I am 8 weeks post-op and had my first fill last week. Before the fill, once I was cleared to eat, I could eat anything -- I mean, anything -- and did. :faint:So naturally, I gained all pre-op and most post-op weight back.

So I was really looking forward to the fill which happened a week ago. At first, it looked like I could eat anything again. So I called and made another fill appointment for next week. It's a big deal for me, because I need take a day off work to travell from Philly to NYC (at cost of over $120 both ways) plus the cost of fills (I'm self-pay). But I was willing to do it because I wanted my band to start working for me. Incidentally, I must plug Dr. Ren in NYC -- I felt NOT A THING with the fill!!

Back to my dilemma -- this morning, I started on my 1/2 bagel with light cream cheese -- and after a couple of bites, I started to feel quite gross -- I had slime, funny burping sounds (sounded like the Emergency Broadcast system!) It hurt quite a bit, then out it came after about 1/2 hour of writhing and squeaming.

So clearly, I have some restriction. But I'm still hungry!

Question is: should I still go for my fill? I like the negative reinforcement of eating improperly, but I'm still physically hungry -- I don't have that filled feeling at all. I wonder if just a tad more would do the trick - allows me restriction to the point of losing hunger without causing overfilling? I'd love to experience the sweet spot!!

Your advice/experience would be very welcome! :clap2:

Danielle

Oh honey sometimes it takes a couple of weeks for a fill to kick in. I was just like you after post op, my first fill didn't kick in for 3 weeks. Then I had problems with bread. I would suggest sticking it out a couple of weeks at least. I went for my second fill cause I wasn't satisfied with my restriction level, got home and it was awful. I had to make an emergency 4hour drive away to get unfilled. I couldn't get anything down and was throwing up foam. IMHO I think you should wait it out a couple of weeks.

you may want to not eat a bagel for Breakfast. a lot of people (me included) are very tight in the morning. i have a liquid breakfast (high in Protein low in carbs is the key)... it will fill you up until a light lunch. if you are still really quite hungry, i say go in for the fill. it took me about 5 fills to get adequate restriction - but the number of fills doesnt really matter ... what matters is HOW MUCH Fluid with each fill..

good luck.

If you can ever eat a bagel again after getting a few fills....you are rare! Bread wads up, swells up, just doesn't move thru the stoma.

Also....you are still experiencing head hunger - partially because of a lifetime habit and partially because you are apparently still eating starchy carbs - foods like bread, Pasta, rice, potatoes, etc make our blood sugar bounce and make us feel hungry when we really are not. De-toxing your body from carbs will help you control those cravings - and will help you lose weight, which, after all, is what this surgery is all about.

With restriction it is a good idea to begin your day with a warm drink - a good Protein latte maybe....and that will loosen your band and also get you off to an energetic start. Then you can choose appropriate foods.

If I tried to eat a bagel I would probably be in agony on the floor. Now that you are in the "land of restriction" you need to be VERY AWARE of what you eat. It's a fast learning curve because the consequences are pretty uncomfortable. I do have head hunger occasionally, but if I indulge, after about 4 bites it gets pretty much more trouble than it is worth. Kindof like if you love chocolate cake more than anything in the world. But you're told that in order to get some you have to hike up the side of a mountain first to get to it. You'll do it once, maybe twice, and after that you just won't respond anymore. You'll think like Pavlov's Dog... "chocolate cake = a 45 minute hike.....yuck." Then after a while those feelings of hunger just kindof trickle away....

I could eat a bagel when I first started with my fills. This is the first time that I have really noticed my fill that I got a month ago and it hit me about a week ago. My DH insurance pays 100% and I have been unemployeed and my stepmom passed away a day before my company let me go. So I started going to my dr. every two weeks if I was still snacking. I had my surgery in May and just now have had a different mind set. Remember it is not going to happen over night. Even though we would like it to. Learn to replace food with something else. I have started and almost done with my christmas presents. I made blankets for everyone. and my hands get soo sore and I can't move them. Also my friends have tried to replace always meeting and going out to eat with something else. I have a very supported circle around me.

OMG, I'm scared to even look sideways at a bagel... In the morning if I want something sweet, I'll usually have yogurt. If I'd rather have something savory, I'll have string cheese, cottage cheese, or if I am craving salt, I'll have a slice of sharp cheddar cheese for breakfast. That way I'm getting in some Protein first thing, and I don't get as hungry as fast as if I'd had something starchy.

Hope this helps!

A bagel, no way. You may never be able to eat a bagel again. I do good to get a protein shake or egg cooked medium down, thats after drinking when I first get up to take care of being so dry in the morning.