It has been exactly a week since I was banded and I feel pretty good. The problem is I know I should not eat but I started to just pick and now I feel hungry all the time. I have not had an entire meal but I did have mashed potatoes tonight and have had bites of mac & cheese from the kids etc. I know the band is a tool and you need to watch what you do but if I had self control and did not have these issues with food than I would not have been so overweight to begin with. I know that in weeks I will get a fill and then will be restricted (hopefully) but I wanted to know if anyone else was able to eat so soon after banding. I am also scared that I will harm the band, but I don't feel any pain when I do eat. HELP. Is it only me? Did the banding not work?

I was banded last Wednesday and returned to work today. My recovery has gone very well. Too good almost. I am already in the mushy stage because I was so hungry I could have eaten my children. I too am concerned I am eating too much. I was able to eat a cup of mashed potatoes tonight with no problem. I ate slow and I do feel full but I think I was only suppose to have 2 ounces. I'm like a newborn. If I only get 2 ounces at a time I want to be fed more often. I don't feel any pain after eating a cup. Is this OK?

Do not progress early on your surgeon-recommended post-op diet! I would repeat it 50 times if I could. It's such a short period of time in your life. Are you supposed to still be on liquids for another week? If so, it's only a week out of your life and a down-payment, so to speak, on lifetime health! Which is more important? That bite of mac-and-cheese, or your health?

If you're already on mushies, then I guess I don't see the problem. Mashed potatoes and mac-and-cheese are both mushies. It's up to you if you want to limit yourself. Yeah, it's going to be hard until you get proper restriction, which can take several fills, actually. But this time is for HEALING and not so much for losing weight. Just follow your post-op diet set forth by your surgeon and don't stress about the scale for now.

Thank you, I really needed your advice right now. I am four days post op and admit to doing exactly what surgeon says, as far as my liquids. I am so lame though, I stepped on the scale and was bummed that I am exactly the same as when I started. I know.....it's only been four days! I just thought that I might loose eating liquids. Dumb huh? So, it's full liquids tomorrow, pudding OK right?

I'm 12 days out and my appetite is returning and found out that if I have a small snack (jello, Tbs of cottage cheese, couple oz of protien drink) and water of course.it really helps.

I start mushies next week (I think) and hope I dont open the gates to food hell "lol"

I was banded on Jan 2 and have been on clear liquids til wens. Then I get to be four weeks on protein shakes three times a day only, sfcl and broth for four weeks, than purreed for two weeks, than mushy for two weeks only to try new foods oz;s at a time, sheesh your docs are very nice

Its been hard on me this week so far and Im hungry but afraid to not follow the Drs orders.

wishes us all luck

Jo Ann

24 more hours to go! I am banded on Wednesday Jan 09 in Ypsi at Barix with Dr. Pop! I started clear liquids midnight and laxative, but wouldn't you know I have a terrible sinus headache so I had to take something for it. UGH! Anybody else out there with my dates? How are you doing?

I too was banded 7 days ago and am starving. I came here to see when mushies usually starts, cause I need anything now. Even the baby food looks good.

I was given a list basiclly clear liquids for 2-3 weeks then slushies/prot shakes, then mushies. The preop that was ordered is the same for 7 days. This I was told was to get me ready for the post op. I have learned that if you can do this clear liquid/progression for 2 full days then you've got it whipped. I am not there yet and cannot imagine how hard it is for you right now. My understanding is the importance of post op diet progression slowly to prevent pulling of sutures and allowance of development of scar tissue to ensure a secure band ie prevention from slippage. I think a call to your doctor or nutritionist with his office might be a good idea. Please let me know how this works out for you. I have been reading alot of complaints about reflux. Wondering if this has been a problem for you. I have reflux already. If lapband can aggravate it then I may be in for a rough ride. Good luck.

Bury that scale in the back yard for a couple of weeks. Give your body time to heal and balance out. You probably have not even lost the inflammation fluid gain from brought about by the surgery. You are going to do great. Breathe!

CJV

Yes I'm going in on the 9th also . I go into the hopital at 9:30 am and get banded around 11:30 am . A little nervious but looking forward to getting it done . We need to stay in touch . Best of luck to you.

GAMBY

I was banded 12/31/07 and was told 2 weeks of liquids, then 2 weeks of mushies, and received a booklet with directions for even past that. Its been like my bible.

I am not feeling hunger, but I do sympathize with you. I felt hunger in the first few days of the pre surgical liquid phase and would have eaten the frozen meat in my freezer. So I tried ice pops and they did the trick.

I didn't lose anything the first few days after surgery and was kind of bummed too until I thought about how swollen I still was and how much liquid I was still carrying around from the IV they had me on. Once the swelling started to go down and I'd had a few days to get the liquids processed out of me I started seeing the loss on the scale.

banded and back home to day. The big day was Jan 9 and it was smooth as silk--textbook! I got the Allergan AP band and have restriciton already. Not a lot to fill me up--so that's good. I remember being intubated with the breathing tube, but there was no distress, I was so happy nothing mattered. the second day is said to be the most painful, because I am in a lot of soreness today and difficulty laying or sitting. I am told tomorrow it will ease. Pray so!

All is well

Congrats to all here with thier new bands. I am also one that preaches for you to follow the dr's food plan as it will do nothing but help you later. Many people try to speed up the mushie stage or even the solid food stage and its really not a good idea. I did the 2 weeks liquid, 2 mushies 1 soft and only then did I try solid foods. This month or two can make the whole difference in your results with the band. Dont worry about losing weight right now. And as hard as it is, try not comparing yourself and your results with others. People are all different. I did the food journal, still do, logging anything I eat and still do Protein shakes daily just because I like the choclate ones.

Good luck with your new "tool". The reuslts really can be amazing.

The difference in the doctors suggestions amazes me.

The facility where I went, considered a "Center of Excellence", instructed me to have 1 week of liquids, nothing specified this should be Clear Liquids. 1 week of mushies. Start of week 3 begin to work in solid foods. The nutritionist told me that if I am just starving and absolutely cannot make it to the 3rd week for solids to just be sure to chew, chew, chew and when you think you've chewed enough chew some more. They gave me a pamphlet of suggestions for each stage.

My doctor's office actually suggests against using Protein drinks beyond their liquid stage because they do not make you feel satisfied so you may consume more calories then you should.

It's hard to believe these doctors can have such drastic differences, but that each person should be sure to follow their doctors orders.

One thing that actually made me feel full on the liquid stage was adding a spoonful of Peanut Butter to a Protein shake. I couldn't finish it all.