I am looking for some clarification. A lot of people speak of lapband hell. I just got my band on 4/16/09. I had a lot of swelling (I think) and was really tight up until a day or two ago. Now the hungries have set in and I am okay- just trying to drink, drink, drink in between my 1/4 C mushies three times a day (and two protein shakes). My question is related to after a fill.........if I am not in the green zone will my experience with hunger be the same as it is today or will it be better because I will have transitioned to solids and the food will actually stay in the little pouch and help me stay satieted a while longer? I can handle this a couple more weeks but want to prepare if I signed up to have this intense hunger, or lapband hell as some call it, for possibly a couple months until I hit the green zone????? Just trying to get my head on straight and be mentally prepared and on task. Thanks for any replies.

I think this is one of those answers that begins with "it just depends." As you know we are all different. Definitely it sounds like you are in hell. When you start eating real food that will definitely help, whether or not you have a fill. Some people find they can lose weight just fine without that fill. Those people have enough restriction right off the bat. That didn't happen for me. At my first fill, I really was happy with my weight loss and what I was eating so I almost didn't get a fill (I thought I was in that green zone) but I was wrong. Weight Watchers was doing most of the work. It has taken 5 fills for me to get to that green zone. Now I use both Weight Watchers and the lap-band.

Just know that it should get better when you start eating real food. Don't take it too fast and don't test your limits too much. You should be fine.

Lapband hell for me lasted until the 3rd fill. I gained many pounds and had to fight to get them off. This was demoralizing and frustrating. Best of luck.

Mimi