How Much is Normal (Food Intake Question)

[NeenBand 7]

Hi all,

I am unfilled and 3 months out of surgery. I just ate 6 ounces of breaded seiten (fake chicken for vegetarians)

I was starving and 3 ounces did not fill me up, so I had another.

Is that normal????

I'm a bit worried about being able to take in so much food to fill me up.

[cashley 0]

I don't think that's really too much but I do enjoy having a fill so now I really know when to stop. I've learned not to get to the "hard" stop place and now just get a nice comfortable nudge.

I have a pretty agressive fill doctor but I'm surpriese that you are three months out and don't have even a small fill.

[Angie C 0]

You should be eating around 1200 calories aday. If you are eating too much, you need to have a fill. Most 1st fills are given after 5 or 6 weeks after surgery.

3-15-04

-114lbs goal

[Jachut 487]

It depends how you look at it. Normal to me is you ate a bit, were hungry so ate a bit more. That's what most normal people do.

If you havent had a fill yet you're goign to be able to eat more than other bandsters that have been filled by 3 months and more to the point, you're going to want to eat more. If you're still losing weight, I wouldnt worry too much about it. I personally think its more important to learn to listen to your body than to measure, weigh etc. You'll get to restriction soon enough and you'll know its time for a fill when the weight stops coming down.

[NeenBand 7]

Thanks all. Makes sense. I love this board.

I'm unfilled because Medicare won't pay for a fill for 90 days after surgery.

I stopped losing weight about a month ago.

[cashley 0]

Well I guess you're close now for your first fill... It'd be nice if Medicare let the doctors decide when you needed the first fill. Do they control all of them? Like to they have a recommened schedule that your doctor has to follow?

[NeenBand 7]

I believe they do. :-( Stinks doesn't it. They make it harder for the surgery to be a success.

[Alexandra 55]

Leener, I agree that your experience is normal. You need a fill.

And just a point on the Medicare: Medicare isn't saying she can't have a fill, just that they won't pay for one yet. All insurers have various rules like this. Personally I don't think this is a bad one: if they said 12 months that'd be different, but 90 days is not unreasonable. Who knows how many future complications such a conservative approach may be preventing?

Leener, our doctors have said that they find people who take on fills slowly seem to do better in the long run, and I can see why. Try not to get impatient; your days of greater restriction are coming. :hug:

[NeenBand 7]

Thanks for the encouragement Alex. :-)

I'm all for being in the "un-complications" club!