I was banded 3 weeks ago and have been eating solid foods since week 2. I have been eating less and droped 16lbs, but I am miserable, I feel like a failure and I am afraid that I have ruined my band. I think I want to have the surgery reversed.

My first fill is next wednesday and I am terrifed of even facing my doctor...:think

Are you hurting? Were you able to take the food easily? Are you just afraid you are eating too much? When did your doctor say it was okay for you to try foods? Why do you feel like a failure?

I only hurt once. I am able to take foods easilly. Yes, I am afreaid I am eating too much, and my doctor said that I was not suposed to eat solids till next week. I feel like a failure because I got this surgery as a last resort and here I am eating. I am just miserable!

One thing I can tell you, is stop doing it if it's making you feel miserable. That much you can control.

What your doctor's going to say, I'm not sure. But I'm sure you're probably not the first patient he's had to do this. You made need to see someone who can help you work through the "head issues"...because that makes up a big portion of this game -- much bigger than we realize.

But meanwhile -- stop beating yourself up. That isn't helping anybody.

Spend some time reading on here -- you'll read where others have messed up, too, but picked themselves up and got on with the show.

Make today better than yesterday and work toward an even better tomorrow.

Be truthful with your doctor. I don't think you are a failure. Most of us slip. I would get back on track and not get too worked up until the doctor tells you otherwise. Hang in there. I am four days post op and ready to eat everything in sight! I haven't yet, but want to.

You have not runined you band. I have not been band yet but will be in October. When I meet with my surgeon he said that the sooner you start on solids the better you are. He usually starts his patient on solids at 3 weeks. Why do you feel like a failure?

If you have your band removed or reversed? What will that make you?

The band is a tool and I don't think any of us would have considered getting the band if we didn't want something different for our bodies as far as health and then our appearance. Hang in there, you will do just fine. Don't give up yet. YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE.

Dear HSH,

I will be very direct with you, that band is the best decision youve ever made, and im very serious about my statement, what you have is a very common feeling, don´t worry if you are able to pass solid food too soon, that´s not too bad, some doctors are more flexible than others, what you have to watch now is the kind of food you are eating, and youll need a lot of comunication with your doctor. The lap band is the best thing that has happened to me, if you need some other advice or suggestion, i´ll galdly help.....ohhh and don´t ever think of removing your lapband... your life as you know it its gone, you are now for the simple fact of making a great decision another person. bye and congratulations for your new life

Thank you all for your support, I guess I really needed to let it out in order to move forward.

What about the fills? do they hurt? I have also read that it may take several fills before you feel satiety.

Okay I HAD to answer you, I did the exact same thing, I ate at about week 2 abd I was seriously a nervous wreck thinking the band slipped, etc. I went in to get my fill this past weekend and he said the band looked perfect, I felt like I was given a second chance. It hadn't slipped at all, but he said he noticed I was taking too big of bites by the size of the upper pouch and is glad we caught it now. But everything was seriously fine for me...I was worried, like you. I feel this is my chance to get my act together. I feel much better already, definitely have very pleasant restriction. The fill didn't hurt worse than someone quickly poking you in the stomach, seriously it was pretty much painless. I laughed when he got the needle in cuz it DIDN'T hurt and I had been so worried! :car: If you need any other info, let me know, I'm new just like you!!!

Okay I HAD to answer you, I did the exact same thing, I ate at about week 2 abd I was seriously a nervous wreck thinking the band slipped, etc. I went in to get my fill this past weekend and he said the band looked perfect, I felt like I was given a second chance. It hadn't slipped at all, but he said he noticed I was taking too big of bites by the size of the upper pouch and is glad we caught it now. But everything was seriously fine for me...I was worried, like you. I feel this is my chance to get my act together. I feel much better already, definitely have very pleasant restriction. The fill didn't hurt worse than someone quickly poking you in the stomach, seriously it was pretty much painless. I laughed when he got the needle in cuz it DIDN'T hurt and I had been so worried! :car: If you need any other info, let me know, I'm new just like you!!!

Thank you soooo much!

It is so comforting to hear that!!! I really don't know what to expect when I go get my fill. How does he know what that band looks like?

First off. I have cried. I cried nearly all day yesterday wondering if I had made the wrong choice and if I should have tried harder without surgery, but surgery is not the easy way out. Also, this band is something that you have to maintain for the rest of your life unless there is a serious complication with it. So you've already made the decision that you are willing to change your life in order to lose the excess weight and be healthy. I commend you in your decision and I don't think that you should worry about having the band slip unless you are in pain or experiencing weird symptoms that would suggest that there is a problem. The program that I got my band through is very strict, but they are now starting band patients right out on a High protein soft food diet because too many people were getting hungry on the liquid diet. The important thing is to be truthful with your doctor. And next time that you have a question about something or about advancing your diet, just call and talk to your surgeon. They know what's best. Anyway, I am a week out today and I'm doing pretty good. Don't get down on yourself and just think about the long term benefits of this. And don't get it reversed unless there is a medical reason that you have to, otherwise you may regret it later on down the road.

They will know if they use a fluoroscopy, which is kinda like an x-ray where they can see the band!

dont worry you will be fine you will fill full when you have your first fill and no it dose not hurt just you wait and see

I am three weeks post op and I feel I can eat just about anything, as long as I chew properly. You need to hang in there and keep eating good foods. When you get a couple of fills, you will feel restriction. The decision to get banded is a big one, and a positive one; dont feel bad that you are eating solids, because I would say a vast majority are doing the same - early! Talk to your doctor about it and remember it's your body and only you know your hunger pains.

Hang in there! Its worth it just for your health and those who love you.

Don't ever think you're a failure! Nothing is going to go perfect all the time and that goes for anything. All doctors are different. Mine had me on mushy foods a few days after the initial surgery and then solids within the week. I just had my second fill today and was talking to another lady who had her band the same day & told her I still want to eat. So I'm eating a little because that's what I feel like I need to do. But I'm not going to overdo it. I'm taking it easy, eating a little solid food to kill the hunger and that's it.

I know that it'll take several more fills for me to be at the "sweet spot." So I'm using it as the tool it's meant to be. I've noticed my clothes are more lose and that's progress. I'm down a total of 20 lbs. (2 months since the surgery), so I wouldn't have even lost THAT if I hadn't had the band.

The band will work if you let it. Tell your dr. you're hungry and want to eat real food. Work together with him to get a plan that will work for you. You're just starting out, sweetie. You'll do fine!

You have not runined you band. I have not been band yet but will be in October. When I meet with my surgeon he said that the sooner you start on solids the better you are. He usually starts his patient on solids at 3 weeks. Why do you feel like a failure?

Lottie,

i agree with you that she is not a failure, but you are not her doctor. you do not KNOW for sure that she has not ruined her band. HER doctor said no solids for 4 weeks. she needs to follow what HER doctor suggested, not your doctor.

every doctor is different and tells their patients what they want them to follow.

this time is for healing. not for losing weight, not for losing inches, but anchoring that band into place.

HSH,

please start following your surgeon's guidelines - especially if eating solids hurts you.

you can do this! good luck.