Hello Everyone,

I was banded on Feb. 1st and will be going in for my first fill on Thursday the 28th. I haven't had a single problem with any food since being banded. Actually, I don't really feel any different than I did before being banded. No restriction at all! In all of the info I received from the doc, it says that you aren't supposed to eat more than a 1/2 a cup of food. I can eat more than that and it doesn't seem to bother me. I do get full quicker but I'm not gorging myself by any means. But, I am worried that the lack of restriction will make the sudden restriction after my fill unbearable. Any answers or ideas?

You won't have much restriction until you get a fill. You may even need several fills before you get it right. The best rule is to start eating like a bandster now. Eat SOLID proteins, not soft foods, soups, etc. Measure your food and count your calories. Chew thoroughly and eat slowly. It will be more difficult to eat once you have restriction and even more so if you eat like crazy right now. This is what we call bandster hell. You CAN get through it with some discipline and dedication. Hang in there and good luck!

What she said ^ haha.

HI NEVERAGAIN!!

LOOKS LIKE WE HAD THE SAME DOC. DR. SIMPSON IN PHX AZ. YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB WITH YOU WEIGHT LOSS. I HOPE I AM AS SUCESSFULL AS YOU!!! YES, I WILL BE!!! HAVE YOU EVER GONE TO ANY OF THE DOC'S SUPPORT GROUPS AND DO YOU LIKE THEM??:biggrin:

I was banded on Feb. 6th, and I feel the same way you do! I feel like right now I can pretty much eat normally, as I was pre-op. I guess it's the lack of restriction because of not having a fill yet, and that I hadn't been eating large meals before anyways (for the past 6 months or so at least...I lost 50 lbs in the 6 months leading up to my surgery.) I'm going back to see my surgeon on march 13th for my first fill...I feel like that date can't come soon enough because I feel like I'm not making much progress at the moment. I'm grateful that when I met with the surgeon for my post-op follow up last week he cleared me to return to physical activity, going to the gym, going skiing, etc., so hopefully that will help me out in the meantime!! It's comforting to know that I'm not the only one struggling during the first few weeks after the surgery, I was starting to wonder if it was just me and it just wasn't going to work!

hi never again, im up in the pines north of you. im just getting started and would like to know what was your total cost out the door. in case i have to self pay. also how can i contact your doctor.

thanks,

I was banded on Feb. 6th, and I feel the same way you do! I feel like right now I can pretty much eat normally, as I was pre-op. I guess it's the lack of restriction because of not having a fill yet, and that I hadn't been eating large meals before anyways (for the past 6 months or so at least...I lost 50 lbs in the 6 months leading up to my surgery.) I'm going back to see my surgeon on march 13th for my first fill...I feel like that date can't come soon enough because I feel like I'm not making much progress at the moment. I'm grateful that when I met with the surgeon for my post-op follow up last week he cleared me to return to physical activity, going to the gym, going skiing, etc., so hopefully that will help me out in the meantime!! It's comforting to know that I'm not the only one struggling during the first few weeks after the surgery, I was starting to wonder if it was just me and it just wasn't going to work!

I'm glad it isn't just me. I don't feel any restriction. So far my surgery has been picture perfect and I am still on Phase 2 of the post-op diet, full liquids and soft foods like mashed potatos, cottage cheese, low fat cheese, mashed cooked vegetables, creamy soups, scrambled eggs, etc. I have been measuring everything. I can eat about a cup of Soup and I have only been eating about a half cup of more solid foods. I don't feel very different than before the surgery. Starting Week 4 I can eat deli shaved meats, crumbled ground beef, chunkier soups, tuna, soft fish, etc. I hope I will start feeling a little fuller then.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Hey everyone, I just wanted to say Hang in there! I wasn't limited to 1/2 cup of food until my 3rd fill. At my first, I was probably still eating about 1 cup of food, which was still significantly less than before banding. That is one thing I think is so great about the band -- it gives you time to adjust to new ways of eating. Each fill gets you a little more restriction, and you will eat a little bit less food. The second poster up there gave great advice. Follow the bandster rules now, and when you do get to that level of restriction, you'll be better able to cope and be successful!

The lap band doesn't start acting like a lap band until it is filled enough to provide you with the proper restriction. So, you are right - you are just the same as before surgery, with just this new piece of plastic inside you. It isn't doing it's job yet. Once you get filled (1,2,3,4,5 or even more fills) you will feel restriction and will be very limited in the amounts you can eat. Until then, don't stress out too much about amounts. Try to eat healthy foods and try to practice eating the way you are going to have to eat once restricted. The hardest time for any bandster is the time post-surgery after the swelling goes down (taking any surgery caused restriction with it) and the first fill. As far as food amounts go, it can be darn right impossible to stick to 1/2 cup of food when you aren't restricted and I was not able to do it. No damage done - it is not that easy to 'stretch your pouch' or cause slippage when you don't have restriction. I couldn't limit my food intake to 1/2 cup of food before the band and I couldn't limit my food intake to 1/2 cup after surgery. I just had my 5th fill and only now do my portions come close to being 1/2 cup and I can often eat more than that even now. I wasn't willing to starve before and I'm not willing to starve now and with the band you shouldn't have to and that is how it is designed. Be patient and get your fills regularly until you get to your sweet spot and then the band will work for you and you'll be able to follow the guidelines a bit easier.

This is such a good thread. I have my first fill this Tuesday. I just ate a whole cup of food and don't feel full... I was feeling bad, like I should not eat... but 1/2 cup still leaves me hungry. :thumbup:

StLouisGal- I'm suprised you're in the mushy stage. It amazes me to how different doctors really can be! I can eat almost anything except pork and beef (I have to wait until after the first fill for those). I hope I'm not messing anything up!

What helps me stay full throughout the day is I bought Special K Protein Water. So when I drink through the day, I'm not STARVING, just hungry. It has helped me get through inbetween meals when I am hungry again.

I cant wait until my first fill! I was banded 1/31/08 and go for my first fill 3/10...for a coupld of weeks after surgery all i could do on liquids was maybe 1/2 c now it back to normal eating..but i expected that..its hard explaining to everyone why i can eat pretty much normally everyone thinks that it is instant!!

I like the Special K Protein water too like Heidabear was talking about. I get hungry in the evenings but don't like to eat after 6pm...7pm at the latest. The fiber in the Special K water really helps with the hunger. I definitely can barely eat 1/2 cup, but before the fills it was nothing like that. FILLS ARE THE KEY!

Great advice!

Ditto what they all said. I know after my band was put in I couldn't feel a thing and could still eat quite a bit, though less than before (like 2 cups vs 4). There were days where I wondered if I really had a band inside me at all, until I got the first fill.

They tell you to start eating like a bandster so that you get used to adjusting your habits, and there are actually people who DO feel restriction after surgery (though it doesn't seem as common) so people do need to take it easy with food.

The best advice I would have is still to eat that Protein first, and don't drink with meals even though you CAN still. It'll help you to not be hungry as much. Do your best following the rules now, it'll make life after your fills easy!

Oh my goodness, I'm so glad I found this thread! I had my surgery 2/6 and after the swelling went down, I felt like I could eat anything. I'm trying to stick to under 1000 calories / day on just willpower until I get my first fill next week. I was so worried that I had stretched the pouch or caused a band slippage or something because I was definately eating more than 1/2 cup.

I feel much better and at the very least, like I am in good company. Luckily, the weight is still coming off, although more slowly. Thanks to the veteran bandsters who come on the forum and give us newbies some peace of mind!!

My Doc But 7cc In A 16cc Band During Surgery. Why Don't Know, When I Whent For My Post -op I Had Him Take Out 2cc- I Have 5cc Now.fel Like There Is Still A Knot In My Side. Was Banded On 2/13/08. A Protien Drink And A Little Water And I'm Good. Does That Mean I Need More Taken Out? All My Co-workers Say I Look Really Pale Could This Be Why? Yes I Am Taken Vitams.