RickLB

I went today and bought a couple of long sleeved dress shirts and for the first time in over 15 years I didn't have to go to the "big and Tall" store. Just went to a regular old clothing store! Yea me!!!!

Been banded for two months now. I had a lot of gas for about a month. I remember thinking if I fart one more time I think I'm going to take off! It will go away, hang in there!

I was banded on 2-28-11. I am one of the blessed ones who has no problems with hunger or eating. I have 6cc's in a large band. I eat anything I want just not much of it. Just hang in there! They tell you all the foods you won't be able to eat but the truth is everyone is different. I can eat anything but there are others that eat only certain things (and some only at certain times!). You won't know what you will be able to eat until you get healed up from the surgery. So don't worry about it until you know what you can or can't eat. Hang in there it will get better!

@ Ktfrogger: Yes, I drink it right before I eat. My doctor says it cleans out anything that might still be in the pouch. It sounded goofy but it seems to be working well for me. Its easy to remember.

The guide line my doctor gave me was very simple. He calls the Four of Fours. 4 oz of fluid followed by 4 oz of solid, four hours apart, 4 times a day. I was banded 2-28-11 and I have lost 40lbs so far following the Four of Fours. Just hang in there.....it gets better!

Thanks to everyone for your advise and input! I'm not going to get a fill until I need one. Right now everything is working just fine. I guess I'm one of the blessed ones to have restriction from the get go. Good luck everyone on your journey!

I was banded on 2-28, down about 30lbs and doing fine. No hunger problems, no food problems everything is going great. So my thought is why change anything? I would like to wait until I actually need a fill. Do you have to have a fill?

I've been eating regular food for about two weeks now. I have no problems eating anything so far. Even though my band is empty I can only eat about 4oz at a time. I haven't been hungry at all. My doctor told me I can eat anything I want to as long as I can tolerate it. (Each person is different) The important thing is to make good food choices. Like Paul says in the Bible. "All things are permissible but not all things are profitable"! They want you to stay away from things with flour because it's not a good food choice. You have to make sure you eat your protein first then if you have any room left then you can eat something else. Hope this helps. Good luck on your journey!

I was also banded on 2-28. You aren't feeling full yet because your band is empty. You won't feel restriction until you've had some fills. The period of time between surgery and feeling restriction is what they call "bandster hell" because of dealing with hunger. Just keep eating what your doc told you to eat and maintain portion control and you should be fine. Hang in there.....it will get better!

I was banded on 2-28. Just got my staples taken out yesterday. What a relief! On mushies now. Lost about 20lbs so far!

Got my staples out yesterday and today I feel great! I was banded on 2-28 and had a rough week but today is a GOOD day. Still just a little bit sore at my port site but ready to get on with my new life!!!!

Congrats! My surgery is tomorrow too! Good luck to both of us!