New..Need a little help

[dani1397 0]

Hi everyone,

I just had my band put in on Nov.21st 06. I am 3 weeks out and always hungry!!! I followed the liquid diet for about a week. As of now I am really struggling here. I am getting very depressed because i am feeling just the same as i was pre-op. I can eat anything that i want. ANYTHING!!! Any advice on when i will start to feel the effects of the band?? Did anyone of you go through the same thing after surgery?? Please let me know. Thanks

[shutuplena 0]

Oh My God, I've been going through the same thing. I was banded on 11/14. The first week I wasn't hungry at all but after that - starving. But you can't eat solid foods. The only thing that kept me going was the fear that my band would shift or dislodge. I was attempting to eat some soft solids like chicken or turkey but the dr. said no way. Anyway, now I'm 4 wks post op and the hunger is not as bad. My therapist says that starving feeling is most probably "in my head" and not my stomach. The more I thought about it, I agreed. We are so used to eating all the time that we think we're hungry when we're not. We're going through withdrawals like any other addict. I go for my first fill on 12/29 so we'll see how that works. I've read that sometimes it takes 2 or 3 fills before you're really not hungry anymore. I do know what you're going through. Hang in there!

Lana

[lmpersons 0]

I haven't had my surgery yet; but from everything that I read so far, you can cause damage to your band by eating solids already. The liquid diet is to allow your surgery site to heal, and the band to fix itself in place properly. If you force food through, you can cause it to slip down. This will lead to another painful surgery. My advice is to call you dr. right away, and get back on the liquids.< /p>

take care, my turn is coming soon (I hope) :clap2:

[flabuless 18]

Hi dani1397

What you are going through is completely normal...I felt like I was starving 3 weeks post op...but you need to know it is VERY important that you try to stick to the rules post op...if you don't it can lead to slippage and other complications...now is the time for you to heal...keep with the program..you may not notice a big difference yet you may not even notice until your 3 or 4th fill...I am on my 4th fill and I am still hungry...I haven't reached my 'sweet spot' yet...but while you wait for it to 'kick in' try to make the best choices you can relating to food, exercise etc etc...I am sure you have realised by now that lapband is not a 'easy' road but with commitment it is a very worth while road to take...best wishes and keep us posted...there is heaps of support to be found here and we are always here...Feel free to pm/email me at any time if you want advice or encouragement or just someone to vent too...My door is always open to ANYBODY!

:eek: Becky

[juliegeraci 7]

Dani, I would move to creamy Soups. They are allowed on the liquid phase if you eat them without meat. Cream of broccoli is the best. It goes down really nice. Good luck.

[suzy 0]

Hi Dani- I'm just 10 days out and I hear ya- I'm starving! :eek:

I'm sure some of it is 'head' hunger, but I know I am hungry. The other day I was making fish sticks for my kids and I was SO hungry I started nibbling on one and ended up eating 5-6! I was so scared somthing would happen to my band eventhough I chewed the fish to dust! Fortunately nothing happened. But in that instance I had waited too long since I had eaten (which is something I did pre-band) and got crazy hungry. Things that have helped me is to make sure I get plenty of Protein first thing in the day- helps curb hunger. "Eat" frequently and vary between a cold, sweet popcicle and then later hot Soup. Campbell Select Soups are wonderful! I've had most of the varieties and they have saved me! Also keeping in mind that this is not forever, one day at a time idea. Sometimes I chew gum, suck hard candy, or just distract myself to forget about food. This message board has been a wonderful source of support. Hang in there! You can do this! Keep in mind the reasons you chose to take control of yourlife! Suzy

[amillerjones 0]

Wow! I am glad that I went on this web site today. I didn't know that eating solids could damage the band. I have been starving and eating just about everything today and it's only been nine days since my band was put in! I need to get back on liquids, but it gets soooo old! Protein Shakes and Soups only go for so long!

[kwhenrykerr 0]

Eat small, eat often. Try not to let your old idea of what it takes to fill up the gut to control you. I have had the most luck with Atkins style diet on the mini side. I quickly feel full, but my eyes keep looking and my mouth wants more. I called it my dragon and it is slowly getting under control.

I think a lot of us want the band to do all the work. I have heard the experts talk about the changes we need to make in our ways. I keep reminding myself that the band is a tool to help me and I need to learn to use it.

We will keep learning and not give up, the tools work and we will learn to use them. Some of us are not easy learners. We have worked a lifetime to reach this level and now we are moving to another level. I keep reading the post and understand that each of us is challanged. We can do this.

[ddee 0]

Cream of asparagus Soup is good too. vanilla cream Cappuccino, diet citrus-flavored green tea and a floating cracker in broth are all delicacies! Psyche! I'm really trying here. One week open-banded post op and really trying to tame the dragon. Believe me, no one wants to go through what I did with band slippage and re-banding like I have. Life is too short not to enjoy to the fullest of our potential. Let's all stick together.

[laurigee 545]

I Had Surgery On9/05/06 And Had The Exact Experience That You Are Having. As A Matter Of Fact I Still Do. Once You Start Getting Your Fills You Will Notice A Difference In The Amount You Can Eat. My Doctor Told Me That It Was Ok To Go To Cream Soups As Soon As I Was Able To Tolerate It. But He Did Stress The Importance Of Eating Slowly And Not Overeating. At That Time The Cream Soups Seemed Like A Gourmet Meal. I Still Have To Remind Myself All The Time That Being Hungry Won't Kill Me. It Just Feels That Way. Changing Our Relationship With food Is Soo Hard. Health Is Worth It In The Long Run. Good Luck To You.

[vannav12 0]

Hi all. I am new to this site, but so far from what I have read, it seems totally worthwhile! I am having my surgery Jan 16th, 2007. I'm trying to read all the info I can from people who have actually been through this. I can tell you all that I am scared to death. Oddly enough, I am not scared of the operation, but of being hungry for the first 6 weeks+ !!!! Obviously, I am not good at hunger or I wouldn't be where I am today...

I feel like I have so many habits that need to be changed, I'm not even sure where to start. It seems like I am getting ready to go mountain climbing in sandals! OK. Enough of the "whoa is me". Thank you all for posting so far, b/c reading them has helped me set a realistic view of post-op. Good luck to you all !!!!

Vanna

[ddee 0]

Vanna, my biggest advice for post op hunger is to prepare! By that, I mean, stock up on foods you will be allowed to eat so that your hunger can be appeased immediately. Don't rely on someone to run to the store at the last minute, that's when you panic. chicken bouillon, Cup A Soup, sugar-free Jello, Diet Citrus-flavored Green Tea, Crystal Lite (peach flavored is really good), Frozen juice Bars... Be creative with these. Put an orange slice on the rim of your tea glass, great taste!

One week of those things wasn't really bad. Now I'm in the creamed soup stage, and WOW, Soup was never so good! Best of Luck! I've lost 12 pounds so far and continue to meet my 30 minutes (total) a day of walking on the treadmill.

[kjojojr 0]

Cream Soups filled me up good and Tomato Soup too. Jello cups and pudding cups for the sweet tooth. Hang in there its all gonna be worth it at the end.