I was banded on Tuesday Oct 7 and I'm healing up pretty well.

Along with feeling better, my hunger is back....

I'm not sure I'm feeling any "restriction" although maybe I just don't know what it feels like yet?

Anyone out there have this experience? Does it get better after fills? What does restriction actually feel like? Any advice would be great, thanks!

You are doing better than me, I came out of the recovery room asking when was dinner. The next day I could have gnawed my arm off and had to walk by a Mexican place in the airport that I KNOW I could have eaten easily.

Did you have a prefill?? Otherwise unless you have swelling from the surgery you shouldnt be feeling any restriction. Thats why they call this bandster he11. You CAN eat but are letting your stomach heal. I thought that 4 weeks after surgery would never end.

I was hoping I would feel restriction just after surgery because I wanted to start losing weight right away.

I don't think my doctor prefilled my band -- the card he gave me with stats says 0cc.

FOUR WEEKS?? HOW CAN I WAIT ANOTHER FOUR WEEKS???

I know I felt the same way! I was hungry right away and I was told I really wouldn't want food for the first two weeks. HA! I drooled over each and every commercial dealing with food (and that's a bunch!) I drank a bunch of Protein Shakes, I thickened broth with cream Soups and finally at the middle of week two I broke down and ate potato Soup. It made me feel so much better. I was so weak from just broth that I didn't feel like doing anything. Just hang in there because it does get better.

As far as restriction goes that took me a while. My doctor was pretty quick to give a fill. I got my first one 4 weeks after surgery. Then another one a month later. Then another. I was banded February 29th and in July I finally knew what everyone was talking about when they say they feel restriction. I found out about what it is like to eat too fast and get sick. I now can eat about 1/2 cup to 1 cup of food at a time. This has been a huge learning curve for me. Portion sizes still get me. I get my plate, put a smaller portion than usual and still can't eat but 1/4th of what is on the plate. This is my head still telling me I am hungry. My stomach gets full so fast it's just had to imagine it is time to quit eating.

This has been quite a journey. I wish you luck on yours!

Grace65

My doc is recommending a first fill four weeks out too, assuming smooth recovery so I'm hoping to have a little restriction in time for the holidays so I don't overdo it like past years.

Thanks for all the support, this is a great forum!

The fill doctor I went to wouldnt give you a fill until you are past 5 weeks. She only is in that location every other Saturday and she had a wedding and then I had a cruise, so it was another 6 weeks before I could go back for a 2nd fill when the first was worthless.

I just got my 2nd fill sept 27th, and I was banded July 9th.

The 4 weeks I was talking about was the first four weeks until I was allowed to eat regular food again. I think I cheated by a few days, couldnt stand it any longer.

Hi, I was banded on July 24, 08. My doctor didn't due a fill until 6 weeks after surgery. Apparently it takes about 6 weeks for your stomach to heal and the scar to form around your band. He did fill my 14cc band with 3cc's of fluid during surgery.(which I didn't find out until my 2 fill). I lost 13 pounds through my 2 week all liquid pre-op diet. I only gained 1/2 pound back between surgery and first fill. I felt really lucky, I guess alot of people gain some of their weight loss back during this time.My doctor told me to eat until I was full. Which I did, but I also tried real hard to not eat junk food. Also the first week was liquids and creamed stuff. The 2-3 week was mushies and softies. It was only by week 4 that I could have anything that I wanted. I figured I was going to have to change my lifestyle along with my bad eating habits, so I might as well start now, while the temptation was at it's hardest. Now, I'm glad to say that ice cream, candy bars and pepsi that I enjoyed on a regular basis, is not a big loss. I think I've had 1 candy bar in the last 11 weeks and it was a Heath bar. I tried to stay away from something real gooey or nouguty for fear of it getting stuck. I savored it! It's not about all the things that you can't have. It's learning to eat responsibly and saying "yeah, I can have that", because it's a treat that everybody should get to enjoy. When that's ALL that you eat, is when it's a problem. And that's my 2 cents! Susan

I have to make a confession, I banded almost three weeks ago, and i am eating solid foods. I eat very slow by nature and i do chew my foods pretty well. Never vomited yet, I hope I am not damaging anything. Please give me some insight as to how bad I am doing.