Hi, my name is Valerie and I had my surgery on December 1. I am feeling sore still in one of my incisions, but I think I'm mostly on the mend. My worry is that I don't seem to feel any restriction when I eat. I was on liquids for a week and now I can have mushier foods. I try to limit what I eat, but I don't have any real guidelines from my doctor--like how much I should eat etc. I see him on Tuesday, the 16th, maybe I will learn more then. I went to several seminars before my surgery, but not with this particular doctor. I finally chose this doctor because he was closer, but maybe I should have gone with ones farther away. They seemed to offer so much in the way of post-op support and educational materials. I didn't even see my doctor after my surgery. It was just a nurse who sent me home. I feel kind of abandoned. He got my $13,000 and I get to figure this out by myself. I don't feel like I've lost any weight. In fact, when I first went back to work I had to wear my velour pajama pants, because I couldn't get anything else on. What if I went through all of this and I just stay fat? I'm really worried about that. It's going to suck if I go in for my two weeks and I've actually gained weight.

First of all............ READ READ READ....

Second.. your band has NOT BEEN TURNED ON YET! You will need to get fills for that to happen and for you to feel restriction.

Third.... the first 5 weeks is meant to HEAL THAT PUPPY INTO PLACE... be easy on it, follow the food progression of clears to mushies, any weight you lose in this healing period is a bonus!

Fourth... When the swelling from surgery goes down and your hunger returns AND you haven't had a fill.... you are in what we call "BANDSTER HELL" be patient, and follow up with your fills!

Two weeks after my surgery i began to feel no restriction. I pretty much just tried to watch what i ate. Five weeks ater surgery i had my first fill and had a little restriction for a few days. Then three weeks later had my second fill and now am quite pleased. I get full after just a few bites and can't eat anything before noon. I for some reason am tight in the mornings. I wonder if this is my sweet spot. You will notic a difference after you start having fills. Good luck and no you did not make a mistake getting the band. Hang in there, it gets easier.

Hi, my name is Valerie and I had my surgery on December 1. I am feeling sore still in one of my incisions, but I think I'm mostly on the mend. My worry is that I don't seem to feel any restriction when I eat. I was on liquids for a week and now I can have mushier foods. I try to limit what I eat, but I don't have any real guidelines from my doctor--like how much I should eat etc. I see him on Tuesday, the 16th, maybe I will learn more then. I went to several seminars before my surgery, but not with this particular doctor. I finally chose this doctor because he was closer, but maybe I should have gone with ones farther away. They seemed to offer so much in the way of post-op support and educational materials. I didn't even see my doctor after my surgery. It was just a nurse who sent me home. I feel kind of abandoned. He got my $13,000 and I get to figure this out by myself. I don't feel like I've lost any weight. In fact, when I first went back to work I had to wear my velour pajama pants, because I couldn't get anything else on. What if I went through all of this and I just stay fat? I'm really worried about that. It's going to suck if I go in for my two weeks and I've actually gained weight.

If I remember correctly, once you get to mushies you should eat no more than 1/2 cup per meal. I stayed on that for probably 2 weeks of mushies. Now, I eat maybe a cup of food at each meal. They really should have sent you to a nutritionist prior to your surgery to explain this to you. You probably won't have any restriction until you begin getting fills. Good Luck!