HELP, I was banded on Aug. 5th and the first week I was home I thought this was the best thing on earth. I wasn't hungry I could eat my broth and juices, Water and didn't feel pressure or pain. Now I'm beginning to wonder if the doctor left my band out!!!

I can eat anything I want and never get full. Its almost like I haven't had anything done at all. What is wrong? I know I haven't over eaten and stretched my pouch, or I dont think so. I haven't been sick. When I get hungry I can eat just like I use to, or at least almost the same size portions. I dont feel like I have any restrictions at all.

Some of my friends that have had it done say they can't eat much more than a table spoon or so when they moved from soft foods to regular foods but even in the hospital I could eat more than they did. My meals in the hospital were a cup of Jello, a bowl of broth, a glass of apple juice and some hot tea, I was able to eat it all at one time with no problem.

How do I know if something is wrong with my band?

I had my fill almost 2 weeks ago and I don't have restriction any more. It takes several fills to get to your sweet spot and that is when the weight comes off more easily. Until then, watch what you eat and try to make smart choices. I can honestly say, exercise has made a huge difference for me. Plus, it keeps me from wanting to eat in the evenings. Keep positive. We will all get there.

I get my first fill on Monday. And in a way looking forward to it because it is the whole reason I had surgery. Little restriction to keep me going in the right direction as I have seemed to have plateaued.

I got my first fill on the 3rd, and it hasnt given me any restriction. I am hoping to get in w/doc before a month to get another fill.

I haven't had my first fill yet (Sept. 18th is the day) and I'm at a conference this week where there is food and drink everywhere!! Outside of each meeting room there is a supply of junk food (chocolates, chips, Cookies, ice-cream etc..). And the cafeteria serves food all day long - no $$ needed....I can't believe the amount of food here - if I weren't banded I would have easily gained 5 lbs per day...as it is I've gained 3 lbs in 3 days and have 2 more days to go!!!

Although I have some restriction and I can easily get stuck if I don't take small bites and chew well - I'm still gaining - YIKES. Healthy food choices are limited here. I'm not eating anything other than at Breakfast lunch and dinner and using a salad plate instead of a dinner plate. I'm also avoiding carbs, sauces and Desserts...Still, I'm obviously getting more than I did at home given my weight gain.

Not good....I have many more of these to attend over the next few months :thumbup: Must find a better strategy...hopefully my first fill will help.

It is hard when you can't even make healthy choices at events/conferences! Well just think long term it will be gone!

I'm glad to know I'm not alone, but I feel awful. The one reason I had the lapband was to loose weight and not fill hungry and I understand that I haven't had my fill yet, I'm scheduled for Oct. 3rd, but I can't stay on the diet that they gave me, I never could stay on a diet that's why I chose the band instead. Now I'm wondering if I have have made the wrong choice. I cant eat without drinking, before I think about it I've taken a swallow and then I dont have the willpower to stop, it pushes it through and then i'm hungry again and i have cravings for things I use to have and of course I dont have the willpower so I end up eating it. I haven't weighed since the 14th and thats because I'm scared that I'll be gained back the 25 pounds I have lost. I just scheduled my fill today and i'm scared that when I do have it I'll still be hungry and since i'm use to eating like I am now, which is back to normal, that I'll be in worse shape than I am now. HELP.

thank you so much, i was feeling like i messed up somewhere, cus i too have the ability to eat like a freak...guess we will see after my first fill, i am afraid i may end up with a gain...

it is no where near what i was eating before but i feel like i could eat all day long...haha

certain things they say are a no-no with the band i have had no issues with things like rice and Peanut Butter and tortillas...servings are much less...my biggest issue seems to be to remember not to drink with eating, it is such a habit, and after i eat i am so thirst even though i drank 30 mins before eating and wait afterwards, still have that urge to drink while eating...

I hear you on the drinking!

how do you get past the drinking? I can't honestly I was always such a big drinker anyway. I use to could drive up to McDonalds and get a large coke and before I could get to the next red light it was almost empty, I'm the same way about water, tea anything, just a big drinker, and I stay thirsty all the time. Like last night I ate chinese food and I ate it within reason but I had two or three sips of tea with my meal to help it get it down, I just have to. Is that so bad? If I could at least do that while I eat then I think I could get through it a little easier.

Getting past the drinking is hard - I'm a big Water drinker, always have been - but one thing I've found to help is to have a sugar free popsicle or fudgcicle after a meal. I feel like I'm sort of cheating when I do this, but it definitely helps me wait the 30 mins. (my doc says 30 'til liquid after a meal, not 60).

It may help.

Try having a big drink before hand and then wait 5-10 mins and eat your dinner. The dietician said that should help you feel hydrated throughout your meal.

And just make sure you take time and chew chew chew so it doesn't get stuck!

I try to space my meals out, drink alot of liquids in the morning, then when I am really hungry I have maybe a piece of 9grain toast with some honey and butter, then wait an hour, cus that usually will fill me up, then drink some more, try my Protein in the middle of the day, and it is funny but after changing plates and bowls down to cups and saucers i don't feel so starved, my fav snack is cheerios with riceor almond milk, and 1 cup fills me up. where before it was like 2-3 cups, so big difference, but I fear I may have to get my dog banded as he is getting plumper with my left overs...lol

I have been able to eat just about anything as far as foods go, only discomfort is when it moves into the lower tract, then i get the heaviness of it collecting if you know what i mean...but as far as the pouch area, no issues...

It just takes time to remember to slow down, get the protein in first, And to keep the Fiber to a minimum...I found that I love frozen fruit, I freeze my blueberries and razzberries, ect. nice alt to popcicles

I get my first fill next week...nervous:scared2:

I was banded on 8/15/08 and just got my first fill on 9/13/08. I don't think that I got a big enough fill. She said it was 2.6 and that the typical was 1.8. Does that sound right? I still get really hungry between meals and think that I need too much in order to be satisfied. The hospital does their fills with fluoroscopy, so I thought they would be more accurate than fills that are done blind. I lost well initially, about 26 pounds and gained 3 pounds back. I also have been having problems eating. I have been eating soft foods like cottage cheese, yogurt, bean puree, and soft scrambled eggs. I have tried to start introducing regular foods like small pieces of chicken rather than chicken puree, but I get severe pain and throw up. When is it ok to move away from purees and start eating "normal" foods?

i think everyone is different, i was eating regular food as soon as one week before i was to end my liquid diet...the key is even if it is chicken, make sure it is moist and take only a little bit, it sits different than mushys, it is hard to explain exactly but if i eat real meat the drier it is the longer it stays around and make u feel like it is stuck

i think everyone is different, i was eating regular food as soon as one week before i was to end my liquid diet...the key is even if it is chicken, make sure it is moist and take only a little bit, it sits different than mushys, it is hard to explain exactly but if i eat real meat the drier it is the longer it stays around and make u feel like it is stuck

My first fill he said he put in 2cc...and I was extrememly cautious for the first couple of days and then was experimenting here and there and don't think the restriction is enough but not sure. I am still steadily loosing weight so I am going to stay with this for a while. I think?