new here, 2 weeks after surgery

Francesca · May 20, 2004

Hi Every one,

this is my first time ever post! Delarla told me about this site... I was at the hopital the same time she was.

I am feeling hungry is this nornal?

donali · May 20, 2004

Hi Francesca!!

Welcome! Was DeLarla as funny in person as she is in writing? That girl keeps us laughing!

Yes, as the swelling from the surgery goes down it is normal to feel hungry. However, you are still healing, so even though you may be hungry, and feeling fine, please, please, please stick to your liquid/mush diet for the amount of time your doc recommends.

The restriction from going to solid food too soon is NOT because you may not be able to tolerate it, but because the stomach needs to rest until it is healed. Eating solid foods too early makes the stomach work, which can weaken the placement and cause problems much, much later on.

Think of a cut across your knee - if you keep bending your knee, the cut will keep pulling open, and take longer and longer to heal. If you immobilize the knee as much as possible, it will heal much faster and cleaner.

Hang in there!

Alexandra · May 20, 2004

Hi Francesca, welcome!!

Donali is right, it is perfectly normal to feel hungry at this stage of the game. As you heal your normal body processes will kick back in and you might even feel perfectly able to eat whatever you want. But follow your doctors' orders!! Don't challenge your healing tummy. Take it easy and slow.

Nice to meet you!

newlapper · May 20, 2004

I am also 2wks post-op. I am really trying to stay away from carbs also, but I'm not seeing any weight loss. I did lose 15lbs the 1st week though. My 1st adjustment is in 4 weeks. Will that help my weight loss any? Eating and chewing my food slowly is really going well. Kentucky Fried chicken has some great roasted strips. CHEW, CHEW, CHEW. Does anyone have any suggestions? Is this normal?

Alexandra · May 20, 2004

Originally posted by newlapper
...I'm not seeing any weight loss. I did lose 15lbs the 1st week though. My 1st adjustment is in 4 weeks. Will that help my weight loss any?...

OK, slow down. You're not seeing any weight loss THIS WEEK. You've already lost enough weight so that if you don't lose another ounce for three months you'll be smack in the middle of the average weight loss! What's your hurry???

What's going to happen in the next four weeks is that your appetite will return in force, and you will not feel any restriction. You might even, dare I say it?, gain a few pounds back. This is perfectly normal!

Yes, the whole point of adjustments is to create restriction that will limit your calorie intake and let you be satisfied with less. Once you reach that point you will indeed lose weight unless you try hard to sabotage the process. BE AWARE that this might not happen after your first fill, and that there is no way anyone can predict precisely when it will happen for you--everyone has different experiences.

But it will happen, and you're off to a FLYING start!! Stay calm, don't panic when the hungries return, and just take it easy on yourself. You're banded, and now you have the help you need to take control of your weight. Don't expect it to happen immediately. But have faith, it will happen!! :D