When I was coming out of anesthesia, the post op nurse told my hubby about my fill appointment. He didn't tell me. It was for Friday the 21st. My post op doc appointment is tomorrow. A long story short, I didn't get to my fill Friday, and when I called to reschedule they don't have an opening until MAYBE Dec. 23. I tried to ask surgeon's office if they could fill. They said no.

I am HUNGRY and terrified I will start losing ground. This depresses me as I have gone through this much. Hoping it was for something...

We all go through this period. Eat to keep yourself satisfied but eat Protein and healthy. Most ppl don't get their first fill until they have recovered some from surgery, I didn't get my first fill until 7 weeks after surgery. And your fills are likely going to be small fills until you are in the green zone. So you will be fighting hunger for awhile. You will be dieting during this period. head hunger is hard to beat but I know you can do it. good luck

Hi Seymour, don't worry -- you are doing great. This is the time to be learning the art of really tuning in and listening to your body. And slowing down, noticing the habits, the responses. Paying attention. I was a real shoveler and practiced using a clock and a small spoon. A bite a minute and putting down the utensil in-between, coping with my impatience and noticing how it all felt. Learning to read hunger was interesting -- I hadn't really been hungry in forever (now I welcome it by the way -- such a turn-around but it takes a little time). Assessing what the right food is, taking stock of the situation in a present way and responding. The idea isn't to deprive but to learn to make good decisions. Oh, and the chewing. The chewing and swallowing is what signals the brain for satiety. I think about that sometimes when I'm eating -- listening for that signal. For me I might have a little sigh or a yawn. Or I might notice I am bored. Done. Done is done. No need to keep going (bad idea) because in 4-5 hours you will respond to hunger again. Appropriately. That's the goal. I had to do a lot of undoing of deprivation behavior (overeating because I was going to be on a diet and this was my last chance to be "bad" -- that is all over). I am some one who needed a lot of fills to reach the green zone and looking back that extra time was important for me. December 23 will be here in no time but meanwhile you can let the receptionist know you are very flexible and would love to be on the waiting list. Who knows!

Hang in there, I agree with the above posters, eat according to the phase you would be in at week 3, eat small healthy portions and practice not drinking with your meals, and exercise if you can Dec will be here before you know it. Also it wouldn't hurt to continue calling your surgeons office who knows someone might cancel, and squeaky wheels usually get oiled.

Got my first fill. The first couple of days I could feel restriction... now nothing. 3cc. I am managing to eat well now. Was at 28 loss.. went back up to 24... now at 27. So frustrated... worried this was all for nothing... this loss is great... but I have such a long way to go...

Seymour I feel your pain haven't had a fill yet Thursday will make 2 weeks post-op and I eat the same also I've lost 22lbs and feel I will gain it all back before my first doctors appointment on Monday I've just been feeling had if I've gone through this for nothing I'm totally praying this help I join the YMCA to get my exercise in so let's see how this goes I'm so terrified I really want this to work

Getting my first fill today. I was sooo hungry yesterday. It really was the first day I remembered my eating life before surgery. Hungry all the time!!!

It takes several fills to get lasting restriction. The first few days is swelling and irritation. Then the band settles in. I've had five fills and I have 7.60 cc in my 14cc band. I just had 0.1 put in yesterday. I was thinking I was in the green zone but after about two months of that level I felt I could try a tiny bit more. So this is truly an experiment now. Lasting satiety is the goal. Four hours between protein meals.