11 days post-op and eating TOO MUCH!

[gkilpatrick 0]

I'm 11 days post-op and I'm supposed to be on a canned food diet this week, but I cheated and had regular food and ate about the same amount as I usually did before I had the band. I haven't had my first fill yet, and I'm hoping that's the reason. I'm kind of nervous... since I don't have the fill for another week and a half. I'm healing really well, even my surgeon said it was "remarkable." :sad: Yay! For me :sad:

Anyway, has anyone else been having this problem? Where it doesn't even feel like you have a band??? :scared2:

[Twinharps 1]

I am 19 days post op and I know what you mean about it not feeling like you have a band. I am waiting for that magical thing called the "sweet spot" that everyone talks about LOL

I am still on soft-solid stage and I am afraid to cheat and eat something I used to eat. I eat a lot of low fat tuna and chicken salad with wheat thins or reduced fat Ritz, sugar free popsicles and pudding, eggs, shrimp, fish, and veggie burgers.

I find that if I drink my Protein about an hour before I eat I stay full longer and don't eat as much.

[tweety63 0]

Yes because you don't hve any liquid in your band yet. Welcome to banster HELL.

[Timinator 0]

Think of this time as your last horraah. Get use to chewing your food well, taking smaller bites and slowing down your "attact" of food. Over the new few months as the Fluid goes in, the habits you instill now will hopefully help you get through "after fill" problems like irritation around the band (from eating too much or the wrong things, lot's of throwing up, etc).

Read everything you can here over the new few weeks, it's all good info and having lot's of info from banded people is a good thing for you.

[martom 0]

I am glad to hear someone can actually eat post op. I am six days post op and still have to sip my liquids and haven't dared tried any real food. I tried some chicken noodle Soup the other day and took a COUPLE of noodles with the broth and thought I was going to die when they wouldn't go down and came right back up as a PB, as they seem to call it here. :thumbup:

I have had those issues but everything else seems to be going right. I am scheduled for my first fill on 10/28 and hoping it goes well. You haven't had any problems getting things down and keeping them down?

[gkilpatrick 0]

I have had NO problems with anything.. I've even forgotten and gulped Water a couple times and NOTHING is happening. I know it's in there because I can feel the port, but it literally feels like I've had nothing done. Although, I haven't been eating unhealthy. Just a lot of cheeses, tuna, meats.. I mean, I'm eating my normal amount. That's not good. Right? lol

[dandeegan 21]

You'll be fine. All that will change once you get fills. I haven't had my first fill yet either and I'm experiencing similar things. Granted, like I said in my intro post I can't eat as much as I did, but as time goes on I can eat more and more. Bandster hell as the cliché goes.

Think of it this way - if you feel like you've had nothing done consider it a blessing right now. I'm five weeks out, have big itchy scars, feel a weird bulgy thing where my band is, and have all kinds of weird aches and pains all over the place most of the time. It's not as bad for me as I'm making it sound. My point is I DEFINITELY feel like I've had something done lol.

[drush829 0]

I am SOOOOO glad I am not the only person having this problem. I am 8 days post banding and I feel like I am starving all the time. My dr pulled 1.8cc residual saline out of my band Monday because I was so nausuated all the time. Since then I have had no problem. I have been scared that I am consuming too much liquid and will strech the band. Good Luck

[Sarah.R 2]

Honestly we all go thru it - I even went to Mcdonalds and could still eat a quarter pounder - Imagine my dissapointment about that - But now I can eat maybe 3/4 of a cheeseburger and just feel like I'm about to burst and I'm 6 months out. Just try to be realistic about this entire thing, like the second person said get used to chewing your food heaps and cutting it up really small and not drinking with meals, because when the time comes that you do hit the sweet spot and your not used to that? You're going to have alot of issues - Like me who always gets stuck after a fill and is in pain for about 2 hours - SOOOO NOT FUN lol =(

[madgatr 0]

:confused:Boy am I glad to hear other people who are able to eat as much as they want before the first fill. It takes a lot of willpower to not overeat. I am 5 weeks out and my first fill is next weekend. I got this way because I don't have the greatest willpower. I have been exercising 5-6 days a week just to maintian the 17 ponds I have lost. I am sooo looking forward to my first fill and hopefully, some feeling of restriction. It is scary to think I may have screwed up my band already, but hearing others say they feel the same way makes me feel better.

[martom 0]

I am surprised you guys can actually "over eat". I have been having to watch what I eat and chew, chew, chew or else it gets stuck and that hurts like heck! I am three weeks post op and had my first fill this past Wednesday and now I can eat even less. I wonder why there are so many differences as to what and how much we can all eat. :sad:

[brwneyegrl419 0]

Well I am very happy to see that I am not the only one feeling this way, I thought to myself, oh great yet another failed attempt to lose weight.....because I too can eat real food very well chewed and not get sick, stuck, or anything for that matter.........not that I am proud do admit that........but I was very scared that this was going to failed attempt at weight loss.......I am 10 days post-op and except for my "holes" in the stomach, there is no indication that I had surgery at all...no gas pains, no uncomfortable feelings, nadda a damn thing (which is a wonderful thing).....I just cant understand why we really dont lose weight post op when we are restricting the amount of food we do eat..........any suggestions on that.......I mean if we were on weight watchers and counting points we would be losing weekly, and I am sure we are eating way below points that ww would alow, how come there is not a consistant weight loss??? just wondering...................

[gerbear 0]

Welcome to the world of Bandsters

I was banded on Oct 8 2009 (so it is three weeks plus one day since banding. My highest was 300 and now at 275. I have not had a fill and have been told one is coming in about another 3 weeks as they want the stomach area all healed. I too have felt nothing (other than my port starting to show) holes healed - glucose readings already in half - edema in legs GONE - so I just cannot wait for the next part of this journey

I am 70 and people are amazed the clinic did me. BUT I am enjoying life and expect another 20 25 years (providing that bus does not get me crossing the street)

FOR EATING - I can eat anything right now - but have been told that I should be doing soft foods to let the scar tissue form near the band and let it settle in.

BUT what I have been doing is two things - take a small bite (of anything) and set ALL eating implements DOWN and

CHEW and CHEW and when I feel it is liquid - swallow

The next thing I have been practicing is CUT DOWN ON SIZE - I KNOW I am going to have to be around a cup for a meal so I am working my way down to that size now

I did a thing on line about the number of calories (just for the heck of it) and was figuring I was about 1700 cal a day - according to the program I would need 2400 to maintain so I have to lose!!!

BTW the program is called caloriecount.com and you do it online FREE

Any more comments?

Gerry from Peterborough ON:thumbup:

[madgatr 0]

Did I read it right that you are 3 weeks post-op and have already had a fill?? I was told I could not have a fill for 6 weeks minimum. I felt restriction for the first couple of weeks. I am surprised that you got a fill so soon after surgery. I am hopeful that I will also feel restricted after next weekend's fill.

[queen b-bop 0]

Hey everyone...I too am 2 1/2 weeks post-op and have not had a fill yet nor do I get one for 4 more weeks.....slow and steady says my doc. Anyway, I have lost 15 lbs so far and feel awesome. I can tell that the restriction is there without even having a fill. I also have realized that this BANDING is more about will power than anything. I havent cheated let alone had a sip of anything outside of crystal lite or Water, and although I have just went on to the soft stage, I almost feel as though my doctor "turned off" all my desires for carbs, sweets and all the other things that normally I would be woofing down all day. I figure out my Protein for each meal, eat and then stop because I FEEL full. That's the key....eat slow, chew alot, savor it in, and STOP when enough is truly enough. I know this is a mind-game that you have to trick your body into right now, but in the end, we will be that thin person inside that we all know is there!!!

All my boys will be home soon with Halloween candy, Cookies, and my FAVE cupcakes....and I have NO intention of eating one ounce of anything....WHY and HOW???? Because I am on a mission....to a happy and healthier me!!!:sad: