Hey ... Thanks for reading my issue lol

I was banded Sept 30th, I done ok the first week and into the second. But today is 3weeks post op, and I think I'm eating too much. I'm really trying to use 'will power' (Lord help me there) and I think I'm too hungry. Is that normal? I have my first fill next tuesday, so I'm really hoping that I can get this thing under control.

The week after my surg, I stepped on the scales and it showed me down a fair amount then lately it's showing me gaining. I am having my husband hide the scale as we just bought it and I'm already obsessing over it. Is it normal to gain something before your first fill? Is it normal to not feel any type of restriction at all what so ever?

I'm feeling quite clueless and I dont want to be afailure at this.

Thanks in advance for your help!!!!

Hey Marcie. You are not alone. Most people don't have any restriction before the fills begin. For a lot of us, it takes multiple fills to get to the sweet spot (it took me 3). Keep on trying to use your willpower. Now is the ideal time for you to be practicing the rules to try and refine them into habits (take small bites, eat slowly, no drinking with the meal, etc). Also, I think a lot of us bandsters need to work on our mindset.....for some (me, anyway) of us have gotten "full" mixed up with "stuffed" in our heads.....so I would recommend eating until you are "not hungry", as opposed to "full". Does any of that make sense? I'm stinking drunk right now.....(j/k)

Marcie, from reading lots of posts, this is normal, because you have very little restriction. I had my first fill yesterday, six weeks after surgery, but I was pretty lucky that I didn't go through "bandster's hell". If you search that term on the forum, I'm sure you'll find many/most bandsters experience it. What really helped me was making sure I had Protein at every meal. I rarely drank shakes as replacement meals. I measured most of my meals and stayed between 1/2 and 1 cup per meal. I had three meals/day, and a 1/2 cup snack that consisted of a high protein food (tuna, Beans, Greek yogurt). I'll see how it goes now that I've had a fill, and I should replace the higher calorie protein snack with something like a sf Jello, which is on my diet. Of course, your doctor may have completely different diet recommendations.

I also added cardio exercise at around 3 weeks. As soon as your doctor okay's it, I think it was really helpful, at least for me. Also, I made sure I got in all my Water and non-calorie liquids. A lot of times that alone did the trick to tie me over until my next meal.

Edited October 21, 200817 yr by kiz

Marcie, I am so glad I am not alone. We were banded the same day and I am experiencing the same thing. I have to wait until Nov 7th for my first fill. I lost a nice amount the first week, but only 2 the second now none. Kind of disappointing. Hopefully things will pick up after our fills.

My surgeon said that most of his patients gain 5-10 pounds during this period. Yes being hungry is normal, your first fill should help at least a little...it may take a couple fills before you really start feeling it.

Thank goodness my question has now been answered. I was banded Sept. 24th. I have done so good....23 pounds lost since my 2 week pre-surgery liquid diet until one week after surgery. Now I'm at what I can only presume is "bandster's hell". I have gained 2 pounds and don't feel full most of the time. I don't get my first fill until November 5th and I can't wait. I want to get the ball rolling. This has been a tough time because I just didn't understand why the scale was going the wrong way. I'm so thankful for this site.

We should have a group hug! I was banded sept. 24 and followed every single rule to a "T"....before and after....until last week. I'm just SOOO hungry. I am suppose to only have 2.5 oz of food 3x a day, plus 8 oz of Protein liquid. I too, have done very good, losing 26 pounds as of last Wednesday. (Still the same today.)

I found myself eating more than I should and feeling zero restriction, much less a full feeling. 2.5 oz wasn't doing it for me. I called the nurse and they moved up my fill to Thursday, instead of 2 weeks from thursday. I'm soo happy. I know I'm eating more like 4 oz at my meals, but I just couldn't take it..I was reaching for the wrong foods...

At this point, I'll be happy to just maintain until I get a fill or two. I'm hoping to feel some restriction with my first fill...we will see! My fear was that I was (am) stretching my pouch out or doing damage...but I'm not really eating that much compared to a normal person.

Hang in there everyone!

well i was banded june 30th had one fill 2.5 cc didnt realize i was already feeling restriction lost 10 pounds in between fills so dr wouldnt give me a fill he said i was doing great i went down four sizes i was feeling bloated he said thats part of restriction

If you can keep a protien drink with you. My doc gave a fill at surgery. I have problems swallowing things. I think I am hungry and for god sakes I do not want to loose my hair due to not enough protien. are you eating enough protien? I was banded 9/28 and am down 12lbs also make sure you do not drink up to 90min after you eat your protien. Hope this helps