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A couple things... It usually takes most people multiple fills before they have good restriction in their band, so don't be discouraged if you don't notice a difference after your first fill. It takes time. You also need to keep in mind the band isn't supposed to stop you from eating. It's not supposed to make you feel physically full, either. The only thing the band is supposed to do is help you feel satisfied on less food for longer periods of time. Satisfied means not physically hungry. It has nothing to do feeling full. There is a common saying about the band "Just because you can eat more doesn't mean you should". Best wishes and hang in there.

Perhaps you don't need another fill? Or the fills are too big?

Oh good I'm so glad it helped!! Yay!!

As the other ladies stated, your doctor will be the one to tell you whether you stretched your pouch or have a slip. I would follow his advice.

Hello and welcome! Everything you're experiencing is totally normal, btw. Many of us refer to the time between surgery and when we have good restriction in our band as "bandster hell" because you still have the hunger of an unbanded person yet are expected to eat the small portions of a banded person. It can very trying. Since your doctor has given you an ok to eat what you like now, definitely focus on Protein because it will help ease the hunger longer. Do you like nuts? Things like pistachios are a great snack and loaded in protein. I like low fat cottage cheese, too. Though it's not a protein, raw veggies dipped in fat free ranch can be really yummy too. The only way I survived bandster hell was by focusing on calories rather than just 3 meals a day. For instance, I was eating about 1000 calories a day then (I eat more now). I knew that just 3 meals at a cup or less of food each wouldn't keep my hunger under control at all. So, I spread my calories out so I could eat every 2 hours. For me, it worked, because I stuck to my budgeted calorie amount yet I was eating frequent enough that I wasn't starving. Also, don't be discouraged if you don't notice a difference after your first fill. It is possible that you might, but most people require multiple fills before they have adequate restriction in your band. It can be a bit of a slow if not frustrating process to get there, but it really is so so worth it in the end. Best wishes to you

You look gorgeous!! Congratulations!!

Congratulations!! Thanks for sharing your success!

If you're not used to laying on your back, being on your back during surgery can really mess with it. I know I was still and sore for a couple weeks after mine. The fact you may be moving a little awkwardly (without even realizing it) to favor your tummy could make it worse, too.

You're only 5 days post op. You're stomach is still very swollen and wounded. It will take weeks for it for to fully heal. Everything you're feeling is normal. My best advice is don't try to eat a whole bowl of tomato soup, stick to band portions, a cup or less. When you eat, take slow and tiny sips. Also, pause between sips to give it time to get through the swelling and band. Give yourself time to heal, it gets a lot easier

When was your surgery? You should really fill out your profile completely so we can better answer your questions. I think the easiest place to start is with the basics- how many calories do you eat a day? Do you stick to a cup or less of food per meal? Have seen a nutritionist during any point in your weight loss journey?

A couple things: You're only 3 weeks post op. The first 4-6 weeks after surgery are for healing, not losing. The fact you haven't gained is outstanding because many do during this period. Are you even on solid foods yet? Because until you are, the best you can do is try to make good food decisions and stick to bandster portions. As far as portions, you can really do it either way, weight or volume. You can even use a mix of the two. Very often I'll have 4oz of meat, 1/4 of veggies, and 1/4 cup of carbs. The way I measure it depends on what I'm eating and the easiest way to measure it. I know I'm the exception around here, because most are on low carb diets, but there is no rule that being banded means low carb. Some people lose great with carbs, some don't at all. There is no diet set in stone for everyone because everyone's bodies have different needs and respond differently. I do not follow a low carb diet because it's simply not realistic for me long term. For me, it works and lose great despite the fact I eat carbs regularly. Find out what works best for you.

It makes total sense. A lot of us use our fat as an actual shield from the world. We assume everyone is going to reject us so we use it as an excuse to reject them first. It's a nasty, viscous cycle, because the more we isolate ourselves because of our poor self esteem and fat, the more we eat and worse we feel, and worse our self esteem gets. When we start to lose that buffer between us and the world, that excuse we always used to isolate ourselves, it gets scary. Some people truly can't handle life if they're obese, it's too much for them to handle mentally. This is actually a perfect example why counseling can be such a huge help when dealing with WLS and obesity. It's a big adjustment, I struggle with it and I'm not even to my goal yet. As miserable as I was before I was banded, there was also a genuine sense of security in it too. I used it as my excuse to isolate myself and when I did have to face others, I was all to happy if I was just ignored, for fear of being ridiculed if someone actually did take notice. Now, after losing 143 pounds, I have some weird moments. I'm still a fat a girl but I'm a heck of a lot less fat than I was and shrinking every day. The positive attention I get because of my weight loss can make me so uncomfortable at times. Oh and male attention freaks me right out!! I am in shock and awe when I catch a man smiling at me, or worse, actually trying to strike up a conversation or flirt with me. It's like during all my years as a miserable huge girl I became totally socially inept when it comes to dealing with the opposite sex. I can totally understand how some people freak out and self sabotage to regain their weight and their comfort zone. Losing weight is a wonderful adventure but man it can be an intimidating and scary one, too.

Totally normal, in fact it usually takes multiple fills before the hunger is lessened so don't be discouraged if you can't tell much of a difference after just one fill.

I was on liquids for 4 weeks, too. 2 weeks Clear Liquids then 2 weeks full liquids, followed by 2 weeks of mushies. Every surgeon has their own idea what is best so it will all depend on what yours recommends.

Quite honestly, I'd worry if you weren't nervous and questioning your decision. It's a BIG decision and not one to enter into lightly. The fact you are questioning it means you're giving it the thought it deserves. And yes, I went through the same thing. I can remember even sitting waiting for them to come take me into surgery, thinking "I can back out right now, omg, why am I here? I should just leave!" Obviously I went through with it (and couldn't be more thrilled with my results so far) but I definitely a couple moments of sheer panic.

But do you realize the pizza isn't the problem? I eat pizza about once a month with my kids. I don't mean healthy homemade pizza, I mean the fatty calorie buster variety like you had tonight. 90% of the time, I follow my diet religiously, but 10% of the time I just eat what I want because I want it. I've lost a lot of weight in a relatively short period of time so obviously it hasn't hurt my efforts, either. You don't need an excuse to do what you did, you're human. I do think you're being way, way too hard on yourself about it. Why not embrace this as a learning experience rather than dwell on it as a failure? You realize you're prone to emotional eating so now you can be aware of it. That's a positive. Mistakes are only mistakes if you learn nothing from them, otherwise, they're learning experiences. Make this a learning experience.

My response may surprise you, but the problem isn't the fact you had pizza. The problem is why you had pizza. But here's the good part- you are aware of it. That is half the battle. Don't beat yourself up over it. Just be aware of emotional eating and try your very best not to do it. Tomorrow is a new day so start fresh and optimistic that it will be a good one.

Having the excess skin removed is usually the only permanent solution. You may want to go into your doctor to make sure you don't have a yeast infection forming between the skin folds. It's very common with extra skin issues.

The band should keep you satisfied on a cup or less of food for about 4 hours. Satisfied doesn't mean full, nor does it mean physically unable to eat more. It simply means no longer physically hungry. "Able to get down" shouldn't be what you're striving for. You should be eating when physically hungry only. It doesn't sound like you're too tight at all. You seem to be able to eat anything you want without issue.

I have Medicare and was able to have my surgery right away. I went to the seminar in December and was banded in January, so it only took a month. I didn't have to do any diets ahead of time. However, check with your doctor about your liver. He'll know for sure if it's safe or not.

You look positively gorgeous, congratulations!

It seems positively ridiculous your doctor won't fill you until you lose weight. That's like telling a car that's on empty "I won't put gas in you until you drive a couple miles". It also bothers me he says you need learn what the band does- why the heck isn't he teaching you? I would get into a nutritionist who works with bariatric patients. They can help you establish food guidelines to help you be successful. I would also strongly urge logging all your food between now and then, not only so you can see where your calories are coming from but so you can show the nutritionist and they can help you make healthy changes. I would also remind your doctor you're the employer, he's the employee, and if he's not willing to do his job you can and will fire him in favor of someone more competent. Best wishes to you.

A very minor infraction, as Patty wisely said, just shake it off and move on. I'm sure you did zero harm to your band or your weight loss so simply chalk it up to a learning experience. Btw, congratulations on the weight loss, you're off to a great start!!