illuminationlady

I believe you are still swollen from the surgery as others have stated. Don't get disappointed if your hunger returns. I am in that time period awaiting true restriction from fills and it can be quite a let down. Best wishes to you though....

I've heard of this antinausea patch that you wear behind your ear. Call him and get a new antinausea med. I would insist!!! ps. I had liquid Phenergan.

Your post and the others are inspiring. I am in the same boat as the OP. I was banded on Dec. 16th and started with an empty band due to complications. I have had one fill and will get my second fill on Feb. 8th. Thank goodness that once the healing process is over my doc does fills every two weeks. To the OP: just hand in there. As soon as you reach true restriction you will lose as others have stated. I know how you feel and was depressed for some time. I also felt that it was anticlimatic. I went to a support group meeting and met people with restriction. Find out if there are any support groups in your area. I know there is a site: meetup.com. Check on there or with your local hospital. It really helped me to meet others who now are losing with restriction. Best wishes!!!

Can't wait to feel this too. I've only had one fill. I started with an empty band because of complications. I feel very discouraged at this point like it'a another failed attempt at weight loss. But I went to a support group meeting Wed. night and talked to people like you who have restriction. Can't wait. Cant' wait. Can't freckin' wait!!!!

I drink wine occasionally. Not a problem.

It is very common to feel the way you're feeling. You don't have true restriction yet. Yet, being the key word here. I am in the same boat as you. I was banded on Dec. 16th and have had one fill and lost only 12.5 lbs. since surgery. I went to a support group meeting mad as hell and there I met many people who have restriction and I met people who have lost the weight. This help me tremendously. All said that this period is very hard for us. Don't give up. Don't despair. Restriciton is just around the corner.

I'm with ElfiePoo. Restriction is not a cop out. I went to a support group meeting last night with banders there. Many who have restriction. One gal is struggling with it. She can only eat less than a cup of food in a sitting and is staying full for 3-4 hours. She also admitted to sometimes not chewing properly or taking too big a bite of food and PBing. When you have restriction the band tells you how much to eat. These people are losing weight (the one's with true restriction) and keeping it off. I was very impressed and can't wait to myself be there with restriction. It can take many fills to reach restriction. I would really question this statement made by your doctor. Maybe he ment something else; like the band is not magic and we all need to make good food choices. But you definetly need true restriction for the band to work properly for you. Best wishes to you.

That's fantasitc! Congrats to you and enjoy the new you!!!

Thank you so much for posting this. I went to a support group meeting for emotional eaters last night. The gal who runs it is banded and skinny. She says that we must all advocate for ourselves and push those doctors to fill us to our sweet spots. My doctor does the fills every two weeks until we get there. It was very motivational to be around someone who has been in my shoes (no restriction) and has won the battle of the buldge! Great meeting. And your post did help me a lot!!!

Try using GasX strips. They worked great for me. I would use 2-3 at a time and my gas went away quickly. I also walked every day for 30 min at a time.

I chew gum.

My doc says 30 min. also. I mentioned the 1-2 hour thing and he said it's not necessary and extreme. Sometimes I wait 45 min but usually 30 min.

Target has it for 1.79. That's for the Fage. It's good with honey sprinkled on top!!! Yummy!!!

I got 3ccs in a 10cc empty band. My next fill is in 2 weeks and every 2 weeks thereafter. She said I would get another 1.5 next time. I am hungry and struggling. I lost another 2.5 lbs but it's coming off slowly and is all difficult. Hope this helps!

Hi everyone! I am already banded. My daughter wants to be banded. She has everything she needs to get approved. She went to her psychologist yesterday for her letter and the psych. said she would write it and that she's all clear. The problem is that she has never written one before and wants to know what to say in the letter. Any suggestions? I never saw my letter as it was faxed to the doctors office (I have a different psyc.). Does anyone out there know what one looks like or should say? Thanks in advance for your replys.

I guess we are all getting our fills at once. I got 3 ccs yesterday too. I really can't feel much of a difference since my band was completely empty. I, too, am on mushies today and then regular food on Sunday. My next appointment is in 2 weeks and then every two weeks thereafter until I hit my sweet spot. I did feel some restriction at first but this morning can't tell. Will try some Cream of Wheat for breakfast. Take care everyone and have a great weekend!!!

I have no restriction yet either. I had to have all the initial fluid removed from my band the day after surgery. I couldn't keep anything down. Now I have nooooooooooooo restriction. I, too, fear not having any restriction either after my first fill. Thank God my surgeon is aggressive with fills. Tomorrow is my first fill and they said they would put 4 ccs in, because I'm empty right now. Then I go every two weeks there after until I hit my sweet spot. I know I have gained a couple of pounds during this time period too because I got sick of being hungry too. I eat healthy also though so I didn't go crazy. Try some Greek style yogart for the severe hunger. It's frustrating. I feel your pain. But soon you will have enough fluid and be losing that weight. Best wishes!!!

My doctors policy is to let you heal after surgery (4 weeks) and then start the fills. After that he fills every 2 weeks until you get to that "sweet spot". I don't see any reason why you should wait all that time to get your fills. Talk to your doctor before you embark on this journey with him. Your fills are a very important part of your success.

I found the hunger was really getting to me. So, I went off the "diet" and started eating regular (healthy though). I was doing fine until this past weekend when we had to travel. I gained 3 pounds back. Haven't changed my ticker but suppose I should. My first fill is tomorrow at 5 weeks post op. My doc feels once your healed to fill the band quickly. Every fill is 2 weeks apart until you hit that "sweet spot". So, that's where I'm at. Just checking in and saw that many of us are suffering again. It will soon be over and we'll be losing that weight again. Have a good day everyone!!!

I soooooo know how you feel HappyMe! I am right there with ya! I even gained a few pounds this past weekend. My first fill is Thursday and I will finally have some fluid in my band. I have no fluid in my band right now and it sucks. I have been eating healthy but to much food each time. I have not been exercising either. It's like I've given up right now. I'm sorry you are suffering but feel good that I'm not alone. I worry that my first fill will bring no restriction also. Take care and keep us posted! ps One good thing is that I only have to wait 2 weeks between fills!

Two weeks of liquids!!! That's nuts!!! I only have to be on liquids the rest of my fill day and then mushies the day after. My doctor says he wants us to eat regular food because you have a greater chance of feeling full longer. I hope everything turns out okay for you. But that's a long time to be on liquids after a fill. Best wishes always!!!

I can't wait to feel that restriction. Glad to hear you're feeling it. Also, I carry Papaya Enzymes in my purse. Those are also a natural way to get stuff to go through that might be stuck. You can get the chewables at GNC stores. They really work!!

Yes, I feel the connection too. I had to travel a bit this weekend and I ate a lot. I haven't weighed myself yet but I know I picked up a few pounds. My first fill is this Thur. and I can't wait. It can't come soon enough. I was doing so good with the preop diet and then once they allowed real food again is when it all went wrong for me. They should have just left me starving on those protein shakes. Thanks again Great Expectations for thinking of me. I am certainly feeling down about the whole thing at this point in time. But it's important that I post and interact so that when things are going good I can post then too and see my progress.

Terri, We are all thinking of you today. Hope the test turns out okay. How disappointing this must be for you. I will say a special prayer for you. Keep us posted.