Nervous About After Band!!!

[jschulgs 14]

Hi I'm brand new here and am currently on my pre-op diet eating basically chicken and veggies and Protein shakes...my surgery is scheduled for August 2 and my first fill isn't until August 28. I'm scared I'm going to be SUPER hungry! Has anyone had a problem with being extremely hungry without their first fill? Can someone help me figure out what I have in store for the first month. My doctor was very vague and said it should be fairly easy, but if I have no restriction I'm going to freak out!! Also, is this bloating from surgery going to make me look even bigger haha and I really don't think it's appropriate for a girl to be farting at a tanning salon!! (where I work and I plan on going back four or five days after surgery. Oh yeah week one post op liquid diet, week two mushies, and then slowly solids...Could use ANY help, advice, whateva you got!

[SageTracey 608]

Good luck for your surgery. It's unlikely that you will be "super hungry" in the three short weeks between your surgery and your first fill. You will be recovering from the surgery and will be amazed at how little you need to feel full. Then comes the second surprise - how hungry you do feel when you get back onto solids, possibly even after your first fill. It can take several fills before you start to feel restriction, so don't expect this to be a miracle quick fix.

There is an article in the Recent Magazine Articles, The Top 10 List, by Jean McMillan. Definitely worth a read, if you haven't already.

[sarawray 44]

Ha Ha, I share you concerns, I work in a little office with a couple of others, I too have been thinking about the farting thing. Its kinda hard to blame it on someone else. lol. I am confident that we will figure something out, even if it means sitting on an air freshener.

[Mama Mama 23]

I'm 6 days with my band. I literally have to make myself eat. Usually Protein Shake for Breakfast. lunch sf pudding dinner sf yogurt! I love to eat & have never been this way. Great not to be hungry! You'll do great!

[NWgirl 574]

The gas people talk about is usually internal and not the farting type, not that some do not have increase in this. I did find I had to burp a lot more for the first month after surgery, but now I am back to normal unless I drink something carbonated.

As far as food goes, I was actually satisfied for the most part during the post-op phase. The only thing I could say was that I got bored quickly because of the limited choices.

[Sarah72 21]

I had my surgery on the 25th and all I can say about the farting is if you feel the need, GO TO THE BATHROOM! It might be more then just air

I'm embarrassed to say that I may have had a surprise or two!

[jen_1381 446]

I don't remember feeling hungry until about 3 1/2 weeks post-op. Remember, when they place your band initially you will have some swelling which will feel like restriction.

There was times when I had to "white-knuckle" it and ignore my stomach growls. I learned to be more in tune with when I was actually hungry or when Water would suffice. It's amazing how confused the two can be.

[daisychains7 427]

I second what Jen said. I had no desire for food the 2 or 3 weeks after surgery. Then the hunger hit, and it hit with a vengeance! That's what happens when the swelling goes down. At that point, you are just going to have to make smart food choices and stick to the small portions. Allow yourself 3 meals (no more than 1 cup each) and 1 small Protein rich snack a day if your hunger is really bad. Definitely pack yourself a snack for work or wherever you go, cuz it drove me crazy how those first couple months i couldnt go out for more than 2 hours without DESPERATELY needing to eat! I found that drinking skim milk, Water, and hot tea in between meals help control that hunger. Hang in there!! It will be way better after you get fills.

[jschulgs 14]

Wow thanks guys! I'm on day 2 post surgery banded August 2nd. And I'm not hungry at all! I had a half a cup of chicken broth and I was FULL. I've lost 9.5 pounds after my one week pre-op diet (which I unfortunetly cheated on). So far I'm amazed. I napped for an hour after surgery and was walking the rest of the day! Just a little discomfort near the port area and a little difficulty deep breathing! Other than that this is awesome! I can't wait for the healing and "bandster hell" to be over for my first fill. Thanks for the advice!

[kayla.mcclaskey 0]

Congrats- be careful girl! My suggestion is to not actually tan until your scars get smoothe- could take a long time- but if u don't they will harden n look disgusting!

[jen_1381 446]

Jschlugs - You mentioned that you can't wait for the healing and "bandster hell" to be over for your first fill - just to forwarn you, it may take many fills for you to feel any restriction and to be through "bandster hell". I'm 11 weeks post-op with 2 fills, 4.5 cc in my band, and feel virtually no restriction. It's been all diet controlled so far. After my first fill I felt a little restriction for about 5 days then it faded away. Just keep cruising along though, you sound like you're off to a good start.

[jschulgs 14]

Jen_1381 thank you! I am in no condition to complain either way just because I'm so happy I'm finally truly doing something that will actually work. I'll put in the work to see the results. My doctor did mention that my fill can be every 2-4 however long I want to wait and they want me to feel the restriction so I don't struggle. Same thing with your docs? And still not feeling real restriction? Just curious!

[jschulgs 14]

Kayla! Thanks! I'm only spray tanning now!