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How did you know when you needed your first fill? I am almost 4 weeks post op and I am starting to feel hungry more often. My dr said to expect your first fill between 4-6 weeks post op. It was so funny, I was doing just fine and not feeling hungry or craving food at all. Suddenly overnight I was craving sweets again an intense hunger. I have been doing good with 1c portions lasting me 4-5 hours but the last few days a few of my meals have been larger portions. I have also had a cookie here and there. I am waiting to hear back from my clinic to see if I can book my first fill soon. This is a scary feeling because it is what made me overeat in the first place. After surgery these feelings were gone and it was great, exactly what I needed :) I know it is still early in my journey but my body has done some strange things and I am still trying to figure out these new experiences.

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Yep, you're ready.... But your doc may wait a couple more weeks. Mine was six weeks post op. I was ready earlier but that was his protocol.

That satiety feeling you had right after surgery is the elusive green zone we aim for with fills. I'm at my green now and have been for a few months. I'm eleven months post op. It took 5 fills for me to get here and (I think) stay here. It's worth the wait. Do it slowly and don't get too tight.

Good luck !!! It gets so much easier when the hunger is gone!

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OMG I'm feeling the same thing. I had the procedure on January 21st. I was doing fine up until 2 days ago. I was feeling pretty darn good being able to go 4-5 hrs without getting hungry. Then 2 days ago hit. My 1 cup became 1 and 1/4 cup and I found it more difficult to get to the next meal. I had a follow up this morning with the clinic, they told me it's normal because the swelling has come down. They coin it "lap band hell" for the next 2 weeks. Essentially I'm on soft foods then onto solid (normal) next week; it this time that I should be monitoring how long I can go feeling "satiety". This will determine my fill requirement when I return in 2 weeks. I was also told to expect an increase in weight because I am introducing real food back in the system. Hang in there!

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Welcome to "bander hell". I remember going through exactly what you are describing. Hang in there for a while longer and it will get better when you start getting your fills

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Oh my gosh I am going thru the same thing. Surgery 5/4 and my first fill is 5/28. I was doing good until this week an now I am having to eat several times a day. I try to stick to the Protein Shakes or yogurt.

Kinda looking forward to the first fill although a little scared too.

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I had some good weight loss in week 1, although I wasn't able to drink much due to the "trauma" in my stomach after surgery. Now I have been on 3 GNC shakes a day and just started with "pureed" foods today and was amazed and disappointed at how much I was able to consume without any real pain? That being said I followed the suggested portion sizes as advised by my team.

I believe I am getting my first fill on June 19th and will use my determination and will power to achieve my goals. I wanted to get 3 small madeleines at Starbucks today but reminded myself why I started this journey and only ordered a coffee (it was tough and I struggled in line)

I understand the desire to eat, chew, etc but I have a team of friends, my Surgeon, Primary Care Doctor and Psychologist and together we are committed to my success.

PS

I met with a post op nurse practitioner and my hypertension is already starting to normalize, hopefully sleep apnea is gone by 2016 or sooner!

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Had my first fill 2cc on Thursday 5/28. So far I cant tell anything changed. Is that normal?

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    • Doughgurl

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    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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