquids at this time?

Congratulations on your banding! Just remember, this is only temporary.

HEY! We were both banded on the same day! I am currently not going through any hunger pains yet, but I know when my mom made supper last night I wanted to eat! Somehow simply drinking my protein wasn't cutting my desire to eat some real food! That was "head hunger" for me though! I'm sure a lot of people will go through that as well... I think we get to start the "mushy phase" at 2 weeks post-op, I'm looking forward to that as well! We will have to remain in contact and support each other. Best of luck to you and I’m sure you will find fullness soon. Oh yeah, one other tip....my doctor suggested sugar-free popsicles. You have to limit yourself to 2 a day, but I had one yesterday and that helped to fill me up at supper time.

Hi Tricia,

Congratulations on being banded!

I was allowed pureed foods on day 3 although I mainly ate things like NF yogurt... cream Soups that I pureed... NF pudding cups... Protein shakes (Unjury).... cottage cheese (pureed). When did your Doctor say you could progress to FULL liquids???

Darcy

Originally posted by leatha_g

Yessum. Everyone goes through this on the liquid phase. Your tummy is beginning to heal and there will definitely be hunger pangs. I just keep pouring more stuff in it. I think that helps.

It seems like the one very important thing that many people are not told is the the first 6 weeks are sometimes the very hardest. You're on liquids and mushy foods to begin with to allow your stomach to heal without having to work to grind up more solid foods. This time is needed to allow the stomach to become 'seated' and grow scar tissue that hopefully helps in preventing the band to slip sometime down the road.

Often people begin eating much faster without really understanding how important this initial 6 weeks of healing is for.

I'm doing liquids right now, too and will be moving into soft/mushy foods this coming week, so I feel your pain. I've been tracking my intake on www.fitday.com and even though I feel like I'm continuously pouring something else in, I'm still not getting in over 800 calories a day.

Are you restricted to clear liquids or are you able to also take in full liquids at this time?

Congratulations on your banding! Just remember, this is only temporary.

Thanks!

I'm glad to know that others struggled through the liquid stage. I have to be on clear liquids for a week, then I can start full liquids with mushy foods next week. It will also help that I'm going back to work on Monday, better than just sitting around the house

Originally posted by kileylyn

HEY! We were both banded on the same day! I am currently not going through any hunger pains yet, but I know when my mom made supper last night I wanted to eat! Somehow simply drinking my Protein wasn't cutting my desire to eat some real food! That was "head hunger" for me though! I'm sure a lot of people will go through that as well... I think we get to start the "mushy phase" at 2 weeks post-op, I'm looking forward to that as well! We will have to remain in contact and support each other. Best of luck to you and I’m sure you will find fullness soon. Oh yeah, one other tip....my doctor suggested sugar-free popsicles. You have to limit yourself to 2 a day, but I had one yesterday and that helped to fill me up at supper time.

Hey Congrats to you! I thought last Monday would never come, and now I'm so happy and relieved that I made it through and can start the long journey of weight loss. I'm very excited about what the future will bring, we'll definately have to keep in touch to see how we're both doing since we were banded on the exact same day.

Good luck to you too!

Originally posted by nightingale2u

Hi Tricia,

Congratulations on being banded!

I was allowed pureed foods on day 3 although I mainly ate things like NF yogurt... cream soups that I pureed... NF pudding cups... Protein shakes (Unjury).... cottage cheese (pureed). When did your Doctor say you could progress to FULL liquids???

Darcy

I would LOVE pureed foods at this point, but my Doc. said clear liquids for the first week. I'll get to pureed foods in week 3 and regular food in week 4.

I guess every doctor has their own food routine that they want you to follow. I need to just keep telling myself that my stomach is healing and I need to remain patient

Thanks for the words of encouragement

Kiley and Tricia, Congratulations! Yes, this is hard, but when you start seeing that scale drop and your clothes get looser, you will feel so proud of yourselves! Drink, drink, drink! You've already taken the big step (surgery), now let yourselves heal. Best of luck to both of you!

Congratulations on being banded, Tricia! Hope all goes well for you!

Hi Tricia!!!

I have been waiting to meet you, your husband is amazing and sounds really sweet. I am so glad your surgery went well and you are healing. Yes that hunger is normal. Terrible isn't it??? I swear I went into surgery hungry and I came out hungrier for a good couple of weeks. Can you have protein drinks? They gave me jello in the hospital so I thought applesauce and pudding had about the same consistency and they helped. Definitely thicker juices help. If you like V-8 and can have that, it helped. Make sure whatever you consume at this stage is very smooth. Unfortunately I was always testing my boundaries but overall I think I came thru just fine. I never got too carried away. I am 11.5 weeks out and still have pretty good restriction. Haven't needed a fill yet, so trust me when I say that I was really pretty careful. Remind us when you get to mushies and I can send you ideas then too. So glad to meet you!!! Teresa;)