first fill, how long to wait?

[Guest cyndir]

I had my band 9-20-07. Followed liquids for 17 days. Mushies for a couple days. Now food chewed well and hungry most of the time. I am afraid of gaining. Matter of fact have gain a couple of pounds since starting foods. I lost 20 pounds since starting the pre-op diet, 12 since surgery. Can I get a fill this week? Even though it will only be 4 weeks this upcoming Thursday. Today in 3 weeks, 3 days.

Please advise. Cyndi

[snowbird]

Cyndi,

Didn't you get the info from the clinic on how long to wait after surgery for your first fill? You aren't expected to have restriction after the swelling goes down. The weight you may be gaining could just be fluid weight now you are eating solids. Chill, stop worrying, take it easy. We all want instant results --- I am now weighing myself about 5 times a day just in case I lost a pound since three hours ago! Let your body heal completely and follow the advice you were given after surgery, and you'll be fine. Some people don't lose anything in the period between surgery and the first fill, so you are doing great.

[Guest cyndir]

Cyndi,

Didn't you get the info from the clinic on how long to wait after surgery for your first fill? You aren't expected to have restriction after the swelling goes down. The weight you may be gaining could just be fluid weight now you are eating solids. Chill, stop worrying, take it easy. We all want instant results --- I am now weighing myself about 5 times a day just in case I lost a pound since three hours ago! Let your body heal completely and follow the advice you were given after surgery, and you'll be fine. Some people don't lose anything in the period between surgery and the first fill, so you are doing great.

Okay, I'll try. I do feel the pressure from the food police: co-workers, family, others who know I had the band surgery.... everyone is watching me. I feel they are well wishing and wanting me to be successful. My family have read the dietary recommendations (for when the band is filled) and do not understand why I am eating more than what the guide says. I have tried to tell them that I am not feeling restricted so am just as hungry as I was before surgery. They still believe that "if that is what they say you are suppose to eat, than that is what you are supposed to be doing". Don't get me wrong, they are not being mean at all. Trying to be supportive. Cyndi

[snowbird]

Hang in there. It isn't much longer til that 6 week mark, and like I said before, you are doing really well. My husband is experiencing what you are: we are only on day 6 and I have trouble getting down the 4 ounces of liquid, while he feels like he could eat anything and everything. He went to the grocery store today and bought "legal" stuff like liquid yogurt, sugar-free popsicles, and cream soups for next week and spent over $100, while I am wondering why he bothered as I don't even feel like eating the clear broth I already have. Everyone is different. And by the way, he has lost more weight than I have. Life isn't fair, is it!

[Guest cyndir]

Interesting. So you had surgery on the same day? I was like you at first. Now that the swelling is down, and I have had some food, I try to stay at smaller portions but my stomach growls most of the time. I even wake up at night hungry, but have made myself drink only water and go back to sleep. Best of luck to you both. Cyndi

[snowbird]

We were banded the same day, one after the other. We did Atkins together a few years ago and each lost about 60 lb, but were slowly gaining it back, so we decided to do the band after seeing the great results my daughter had (Clynn).

Speaking of Atkins, one thing I did find is that if I stay away from sugars and carbs, I don't get the bad hunger pangs when dieting. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop that "mental hunger" and lately all I have been fantasizing about is oatmeal cookies, popcorn, and mashed potatoes with gravy. However, I can stop myself from buying that stuff at the store (usually . . . sometimes) so it isn't here to eat.

Good luck on your band journey; we are only a short time apart in banding dates, so it will be interesting to hear from you on the board.

[Sue C Q]

I had my band 9-20-07. Followed liquids for 17 days. Mushies for a couple days. Now food chewed well and hungry most of the time. I am afraid of gaining. Matter of fact have gain a couple of pounds since starting foods. I lost 20 pounds since starting the pre-op diet, 12 since surgery. Can I get a fill this week? Even though it will only be 4 weeks this upcoming Thursday. Today in 3 weeks, 3 days.

Please advise. Cyndi

Hi Cindi...I was banded on Aug 20th by Dr. Ortiz...I to was in your situation at 4 weeks (after reading lots of postings we have all gone through this)...our band in the beginning is not inflated...the six weeks prior to our first fill is for our body to get used to and heal from having this foreign body implanted. So by week 4 we don't feel the restriction because the swelling has gone down. And yes, we can and do eat the same as before the surgery. Just try to watch what you eat and be aware of your portions. I had my first fill at OBC on Oct 6th and I am definately restricted now. My biggest challenge since the fill is chewing...You would think I would learn my lesson in taking smaller bites and chew chew chew, but it doesn't always work out that way so things get "stuck" quite often and it is very painful.

I know what you mean about the "food police"...I had people say to me at work, I thought you couldn't have that...so it is kinda weird to have people be so aware of your eating habits.

Hang in there...you are doing great and you will continue to get better as you go through this journey as we learn how to re-adjust our way of eating. I have bought sugar free Jello pudding, low fat fudgescicles and some 100 calorie type of snacks for when I get those sweet attack cravings. As time goes on, and we learn about our new life style we will get better at eating the right foods ect...but for now, for me anyway, it is trial and error.

Good luck. Sue =D>

[Guest cyndir]

Sue,

Your post was so helpful and supportive. Thank you. SInce I have simply said to the "food police" , "my band is open and I have no restriction so am as hungry as you but am trying to restrict the amount that I am eating while I wait until I am healed enough to have a fill." Most people have stopped making comments about whether or not I can have certain foods.

I agree that staying away from carbohydrate loaded foods does help reduce the hunger and cravings but I just want to get full on small amounts again. I know that I will as soon as I get my fill.

Thank you and best of luck to you too. Cyndi

[valley34]

Sue,

Your post was so helpful and supportive. Thank you. SInce I have simply said to the "food police" , "my band is open and I have no restriction so am as hungry as you but am trying to restrict the amount that I am eating while I wait until I am healed enough to have a fill." Most people have stopped making comments about whether or not I can have certain foods.

I agree that staying away from carbohydrate loaded foods does help reduce the hunger and cravings but I just want to get full on small amounts again. I know that I will as soon as I get my fill.

Thank you and best of luck to you too. Cyndi

Hi Cyndi,

I replyed back to you but i'm not sure if it went thru.My computer has been acting up something awful!

So i'll try again.......

I so relate to what your going thru, like i said i was able to eat almost anything.Bread I can't have at all. So i'm learning what i can tolerate. Hang in there! My husband was shocked to see how much more i could eat and that just made me feel more awful about myself. I'm happy to report though that i had my very first fill last nite with Dr.Vitello.He was awesome and was very fast.His assistant Patti was so comforting.She held my hand thru the entire process which only took about ten minutes. I was so scared and I thought about my fill the entire day! I know i went a bit early then i should have but my eating habits were getting to be out of control and i didn't want to gain any weight.It's been over 4 weeks,almost five so i did talk it over with dr.vitello and he said it should be okay,he wanted to look me over first and make sure.So when i got there he said it was fine. Now i feel the restriction and i'm not having any hunger pains and i can only eat small portions again.Oh thank goodness for that. He put in 2cc at first but then it was too much so he took some fluid out and now i have 1.7cc and i can tell. So now i'm on my way.There were 4 other ladies there also waiting for fills and one woman told me that you'll know when you need another fill because you'll start eating more. So i just want you to know your not alone and were all here for support. If anyone lives near the downers grove-chicago area i so highly recommend dr vitello!!!

Have a great weekend:-)