20 days Post Op- Need Advice

[Ashleyy 0]

Good Morning LB People-

I am 20 days Post op and had a few concerns. My band is a 6 CC band and was filled with 2 CC's on the day of surgery. At the beggining, of course I was eating only liquids and everything was fine. I had to crush my pills and mix with yogurt for the first week and a half. I noticed when I ate the yogurt it was thick and I could feel it go all the way down my throat to my stomach. Once i got to soft solids and now solids I didnt have any issue with food going down. Im not sure if this is normal or not..

I have not had ANY breads or beef because I know it's a common "stuck" foods, but I have had NO problem eating anything else. Im not feeling restricted and Im just curious if this is normal since I have not had a fill yet. I know after fills it becomes much tighter and harder to eat food.

Someone help :smile2:

[Catherine55 43]

It is so normal that there's even a name for it! You are in "Bandster Hell," my friend! :smile2: Do a search for it -- you'll find tons of information. Basically, your band doesn't start doing its job until you get to restriction, so it is normal that you will be hungrier now and able to eat more. Don't worry about it -- once you get to restriction, the weight will come off slowly and surely!

Best,

Catherine

[GoneFishin 0]

Ashley,

I was banded 12/15 and our experiences are similar. I have very little restriction, but have been able to maintain my initial weight loss with sensible food choices, although I do eat more than 1/2 cup at a time. Maybe 3/4 and up to 1 cup. I suspect I am doing oaky as I was down another #2 this morning. Looking forward to my first fill on 1/25. I haven't really experienced the "hell" some refer to, but I would like to reduce my intake volume to insure I am not stretching my stomach.

[vlp1968 83]

I too have been awaiting the restriction. Glad to hear so many others are too. I have had one fill and no restricion as of yet. Some on this site have posted it's taken up to 5. I was unaware of how long it would take to have an effect. In hindsight I may have choosed gastric bypass. But whats done is done and I am just going to be patient.

[Ashleyy 0]

Thank yall so much for the encouraging words! It makes me feel so much better about everything. Are yall able to drink carbonated drinks as well? What about alcohol?

My doctor will not do a fill until 40-50 lbs are lost. I've lost a total of 20lbs already.

Have yall tried bread or meat yet? I have no problem with chicken...

[Melinco 1]

Thank yall so much for the encouraging words! It makes me feel so much better about everything. Are yall able to drink carbonated drinks as well? What about alcohol?

My doctor will not do a fill until 40-50 lbs are lost. I've lost a total of 20lbs already.

Have yall tried bread or meat yet? I have no problem with chicken...

I'm 21 days out since my surgery. I haven't drank any soda, too afraid of possible pain or messing up my band, which I paid for myself. I don't drink alcohol at all, but I do know others do, but in moderation, as they are empty calories.

How weird that your doctor does your fills by the amount of weight you lose! Mine does it based on my hunger level.

I've eaten tiny bites of a Pillsbury crescent roll, maybe 1/4 of one roll. I've had 1/2 slice whole grain bread, well toasted. I've had a tiny bit of tortilla.

I've eaten turkey, chicken, ham, beef meatballs, pot roast, without problems so far. I cut them into tiny pieces and chew the heck out of them. I haven't tried steak or pork yet.

I haven't had any issues yet with something being stuck (except perhaps one of my antibiotics that I didn't cut in half), but I definitely do feel full with around 3/4 to one cup of food, sometimes less. I expect once I get my first fills, that will change.

Good luck!

[kay.jones@gmail.com 0]

Thank you to everyone that has posted their replies. I'm just beginning my foray back to foods today. I was banded on 12/31/09 and so far I've felt no restriction, yet have not gotten full either.

It's ok though. If I'm going to go through this process, I'm going to abide by the rules. Each time I've eaten today I've only had at most a cup of food, and both were good food choices. No restriction, no fullness either.

Let's stay strong through our bandster hell!

[LindseyKay 0]

I'm curious as to why your doctor wont give you a fill until you have already lost 50 lbs? I've not heard of that before.

Do you know why? I thought the restriction of the fills was what really helped people lose weight?

[BandedBanker 0]

It sounds like you might still need a little bit of a fill. No restriction=not able to use the band as a tool

[Ashleyy 0]

I'm curious as to why your doctor wont give you a fill until you have already lost 50 lbs? I've not heard of that before.

Do you know why? I thought the restriction of the fills was what really helped people lose weight?

He told me that the more fills you get the chances of your band slipping. He said he will only do a maxiumum of 4 fills.