starving, lapband hell

mic · March 26, 2007

I was banded the 16th of March. No fill for two full months allowed by my doctor. I'm starving! I'm as hungry as I was prior to being banded. I have not lost one pound, not one! :lol: I called the doctor's office for help and was told no one said it would be easy. I'm frustrated and extremely depressed. Has anyone taken diet pills to help with the hunger to stay on the diet? Protein is not cutting the mustard. I admit I've gone off the wagon and ate a regular meal. I'm back on liquids though. Will the regular meal ruin the banding, 8 days after band? I can't imagine two months with no fills and expected to eat as if I were.

Hilarious · March 26, 2007

Hang in there! Are you on the "mushy" or soft food phase yet? I was banded on 3/6 and wasn't supposed to start the soft food phase until last Friday (3/23) but my body was hungry and said it was ready. I started the soft food phase on 3/18 and am feeling much better. Six small meals a day spaced every 2-3 hours seems to keep the hunger at bay. Good luck - it will get better.

JusCallMeE · March 26, 2007

Hi, mic...I'm 'E'...

I was banded on March 16th as well. My nutritionist's instructions said "you will not be physically hungry the first week or so, beware of mental hunger." By following the post-op diet to a "T", I was able to realize that mental hunger can be a b...and now, on day 10 post-op I am barely feeling slight physical hunger.

I think it is important for YOU to stay in control...if you allow yourself to feel as if you're "starving" then you are. If you say "I can do this...how do I need to manage this feeling of hunger right now?" then you can control how you respond to it much better.

When I "thought" I was hungry the first week, I just grabbed something that was on my post-op diet list...usually Soup first, I'd finish that, grab a popsicle, finish that, drink some flavored water, finish that make a cup of coffee...but all with a very deliberate pace. I know that this is a lifelong journey from here out, so it is about retraining my body and my mind to work together. food will no longer control me the way it used to.

And now, day 10, I have been to PF Chang's, Wing Stop, Red Robin, El Pollo Loco, etc. and have not had anything that wasn't on my post-op diet list (which was only clear liquids). :clap2:

Dig deep...I'm sure you can find strength...for me, solids don't come till the day before Easter...and I just barely will begin creamy Soups later today.

E

socalgal3 · March 26, 2007

One regular meal shouldn't ruin the banding, but if you continue to eat solids before your doctor tells you to, you will be in danger of not healing properly, a slipped band, etc. This is not a time to lose weight, it is a time to heal, so don't fret over pounds right now. Explain the situation to your doctor and they may opt to fill you at 6 weeks instead of 8. Keep yourself BUSY! That is the best way to keep your mind off of food. Try creamy Soups, soft foods, etc. and hang in there!