Hello Everyone!

I was banded on 6/30/2008. I really need some support or some help or maybe just some words of wisdom! First I was having some serious second thoughts right after I had my surgery, I was in a lot of pain and discomfort, even just a few sips of water would have me feeling so full that I thought I was going to explode. I was taking in about 200-300 calories per day and I lost 14 lbs. within the first 7 days after my surgery. I went to my post op appointment and they really only told me to keep up the good work, try to take in more protein and see you in about 5 weeks. Fast forward to the last 2-3 weeks. I feel like I dont even have the band in. When I get hungry I can pretty much eat a normal amount which is really making me nervous. I do my best to cut out all the bad foods and things that caused me to get obese in the first place. I have gained back about 3 lbs since I started eating food again, this really makes me nervous. I realized that before I had the surgery I was so used to overeating that I never actually felt the feeling of being hungry for years. When it came upon me after the surgery I didnt even really recognize the feeling and it scared me. Did this happen to anyone else? Now that I have the band in, it has not been filled yet, sometimes I wait until I feel hungry and other times I catch myself slipping back into my old ways and eating something just because...I feel really lost and confused right now? I started out at 339 lbs and I am now at 320, I walk at least 1 mile, 5 or more times per week but its like I'm stuck. Did I make the wrong decision to have this lap band or am I just destined to be obese?

So dazed and confused.:thumbup:

I am going through the same process right now. I was banded 8/21/08 and I find myself sooooo hungry through out the day that I feel I am eating constantly. I talked to the nurse about this and she reassured me that is normal. She said #1 they want you to eat healthy right now and not to be concerned about losing weight. The process until the 1st fill is getting your body used to the band, healing from the surgery and getting yourself used to eating properly (i.e. chewing throughly, not drinking with meals, to stop eating when your full, etc). For my hunger problems she just suggested I eat more foods that I have to chew and will stick with me longer. My body isn't sustaining the foods I am eating therefore making me hungry all the time.

Don't be discouraged though. I know you are like all of us...so ready to get this weight off and get on with our new life. But until we get to our 1st fill we just need to concentrate on how to eat and make sure we are healing ourselves.

Hope this helps!

You need a fill!!

I wonder why you haven't had one yet. Your experience sounds perfectly normal for those who haven't had their first fill yet. In fact often times it takes 2-3 fills before you really feel like you have a band again (depending on size of band and fills).

Of course you need to address the emotional eating issues as well and try to think before you eat. But if you have a good fill it will really make it easier not to overeat.

Good luck!

Susan