long term bandsters, question for you

[Rachel412 116]

I had a fill on Thursday and suddenly, things have changed. No, this is not a "am I too tight?" post On Saturday, I had a half of a chicken salad wrap (chicken salad, lettuce on a whole grain wrap). I ate it, which was a normal meal for me. But this time a few minutes after I finished eating, I was stuffed, like, uncomfortably full. That's the FIRST time I've felt fullness since being banded. It hurt! And I didn't like it and it took 2 or 3 hours to feel "normal" again.

So today, I had the other half of the wrap for lunch. But I was paying close attention to how I felt as I ate it. Half of the way through, I felt done, and like the food was backing up a bit in my stomach, so I stopped eating it. And that's well and good... but 1.5 hours later I was hungry again (not head hunger, real hunger). Now I'm just confused!

So if I eat and feel full, not "satisfied" but actual full, yet it doesn't last long... ugh I'm so confused.

[sandy1 1]

Hope you get some responses from those in the know! I seem to get full quickly but never last more than 2 hours before I begin getting hungry again. I go for fill #3 this Wednesday and hope this is the one that keeps me full longer!

[JustFluffy 122]

I don't wanna be a downer, but it sounds like to me this is a "am I too full" post.

Sounds like you are really close to your sweet spot. It sometimes can take a few days for a little swelling to go down right after a fill (so you may end up really tight the first couple of days after a fill). Looks like you had .5 cc put in on Thursday - you may have only needed .25cc. However it does sound like to me you have good restriction right now. 1/2 wrap may be your limit (is there lettuce, tomatoes.."filling" stuff in there? You may be getting "stuck" on the lettuce). Many banded can't tolerate it.

As for the hunger afterwards...at my sweet spot I would always get hungy 2-3 hours after eating. I would try to get in a healthy Protein snack (or shake), to ease my hunger before time for my next "meal". Everyone is different though. However, I don't think you should expect to be full 5 hours after eating. I don't know if it is realistic. (Others may have another opinion). In reality your pouch is the size of an egg...it fills up and you are eating less (hopefully 1/2 cup at a time). Once that food passes - yes you will become hungry again after the digestion process finishes.

Hope this helps a little bit. My doctor always placed me on mushies for a couple days after a fill for my body to "adjust" to the fill (as I said before there is sometimes swelling). You may be exactly where you need to be. Give your body some time to adjust - it may loosen up a bit for you. If not you may need a little bit taken out.

Tip - when you have the "elephant on your chest" feeling (isn't it wonderful?), stand up and put your hands in the air over your head. It really does help. Also if you are stuck on a meat, mix a little meat tenderizer and warm Water and sip on it...will help loosen up the meat a bit.

[BonnieFM 0]

Yes! Leslie above says it well! I wish I would have had more of an Idea how this worked & how I can help it & hinder it....it has been a rough ride...but finally working for me, or should I say I am finally working it!!

A little tighter is good, just don't let that get out of hand either I know, it was hard for me cause I got too tight, but the weight finally started dropping & I so did not want to stop it. My band was too tight & just keep getting tighter...till I could not keep liquids down, & I pushed thru that for a day or so even before I called the Dr. Not smart on my part, I had 2 more unfills & now am finally doing it right. Small meals less that 1/2 cup & drink as much Water ( unless I am really hungry I drink a Protein shake) as I can in between, it really does help keep the hunger down. I make sure to not eat anything 3 hours, before I go to bed. That is the long & short list on how it works for me, I have only met the elephant once but that was enough!! & I too just stood up & walked around that seemed to help.

Good luck...

go slow, you'll figure it all out!

Three years....&

I have now have had 2 surgery's

countless fills

& currently have 11.75 in 11 cc band

I have lost 85 lbs so far.....40 to go!!

Finally light at the end of the fat tunnel!!!

[BonnieFM 0]

updated my ticker :D

http://www.tickerfactory.com/weight-loss/wmNiLBR/

[Rachel412 116]

so... you guys are saying I'm too tight?

[IndioGirl55 32]

Too tight - sweet spot - is diff for everyone.. But never ever be too tight it's bad for your band/stomach... I don't think you are too tight - you just aren't - you just don't know when to stop eating yet - it takes a while - hell i'm 4 yrs out and sometimes I still take 1 bite too many

#1 imho - I wouldn't be eating the wrap - I would eat the insides but not the toritlla/bread whatever it's made with. Eat pt first - If you can eat 3-4 oz of pt and be full that's good - if you are hungry in a few hrs have another oz of pt - or another healthy snack. Drink your Water between meals - alot of times what we preceive as hunger is thirst.

[IndioGirl55 32]

Too tight - sweet spot - is diff for everyone.. But never ever be too tight it's bad for your band/stomach... I don't think you are too tight - - you just don't know when to stop eating yet - it takes a while - hell i'm 4 yrs out and sometimes I still take 1 bite too many

#1 imho - I wouldn't be eating the wrap - I would eat the insides but not the toritlla/bread whatever it's made with. Eat pt first - If you can eat 3-4 oz of pt and be full that's good - if you are hungry in a few hrs have another oz of pt - or another healthy snack. Drink your Water between meals - alot of times what we preceive as hunger is thirst.

[Keia 4]

I got a fill Thursday and I'm not sure if I'm at my sweet spot or too tight either. I'm delighted that I can eat less and feel restriction (first time). But really cold Water takes a moment to go down; room temp is much better. I can finally go longer without eating. So I think I'm at my sweet spot. We'll see :-)

[Rachel412 116]

I haven't had a repeat of that overfull episode. I'm now getting a "full" feeling when I eat, but it's not the hurt-y kind, and it always sneaks up on me before I want to stop eating. So that's great! But I'm a little freaked out that I'm not supposed to be feeling any "full" feeling and it means I'm eating too much. Is it possible it just means I'm going too fast? Ugh I feel like I need to re-learn this whole thing!

[Keia 4]

I'm just excited to be feeling anything. I think you'll just have to keep "experimenting" to see what's too much/too little for you. If you are too full, I don't think anyone will have to tell you that. Your body will let you know that a change is needed.

I feel like I'm re-learning, too. But I'm glad to finally be feeling what everyone else has been talking about. This feeling is one of the features that I liked about the band. Hang in there!

[Rachel412 116]

I'm happy too, trust me! And I hope it stays this way and doesn't go back to "normal" once I hit 2 weeks post fill