Just got first fill

[SandraMinnesota]

I just had my first fill 4 days ago, have been on solids now for 2 days. It seems that, as time goes on, I feel the restriction more and more. I am still processing the head hunger vs. real hunger thing. I feel like I cannot eat much, but quickly (less than 2 hours later) get hungry. My stomach starts to growl. I have been eating a snack when this happens, but do not want to go back to old bad habits of grazing. I am losing weight now, eating about 1400 calories daily. I would like to eat about 1200 cal daily, but hunger won't let me!

Question

Have you noticed that immediately after a fill, you can eat a little more volume, then it changes to less volume tolerance, like within hours/days after your fill?

If I have the urge to graze will that be alleviated after fill #2, scheduled for 6 weeks?

Will eating 2 snacks between meals, if they are low in calories, sabotage my overall band health?

How do you deal with head hunger?

[WormButterfly]

Hey there i had my first fill last week and i didnt think it did a thing honestly. I had 1.5 cc.

But a few days later i cant eat more than 2 peieces of toast for breaky or 2 tiny dinner rolls..

The other day my mum has a piece of battered flake, a pineapple fritter and chips.. whilst i had 1/2 a piece of fish and a bite of the fritter and 5 chips i was STUFFED in a very bad way and i wont do it again!

I think the restriction did take a week to sort of hit me emotionally more than physically now i know i cant eat as much as others even if i might want to its a very psychological thing and thats the hardest part for me i think.

[jhawkchick75]

Everyone is different, but for me personally whatever restriction I have after my fill is all I have. Mine don't get any tighter but I have heard many folks that theirs do just that. In terms of number of fills, again it's different for everyone but this last fill (4th) is the first time I really feel what restriction is and that is only at breakfast and lunch mostly. Although even though i'm not feeling the tightness and restriction so much, I definitely can't eat nearly as much.

In terms of snacks I really don't think that is an issue, but I try not to make a habit of them unless I really need it. I'm afraid for me personally if I utilize them too much i'll start eating around the band. So I try to eat foods that will keep me full and have a 100 cal pack or a healthy snack as needed.

Sorry, I know I wasn't a lot of help there but everyone is so different you will have to pay attention to your body and see what works for you. Good luck!

[Smiley]

Make sure you are getting enough liquids. Sometimes you think you are hungry when in all actuality your body needs to be hydrated.

My last fill at the end of Feb. was the only time I got tighter a few days after the fill, but yes it is very possible. I was so tight for awhile that I wasn't sure I was going to make it, but I did and as of yesterday I feel like I have lost my restriction, so time for me to go back for a tweak.

Make sure that those between meal snacks include protein. I have noticed on occasion that if I get hungry a couple of hours after lunch and then have 2 or 3 saltines with peanut butter on them around 3pm, that I can go another 4 or 5 hours before I get hungry. It seems strange that such a small amount can sustain me for so long, but it can.

[SandraMinnesota]

Everyone is different, but for me personally whatever restriction I have after my fill is all I have. Mine don't get any tighter but I have heard many folks that theirs do just that. In terms of number of fills, again it's different for everyone but this last fill (4th) is the first time I really feel what restriction is and that is only at breakfast and lunch mostly. Although even though i'm not feeling the tightness and restriction so much, I definitely can't eat nearly as much.

In terms of snacks I really don't think that is an issue, but I try not to make a habit of them unless I really need it. I'm afraid for me personally if I utilize them too much i'll start eating around the band. So I try to eat foods that will keep me full and have a 100 cal pack or a healthy snack as needed.

Sorry, I know I wasn't a lot of help there but everyone is so different you will have to pay attention to your body and see what works for you. Good luck!

Shelby, I really owe you a big thank you. I went to the Dr. Malley as you suggested, and he was WONDERFUL. I was so thankful to have him take me as a patient. I have my next fill appt in May. Without your reference, I don't know what I would have done, as I could not find resources in Minnesota, and he is an 8 hour drive--his clinic is right next to where my daughter lives. What a coincidence.