I was banded on 9/18. I think I'm eating both too much and too fast. I finish off a 16.9 ounce bottle of water in about 30 minutes. For meals, I eat about 8 ounces of cream soup. Is that too much? I'm really afraid I've stretched my stomach and all this money I spent was for naught.

My dr told me it should take an hour to drink a bottle of water. Any quicker and I am not sipping. I am 24 days post-op and can only manage about 4 oz of food for a meal. Not that I am full, but I am pacing myself for my first fill. It takes me around 45 min to get the food ( mushies) down since I am using a mini spoon, also to get used to the new way of eating. Hope this helps some....Dave

I was also banded on Sept 18th. I have no problem eating over 8 ounces of soup and I could eat more. I was worrying about the same as you. The water also goes down fairly quick and easy....same with coffee. I know I have nothing in my band yet but I still think I should feel more restricted than this. I also paid a lot of money (>11K) to have this surgery and I hope it pays off. I have lost 11 pounds total so far and feel pretty good about that. But now that I can have all liquids, I am afraid I will be eating more fat and calories than with the clear liquids.

My nutritionist said 10-15 minutes to consume 4-6oz of soup, yogurt or pudding in the liquid phase.

Then 15-20 minutes to consume 3-4 oz of mushies.

When on solids, she says meals should take at least 20 minutes and no more than 45. After 45ish, food has had enough time to start passing through your pouch, making room for more food.

Just try and pace yourself. I've never felt any restriction and know I could probably eat and drink like before. I force myself to take the extra time because I want to learn these steps NOW.

I was banded in Feb. of 07 and the only advise I would give everyone is to eat very slowly .

My nutritionist said even though you may feel up to eating more. You need to force yourself to slow down and let your stomach heal. I find that if I eat soup with some Protein powder mixed in and don't drink within 45 minutes after eating - the fullness feeling stays longer. Maybe give it a try.

Good luck with this bandster hell phase of the journey.

You are wide open, and until you get your fills going you will be able to eat more. Once you start getting fills, you'll see a big difference.

Ihave been banded four times and yes I don't eat much any more and when I do over eat well you feel it

Why did you have to get banded four times, if you don't mind my asking?

i was thinking the very same thing....maybe i've stretched my band out. i can pretty much drink as much Water or tea that i want and it goes down very smoothly and comfortably....

and when it comes to the mushy food, well, i have yet to have any problems....so i'm thinking i'm either very lucky....or maybe i've stretched out the band or my stomach????? i'm only 10 days post op. is this possible that someone could stretch their pouch out in this small amount of time???

what are the signs/syntoms that one has in fact stretched out their stomachs?

at first i could only get in about 4-6 oz of thick liquids/mushy food...but now i think i can do about 8oz. !!!!! very afraid i spent a ton of $$$ and have ruined it!!!

fear is probably normal, i get that. but i also know i haven't had a fill yet....WHAT ARE THE WARNING SIGNS of stretching????

help. lol....i need to know!

xoxo, christie

ps - GREAT TOPIC!!!

Christie, I could get about 6 oz of Soup in too, but stuck with the 4 oz portions to be safe. I've heard you could eat a lot when the swelling went down. So, how are you doing with the liquids, or are you on mushies already?

Dont worry about stretching the band/stomach. Until we get fills, its mostly willpower.....Dave

I was always hungrey but now that I am going on my 9 months seem to be doing pretty well in June I lost 10 pounds in one month now that I could not bellieve.

I think Sue meant she was filled 4 times not banded 4 times =)

Hi Sue!

You felt restricted right off-- due to swelling from the surgery.

When swelling goes away and you're healing, and your band is not filled.. it will likely feel like you DON'T HAVE A BAND! That's bandster hell, unfortunately.

I'm not a doctor, blah blah disclaimer, but you haven't stretched your band from drinking water & soup

It's just part of the process. You may not feel filled after your first fill either.. I hear it can take a few.

I went 4 fills with nada, but ends up my port was messed up.. now I'm on fill #1 from Friday and I'm FINALLY out of bandster hell

ok, i'm actually relieved and excited to hear that the internal swelling has probably gone down and that makes sooo much sense as to why at first things filled me up so easily but now go down so smoothly. THANKS SO MUCH!

11 days post op and still standing at 13 lbs lost.....

haven't lost any weight in DAYS!!! as fast and easy as it was coming off and then to get at a stand still i was kinda getting a lil worried.

i know i need a fill....i can't wait til oct 9th!

now i'm just a lil curious as to EXACTLY what takes place during a "FILL" and how do they determine how much to put in at a time?

xoxo, christie

DAVE!!!! long time no see on here....hope everything is going great for you. rock on!

Christie, wow Oct 9th for your fill. You will beat me by 6 days. Get ready for the questions once you have yours...LOL

I cant wait. My loss has slowed too, but down 44 lbs so far isnt too bad, and only 10 of that was pre-op. Take care...Dave