Hey all,

I am 3 1/2 wks post op. I feel like I didn't even have surgey, accept I know that I did because of the scars!! I can eat everything and although I am not eating all day when I eat my meals I feel like I can eat more than I should. I can't wait for my first fill. Can anyone tell me that after my fill things will be easier and get better and I should start losing weight???

Well, I feel the same way that you do... I called my doctors office last week and told them that I am hungry. I have my first follow up appt this week and I was told that if the swelling has gone down around my port, that I could get a fill. I hope so, because I told my sister that I think my band has disappeared. How strange.....I am ready to feel like I did the first week.. I understand so much more now!!!!!!!

I drove my Dr. crazy saying I can eat anything even after 3 fills.... Then at my 4th fill she listened to me and said OK I will give you a bigger fill but you must drink 2 cups of water b-4 you leave the office. By the time I got to the waiting room to drink the water I was choking on my own saliva and in terrible pain. The nurse brought me back in to the Dr and she said - So do you believe you have a band now? She quickly unfilled me a bit and said she did not close out the computer after I walked out b-cause she knoew I would be right back!!!! Anyway, I still had one more fill after that and now I am a great restriction and losing weight.

It's quite normal to be hungry for the first few months after surgery. The band is there but hasn't been "activated", that's how I always tried to explain it. Try not to totally destroy any weight lost so far and just know that as soon as you start getting fills it will get better. My doctor told me at the beginning that it's quite normal for the first few months to gain a little weight. Drink lots of water and eat low calorie foods when the hunger gets bad. Good luck!

I wish I could tell you the first fill will be the magic one, but that doesn't always happen. A first fill under floroscope will generally get you closer to good restriction than fills without, but with floro doesn't guarantee it either.

Just try to hang in there until it comes along. It's a process and I think you can actually learn a lot about eating and signals your body sends you about being satisfied that will help you long term.

Most of us have been through this and get through it and you will, too!