ITALIANGAL

Had my lap band on 5/23 and have lost 20 lbs., but my first fill is tomorrow 7/24. I am a little afraid, mostly because I can eat almost anything now and am worried about how much restriction I will have. I still want to eat even though I don't always enjoy it. I know this is 'head hunger', but isn't that the problem with most overweight people to begin with? I eat when I am upset, lonely and bored - and that is exactly the problem - not so much feeling hunger pains. I was prescribed Topamax a few years ago and it was like a magic bullet. I had no cravings for food or liquor. It did have some side effects, but it was wonderful and I lost over 100 lbs. Unfortunately, it stopped being effective for me and I gained all the weight back. Now I find it difficult to 'deal' with the lap band, because I still want to eat. Does anyone else feel this way?

I have the same problem. I used to drink 4-5 glasses of white a night easy. The other evening I went to a cocktail party. Had two glasses of Chardonnay and then wham - I was smashed.

Thank you all for your input. Just surprised that I still feel uncomfortable in my neck/throat. I know that I should mash veggies, etc. I am not a creamy/sweets person. I just miss the 'crunch'.

I am 4 weeks post op and two days away from going on regular soft food. (No fills yet.) I must admit I have not been sticking to all pureed foods, but have been eating mostly soft food for the last 2 weeks. Have had no trouble eating anything including steak (know I probably should wait) until last night. I tried to eat a baked ground chicken patty, some crackers and some broiled brussels sprouts. Couldn't get half the patty down and a couple of sprouts and I started to gag. I kept spitting up for about 3 hours. The Brussell sprouts were really a problem. Had to make myself throw up and all the cracker meal came up. I'm much better now, but I keep burping and I feel like I have a lump in my throat. Will this go away? Also, my doctor told me that I should feel restriction in the center of my chest, but I feel it higher up - like in my esophagus and get pain in my upper back if I eat too fast. Is this normal?

While some addicts trade one addiction for another, it is not true in all cases. It is likely that people who have had WLS are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol. I used to abuse alcohol as well as food prior to gastric band. Now I have had to reduce my alcohol intake as well as food and I'm managing fine with laying off the drinks. I still do want a glass of wine now and then, but I don't drink a bottle of wine every night - thank God!

I do keep a food diary, so I know what I am eating, but it doesn't take many calories for me to put on weight.

WOW - I AM SO GLAD TO SEE THAT I AM NOT ALONE. I HAD MY SURGERY ON 5/23. I LOST 7 POUNDS PRE-OP AND 10 POUNDS THE FIRST 2 WEEKS POST OP ON LIQUIDS. STARTED ON PUREED FOODS A FEW DAYS AGO AND NOW THE SCALE WON'T MOVE. I ACTUALLY GAINED 1/2 LB. I HAVE LITTLE RESTRICTION RIGHT NOW AND AM HUNGRY MOST DAYS. I AM VERY WORRIED THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE AND GET WORSE WHEN I GO ON SOLID FOODS. I AM QUITE INACTIVE BECAUSE I HAVE JOINT PAIN IN MY KNEES AND HIPS, SO I GUESS I REQUIRE VERY FEW CALORIES. I DON'T GET MY FIRST FILL FOR 6 MORE WEEKS AND I AM AFRAID OF GAINING BACK THE WEIGHT I LOST.

THIS IS ALSO MY 5TH DAY AFTER SURGERY AND I AM VERY HUNGRY. I LIVE ALONE, SO NO ONE IS COOKING AND I'M NOT GOING OUT, BUT I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT THE FOOD COMMERCIALS.

I was banded on May 23rd and I am on a full liquid diet, but I can eat about 4-6 oz. at a sitting before I get full. Don't understand why you are starting pureed foods when you had your surgery only 4 days ago. I don't go on pureed foods for another 10 days.

Hi, I'm new to the site. I had my surgery on May 23rd and feel pretty good. Some pain at the port location which the hospital nurse told me was normal. Am still taking my pain meds for that. Pre-op diet was tough for me, but am now on third day of full liquids and am OK with it. I am having trouble drinking all the protein shakes because I feel full and they don't appeal to me. I decided not to weigh myself, but will wait until my first follow up visit with my surgeon in 9 days. Am anxious to see the results.