I had my surgery two weeks ago. I did liquids for the first week then I got hungry! So, I started to eat very mushy stuff like yogurt, pudding, and soupy beans. Now, I can eat fish and tamales. I am worried that I may not have the right size band on b/c this doesn't seem right. I do get full faster than I used to, but still it seems that I should notice a huge difference.

I too did get hungry soon after surgery. I went in for my first fill 1 month after surgery and it helped a little but not much. I just had my second fill Feb 15 and feel a great restriction now! It sometimes takes a few fills to find your "sweet spot" Look back and search the threads I know they talked about this not to long ago and it helped me a great deal. I don't remember who it was or where but there is a site that you can read all about it.

congratulations on your surgery and it will get better i'm sure.

It is indeed perfectly normal to be able to eat almost normally after surgery but before a fill. Without any saline in your band it exerts only very little restriction on your stomach. This is the time people refer to as "the hardest part" of banding, the time before you feel its effects and you wonder if you did the right thing--or anything at all.

Be patient and see how you feel after your first fill. Sometimes it takes several adjustments for the restriction to be correct. At this point, you are just dipping a toe into banded life. You'll feel what you expect to feel later. You're normal!!

I was worried about the same thing myself! It seems that after the swelling is gone two tablespoons doesn't fill me up anymore! It is reassuring to hear that it is normal-and that after a fill I will have better restriction.

Joan

Thank goodness b/c I was beginning to think that b/c my stomach was so powerful that it had not been phased by this band and that I would be the one person that would not have a change in my eating.

I go for my first fill on March 7th and I am really looking forward to it. I am worried that I may gain weight until then. I am not eating a whole lot, it is just that I am more hungry than I thought I should be with this band. Since I am such a piggy, how much should my doc put for my fill?

Sensy, your doctor will have his own thoughts about how much to fill, but it has nothing to do with whether you're a piggy or not. Every doctor has a personalized approach, and even docs who are pretty aggressive with a fill probably won't be that way on the first fill. And you don't want him to be. Whatever fill you get will be more than you have, and will therefore take some getting used to. You may be hungrier than you thought you'd be at this point, but if you pay attention I'm sure you'll find that you are already eating less than you were pre-band. And that's the whole and only point. Many people do gain a little weight back in the period before a fill, but it's weight that you lost on the liquid diet, not actual weight gain. It's a sort of bounce-back effect and inevitable once you are off liquids and eating solids again. Don't worry about it! Just practice eating slowly and mindfully, so when you have restriction you'll be ahead of the game.

So many people are ready to jump right in with mega-restriction right out of the gate. Those are the same people who come back later saying "I can't eat at all! All that goes down is ice cream!" Learning to live with restriction and eat healthfully takes time and we have to allow ourselves that time. As a very wise woman said, this process does not have to be drastic to be effective.

Sorry for the lecture--it's not directed at you. But there is no specific amount of fill that's right for everyone, so there's no answer to your question.

Does anyone know about a bracelet you can get to wear for medical reasons that lets paramedics know that you have the lap band?

Thank you for the info. --- very helpful for me --- just need to know this is going as it should.

faith, if you do a search on the internet for medical alert jewelry you will find lots of sites that sell those.

Fatih many doctorswill give you a cardfrom Inamed to keep in your wallet to let those who need to know in theevent of an emergency that you do have the Lap Band. My Dr. gives his patients a credit card type card with ourpictures on it with all of our info in the event of an emergency to give to the ER or paramedics etc..

I went out to lunch with my husband after my one week appointment. I only ate a little, but it was fine. I was so happy to be able to eat normal things. Now, 6 weeks later, I am able to eat too much, (I think), so I have scheduled my first fill. I am a little nervous about it. But I am a little excited too. I have had great success in a short amount of time. I am anxious for it to continue! Best of luck to you!

Thanks, I'll check into that!!!

Hi Sensy,

I posted something similar afew days ago.

I had my surgery on the 11th and was eating olives, crackers, grapes- all sorts of stuff a week later. I've since realised that we aren't doing ourselves any favours by doing this.

What I didn't understand was that the food we can eat isn't about digestion, it's about letting the band fix in place. I don't think I've done any harm but I've gone back to yoghurt, soup, mashed vegetable patties - that kind of thing.

I'm telling myself that this is great training for the restraint we'll have to have forever.

I'm 38yrs, 155kgs, 1 x 2yr old - and I'm really looking forward to feeling healthy.

Take care, Rachel.