catfish87

It may be hard to imagine now, but its probably a good sign you are getting hungry. It probably suggest youre healing nicely, swelling has subsided, and all is well. Imagine this as the time when YOU have to try and stick to your prescribed portions/foods that your surgical team has recommended. The good part......It won't last forever! At least it doesn't have to. Hopefully you have a surgeon who, at the appropriate time, will make the band do its part. By this, I am referring to getting fills that eventually will help provide that signal that less food satisfies you for a longer period of time. It may take a while to get to that level....but you can! Congrats on your decision, and best wishes for continued success.

PJ...keep us informed of what you find out and your progress. Lisa0203...I'm sorry to hear when you read something you don't agree with on here, that it makes you angry. Hopefully, that gets better for you or your gonna be angry a lot. I'm thrilled for you if you can portion control yourself and stick to a diet LONGTERM. I couldn't / didn't / wouldn't. Certainly I could do it for six months or so, many times in my life. Just because one chooses to use this band differently than another on here, does not make either one wrong. As I've said before, even though we don't have to agree on everything about the band, we all are after the same goal....to be healthy. Best wishes for your continued success.

PJ...a word of advice, pulling out the fluid and checking to make sure its all there, can detect a LEAK. But it will do absolutely NOTHING for determining your restriction level. My opinion, from my experience, you need to get a fill using fluoroscopy. Its basically a live xray of your restriction level while you drink a barium swallow. Heres a link to the process at my docs office. Please consider asking your doctor about getting this done. http://www.hoab.org/fluoroscopy-machine-st-louis-missouri/

Have you had any fills done with fluoroscopy, where your doc can SEE the restriction level?

Have you had any fills yet? Do you think you're grazing calories or eating too many during your "meals"? If you haven't gotten fills, its nothing more than a diet. It took me a long time to finally get to proper restriction, but when I did, the diet is over. Now the band dictates the portions. Don't give up! This band thing is adjustable for a reason.....ask your doctor to get you to a point where ITS DOING ITS JOB. Sounds like you are doing your part, per your post. How many calories are you averaging per day?

You can do this....I went from probably eating 4000+ calories per day to my preOP diet that consisted of NO protein shakes. It was clear liquids ONLY for 7 days. Take it one "meal" at a time, one day at a time. This is a time to allow your liver to shrink, to ease the surgery process. Don't think this will last forever. Think of how good you will feel about yourself for doing this. Go for a walk while others in your life "eat" during this short term process. Best of luck to you!

Just got done drinking a pot. IF, IF.....the"acid from the coffee" EVER were even touch my band, I'd have bigger problems than coffee. You didn't mention.....who told u this? Your doctor?

Amen! Also, your "travel" post yesterday. loved it!

Awesome job! Congrats!

I don't notice any difference in the affects...none. I enjoy wine, bourbon, beer, mixed drinks.....all in moderation. Well, most of the time.

Oh Yes...that should be a template! "after some time you know how much you're eating and once your band is adjusted PROPERLY, the band will help you make that decision."So true!

Yes! I had this EXACT same experience. In my particular case, my band had come unsnapped. VERY, VERY rare for this to be the issue I understand, but IT DOES happen. If you have the oppurtunity for a fill with fluoro, it will easily show if this could be your problem. I know it highly unlikely, but possible. Fluoro fills are the reason I now am at a very happy spot. Highly recommend you get one too. Otherwise, its just a guessing game. Check out this link on Fluoro if you'd like : http://www.hoab.org/fluoroscopy-machine-st-louis-missouri/

I don't have a list of things I CAN'T have. I think that helps limit/eliminate my cravings. If my head is telling me I'm craving something, I'll eat it. ( I'm 3 1/2 years banded. ) For example, yesterday I attended a 4 year olds birthday party. Pre-band, pre good restriction, I would have eaten half a cake...and I'm not exaggerating. I've done it way too many times in the past. Yesterday, I had a cupcake, and was very satisfied. Not that I really wanted or craved that cupcake, but just to participate in the NORMAL birthday party. Was it good for me? Was it healthy? YES, I think it was...To be able to enjoy such a small/NORMAL amount.

I have Aetna in Illinois and fills are covered by mine.

<p>I've heard of doc's doing fills the way you describe, however I don't have any experience with that method. Here's the method my doc uses: http://www.hoab.org/...louis-missouri/

Not being able to drink clear liquids certainly would raise a red flag for me. I haven't experienced any reflux, but have heard of that being a sign of being too tight. My doc request liquids the remainder of the day of a fill. I personally, as long as I could get in enough liquid, would wait a bit longer than two days before I decided on getting any fluid removed. You mentioned you "got sick" when you ate right after the fill, so there could be some irritation that needs a day or so to subside. Good Luck and best wishes!

And they lived happily ever after! What a great BEGINNING to your new life! Congrats!

As long as you can get in plenty of water, you are fine....enjoy the weight loss. Congrats on your surgery!

Maybe after giving your system some time to recover, you can find a happy medium with restriction. Never, ever give up on yourself! Best wishes.

Only you, possibly with advice from your doctor, can know for sure. You don't mention any heartburn/reflux, etc, so I'd suggest maybe giving it several days before you decide, as long as you don't have any issues getting in all your fluids. As another poster said previously about this issue, It may be you just need to get on that CHEW, CHEW train. And really slow down with your eating. Everyone is different, but I need/want the band to provide help with portion control, and IT DOES do that for me...now. I HAVE to slow down and follow what I read long ago, small bites, and chew like crazy.