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You might not get a huge reduction in hunger after your first or second or more (if you're like me), but each fill was a stepping stone getting me closer to where I am now. I eat my doctor's prescribed three 1/2 cup meal plus a healthy snack, and I feel satiety that lasts four hours or longer. So, along the way, each fill helped with portion and hunger control, but I found the restriction to be fleeting. It took me several fills to get to where I am now. For some people it takes only a couple of fills and a lot less saline. Before my band, I was hungry all the time and fighting the urge to snack. Now, I rarely think about food between meals.

Congratulations! I'm on day three post-op and was wondering the same thing. I'm able to meet my protein and water intake goals. I've actually wondered if my surgeon performed the correct surgery (even checked my surgical notes to be sure). I've read that things change once we transition to regular foods in that we will be able to feel ful.

Get back to basics! Learn to say no to eating at bar-b-ques or eat before you go so you're not tempted to eat around the band.. and as far as the alcoholic drinks, those are super high calories that your body is just waiting for you to suck down so it can slam it to your hips... find a lower calorie alcholic drink if you feel you have to have it .. try looking up diabetic diet website .. there's sure to be a low cal drink on there .. concentrate on following the lap band rules for the last 6 weeks of summer and when you hit the labor day b-b-q, you'll be down quite a few more lbs and you'll feel great... it's temporary but hopefully it will get you motivated again!!! DO NOT GIVE UP!!! you deserve to be thinner and healthier!!!!:thumbdown:

Another March3rd-er (?) having an easy time of it. Since day 1 post op they given me vitamin water and a small yogurt drink to take in addition to water, and yesterday (day 3), I had some cottage cheese (considered a purée here - OMG in Estonia they must love it because the dairy case seems to have more cottage cheese options than yogurt ones), and baby food (the kind that come in the squeezable soft packs). It’s weird to me that both of these foods (in addition to other purées) were recommended to me, since that wasn’t the case when I had my first surgery in Mexico. In any event, since I’m living out of a hotel until next week I don’t have a lot of options food wise. Long story short, I’m doing well getting my liquids in, ok with the protein, and the purées didn’t cause any issues. If I hadn’t gone through this before, I’d be worried, but as it is I’m feeling great. The first time I did this (sleeve in 2017j, I was the only one in the hospital with little to no pain, was walking around at least 4 hours a day, and I actually accused my surgeon of not having done the surgery despite the scars and drainage tube coming out of my body. She told me that some people are just lucky, they go through surgery and the post op period without any problems and that I should be thankful for it. She even showed me a picture of my excised stomach to prove it. My current surgeon told me that he did check out my sleeve before he made it even smaller for the RNY and told me it was perfect, so whatever doubts I had in my mind for the past three years were put to rest. The one thing I do know is that transitioning to soft or mushy foods will be, not necessarily problematic, but that we’ll feel it more. That’s why I’m focusing on maintaining good habits (weigh or measure food, no drinking 30 min before and after any food), since I think that’s one of the main reasons my sleeve failed the first time.

I am four weeks today, and I have been quite hungry lately. It is different than my pre-op hunger though, not that urgent feeling I used to get. I've been trying to be "mindful" of my current hunger and tell myself to experience the feeling and listen to my body. Don't get me wrong-I wish I was one whose hunger disappeared with surgery! Hang in there. You are not alone.

Hello well I found myself a private gym down the street from my house and the prices could only be better if it was free. I know God is watching over me. I have committed to three days a week and Iam so excited I cant wait. Precision fitness in Riverside Ca. I spent less then an hour with Debbie and I learned so much yes nutrition counseling is included. I am still filling full but today wasnt as easy as yesterday but its head hunger and I know it and I am trying with every ounce of my being to control it. I will be ok and I will beat this I have to have control I will continue to drink water and more water. I just dont have as much energy as yesterday. I hope tomorrow is a better day. I swear this up and down is for the birds. Please dont get me wrong I feel fine I just want that same high I had yesterday. This is what people with bi polar must go through lol not that I would know. My first workout will be Tuesday. Michelle

@@Djmohr - interesting! Of course you are much further along than I. I'm looking forward to this Thursday when I begin week #3 and the "mechanically altered" stage of my diet. I'll be making my Magic Crust Quiche and it will be so nice to finally chew something for a change. Haven't done that since April 5th! Best of luck on your continued success!

Talk to your fill doc ASAP! some docs charge less for adjustments made within a week of your fill date. Find out before you get stuck paying full price. (Like I'm gonna...)

One week away! Posted by AngieB, Apr 16 2009, 09:34 AM Admin/Owner Options Make This Entry A Draft

I just paid the hospital there share this morning, before doing my prep. My surgeon will get his next week. I tried to get this approved 8 years ago with Aetna, and ultimately was denied after 6 months of hoop jumping. This time, when I decided I wanted to try again, my husband and I decided to pay cash. I wish that I could have relied on my health insurance to cover most of it, but I am glad that we are in the position to cover the cost.

I am close to 4 weeks out and so far no regrets at all!! I also wish I would have done it sooner as others have said. I think like most things the anticipation is so much more than the actual process. The first couple of days of the pre-op diet were tough but after that, smooth sailing! After the surgery, as others told me, was a breeze because the hunger isn't there. Although now, as I approach my first fill I feel I am in "bandster hell".. I can eat just about anything, but, atleast I know I am going through a normal phase in the process just like everyone else! The time will come up quick.. congratulations on your surgery date and moving forward. :biggrin: Enjoy the journey !:biggrin:

I have always been overweight. In elementary school there used to be a day every year where they weighed you in gym; I think it was at the same time that they did the scoliosis test. I don’t ever remember a year where I wasn’t afraid and embarrassed to step on that scale. My parents tried to get me involved in sports to help control my weight and I played little league soft-ball and soccer, but it didn’t keep the pounds off. By the time I was 12 and heading off to junior high, my parents were even more concerned about my weight and the implications it would have on my social life. That summer they shipped me off to fat-camp. I lost about 25lbs that summer and gained about 50 the following year. During junior high I joined the cross country and track teams and ran for miles--albeit very slowly--but no matter how many pounds I ran off, I ate more on. I tried plenty of diets: Weight Watchers, Atkins, I met with nutritionists, I even gave bulimia a stab. I went to a psychiatrist to help me deal with my issues with food and managed to get my binging and purging habits under control, but the obsessive over-eating continued to plague me. When I went away to college my daily exercise decreased and my eating--with all you can eat cafeterias, and no parents on my case--increased. I gained even more. The first time I remember weight-loss surgery coming up was my senior year. My parents wanted me to do it but I wasn’t ready--it scared the bejesus out of me. One night, after discussing it with my parents on the phone, I decided I needed something drastic. I headed off to Walmart to buy some of those stupid, dangerous, Ephedra, over the counter weight-loss pills. I was depressed and desperate for something to help me. I needed these to work. I never even really got to give them a chance. Just buying them gave me a panic attack. It was probably the scariest experience of my life. It was about as close to an out-of-body experience as I can imagine getting. I felt very far away from all of my surroundings. My heart was pounding and my breathing was sharp and shallow. My head was racing, but it was the same thought over and over again--I had to move. I paced the store, my hands shaking. Stupidly enough I got behind the wheel of my car, but managed to make it home safely. The panic attack was still going strong. By that point it was about 11PM on a Friday night. I felt like I had to do something, I had to keep moving. I rolled up my pants, filled the bathtub with water and bleach, and got in and started scrubbing madly. When I was finished with the bathroom I went into my room, pulled out the top drawer of my desk and began frantically throwing the papers around in what was supposed to be an attempt to organize. Half-way through I suddenly stopped, lay down on the floor where I was and cried. I had a few more miny-attacks as I tried to deal with my depression but slowly--with time, some happy pills from my doctor, and the help of my family and friends--I pulled myself out of that big, black hole. And, of course, I got rid of the Trim-Spa, or whatever it was I had bought that night. Still, I had no control over my weight. The little exercise I got in college slowed even more in vet school. For a short while I would walk this huge hill a couple of times a week--about two-miles round trip--but that didn’t last long, especially as my work-load increased and my free-time decreased. I was working 70-80 hour weeks and studying any other time that wasn’t spent sleeping. I certainly wasn’t taking the time out to cook healthy, gourmet, meals--I was stuffing myself full of crap. By the time I graduated I had hit the mark I had always promised myself I would never hit--The big 3-0-0. It was around this time that I started seriously considering weight-loss surgery. I had always been invested in my education. I put the rest of my life on hold. Now there was no more school and I was ready for my life to begin. But what kind of life could I have trapped in the body of a morbidly obese person? I moved back to Long Island where I grew up, but I didn’t really know anyone in the area anymore except for my family. I didn’t have the built in social circle of fellow class mates that I’d always had in the past and I was--and still am--too insecure to really put myself out there and meet new people. So for the past year my social life has been even more stagnant than before. I’ve got my job of course, which--though I’m still getting comfortable with the new responsibility--I thoroughly enjoy. But when I see an obese cat or dog, I feel like a hypocrite. When people ask me about making their pet lose weight, I usually tell them the same thing…”If I had someone with my best interests at heart controlling everything that went into my mouth, I’d be a lot better off for it.” And it’s true—but why shouldn’t I be that person with my best interests at heart? Despite all of my medical, health, and nutritional knowledge, I’m still slowly eating myself to death. So, the time has finally come. I know that even surgery isn’t some “magic bullet.” I will have to work hard and make some serious changes in my life. There is a possibility that I might fail, even at this. But I’m ready to take that chance. I’m ready to make those changes. After all, I spent the last 26 years in school learning, preparing, waiting for my life to begin and now that school is over, I feel like I’m still waiting. If I wait much longer for my life to start, I just might be waiting until my life is over.

So all week I have been trying to make an appointment with a Dr. that accepts transfering patients - b/c I had my surgery in Mexico and no one else will assist me b/c I am a liability. Still no luck. The lady has yet to return my call or answer my call and I think it's a good thing. I have been going to fillsUSA to have my fills done. The next time I can go is June 26. Well - I have already gone 2 weeks. What's a few more? I have not been able to eat anything - liquids only until yesterday. For lunch I just felt like trying some food. I headed over to subway - I know - and got a sandwich. I always buy a footlong just b/c they are cheaper than the 6in. But I never eat the whole thing. ANYWHO! I took 3 tiny little bites over a 15 min period. And then had my normal cream of chicken soup. "oh goodie". I did pretty well! I saved the rest of the sandwich for my hubby for dinner. When I got home for dinner more soup of course! AND I finished the one half i started eating earlier that day. Hubby ate the other half. YAY! I ate a sandwich and had some soup. The first real food in DAYS! Today I had a turkey hotdog - no bun just the hot dog. I needed meat! And later on some soup. Soup is always just comfortable and gives me enough protein and calories. So.... No I am not "fixed" but I am feeling better. I am not hurting nearly as bad. Sometimes there is still discomfort - but I work through it. This is why I am thinking of just waiting until June 26 for my un-fill. Or just to go in so they can tell me what all is going on. And since I cannot find my passport - and I am still looking - I am thinking about going ahead and ordering another one or renewing or what ever I need to do! And if I need to get anything fixed or get the band removed I will go back to where I had it done. That will be a lot cheaper than coughing up $2500. Which I CANNOT AFFORD! I really need to start going to the gym again. I feel lazy since I have not gone these 2 weeks but I think if I am still feeling better by next week - back to the gym! I love going. It makes me feel better about myself. It makes me feel unstoppable! MWAHAHAHA! haha...

I also noticed hair loss at about 5 months. My sugeons' office does'nt think it's due to weight loss since I'm a slow looser. In my last blood panel done by my GP they said my thyroid was low and to recheck in a month. The surgeons office said low thyroid could cause hair loss and perhaps explain why I am a slow looser. I need to go back for the thyroid blood test soon. I've been taking Bioten for about 3 weeks can't say I've seen a reduction in hair loss.

I'm 2 weeks post op today and still miserable! I am nauseated all the time!!!! I'm still sore. It seems that everything makes me sick. I haven't been able to get the protein shakes down in about a week. Has anyone else still felt this badly 2 weeks later and when should I expect to see a difference with the way I am feeling?

Hi everyone and Happy New Year! I went to see my dietician last weeks for my 6 weeks post-op check-up. She said that I am doing great with my excerise and vit/minerals, but my weight loss could be more. She said it's due to the fact that I'm not eating enough (go figure). She has now increased my calories to 800/day. On a good day, I'm lucky if I can get 600 calories in (that includes drinking 2 Isopure Protein drinks). Some days I have no appetite and it's very difficult for me to eat. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Katie

I had a shocking revelation today. I was able to use my lap for a laptop. I have never done this before. Then it dawned on me, I have been fat since before there were laptops…ouch. I really should not be surprised, but I am. I believe this qualifies as one of those NSVs, but it was still somewhat disturbing that I have been fat longer than laptops have existed. I do travel almost every week for my job and I have over 3,000,000 miles on American Airlines alone, and about that many on United and other airlines. I even bought my roll-aboard suitcase because it made a good table for my laptop when I was on the road. OK…probably not the most earth-shattering event ever, but very helpful anyway.

I had a shocking revelation today. I was able to use my lap for a laptop. I have never done this before. Then it dawned on me, I have been fat since before there were laptops…ouch. I really should not be surprised, but I am. I believe this qualifies as one of those NSVs, but it was still somewhat disturbing that I have been fat longer than laptops have existed. I do travel almost every week for my job and I have over 3,000,000 miles on American Airlines alone, and about that many on United and other airlines. I even bought my roll-aboard suitcase because it made a good table for my laptop when I was on the road. OK…probably not the most earth-shattering event ever, but very helpful anyway.

Enjoyed a lovely carvey with hubby and our two sons yesterday for my birthday which is today. i even had half a yorkshire pudding, it was yummy. I am getting a stairlift fitted today, I didn't think i would be so excited by a stairlift on my 55th birthday, but can't wait, my left leg is agony when i walk, no more crawling upstairs in agony, yay. I am going out tonight with the ladies from our church, it is the ladies christmas meal that just so happens to be on my birthday, thinking i might have a steak. I am hoping that by this time next year i will be wearing size 18 rather than the 28 i am in today, or even a 16. I am already eating much smaller meals than i was able to eat last year, and next year i suspect i might be eating a starter for my main course, bring it on. Still waiting to get my blood test results back, hoping it will be soon, ive waited 5 weeks now, so must be nearer getting them. Funny thing about time, 5 weeks just seemed like an eternity 5 weeks ago, but here i am, 5 weeks done and hoping i will get the phone call any day now. I have been able to address comfort eating in this waiting time and also am pleased that i now prefer to go for the healthier options for my meals and always try to share it with my dogs or leave some on the plate, not bad for someone who was brought up to eat everything on my large plate. It took a long time to get over the dissapointment of my sleeve op being cancelled, but now i am at peace that i will have it when it is the right time for me, God knows best, i am resting in Him. I particularly wanted to do a blog today to record how i am feeling and will compare with how i am next year, believing God Has got good plans for me, to do me good and not harm, and that my latter years will be even more fruitful than my former years, that the years that the locusts have stolen from me will be restored back to me 100 fold, amen. Praying for everyone who reads this to have a quick easy operation with no complications and a swift good recovery, to get to the weight of your dreams. I also pray for all who have already been sleeved for good healthe and continous weight loss to get to your dream weight too, God Bless to all, Janet, xxxxx

I too am VERY hungry the past week or so, it's not heloping that I'm totally PMSing and I want to eat everything. Hang in there and be prepared for your 1st fill not making that much of a difference. My 1st fill made a difference for about 2-3 days then I was back to no restriction. Thankfully the place i go to will do a fill every 3 weeks and I plan on taking advantage of that as long as I need to. I thought my 1.5 hour drive to get a fill was far, 3 hours! 4-5 hours!! wowza! I hope things are easirer for you today Jadeite!

I has bypass surgery, so it may be a little different. I had to do six months of nutrition counseling, and I needed to get my cardiology approval as soon as my last nutrition appointment happened. My surgery was scheduled about two weeks after my final nutrition appointment, and I was approved a couple days before my actual surgery date. So my entire pre-surgery journey took almost 7 months. I kept a journal on everything, and I would take it with me to all of my appointments and write down what we talked about and any suggestions any of my doctors had. Best of luck!

I was not hungry at all for like 5 days after i had my surgery. Mine was done easter weekend and my whole family came over the day after my surgery and they had bbq and i didn't even care. I had no appetite. i even cooked a huge breakfast 2 days later for everyone and it did not bother me a bit to not be able to eat any of it. just had my broth and some popcisles. LOL! My only real issue was the freaking GAS!!! oh that is miserable. the belching like a drunken sailor, the pain in the shoulders. ugh! that is not fun! i used a heating pad on my shoulder, took my pain meds on time, used my incentive spirometer for the lungs, and chewed up mylanta gas tabs like crazy. oh and walked around alot to get that gas moving. i didn't really crave any food until one week after surgery when i could have pureed foods. hope everything goes smoothly for you! good luck on your journey to your new life

I'll take a stab at it, mushies are any soft food put through a blender so it is pretty much a paste, so that little to NO chewing is needed, this gives the stomach a break and not make it churn more solid food so early in recovery. Soft food is just that, soft food, Soups, etc. that may have more solid form but are still soft so as to be not such a shock to the the tummy as it is recovering from this trauma you just put it through. Mushies first, soft food after a few weeks, then on to more solid foods but still taking it easy to not burden the stomach.

Patience Grasshopper! Thats to be expected. I'm sure you still had, (have) some swelling in that area. Give it a few weeks, then get another fill. As long as your not gaining, and are still loosing. Being patient was my biggest problem too. It will work though if you just follow the plan. I am at goal, fifteen months post op. and 200 pounds lost! Your not alone, this is a new day for you and your body.