banded january 30 2008

[futurbander2007 24]

So I was banded on Jan. 30th and I did really good for the first 2 weeks. Now that I have introduced food back into my diet it seems to be going downhill for me. At first food really scared me but now I try to eat almost everything. I feel really hungry now and have even tried to go back to liquids, but not happening, I get extremely hungry. I don't go for my first fill until March 13th. So what I am hoping for is some encouraging words to get me back on track. Please tell me this happens to everyone and I can do this. Thanks to everyone for reading this and especially all that help me.

[WestCoastFatGuy 3]

So I was banded on Jan. 30th and I did really good for the first 2 weeks. Now that I have introduced food back into my diet it seems to be going downhill for me. At first food really scared me but now I try to eat almost everything. I feel really hungry now and have even tried to go back to liquids, but not happening, I get extremely hungry. I don't go for my first fill until March 13th. So what I am hoping for is some encouraging words to get me back on track. Please tell me this happens to everyone and I can do this. Thanks to everyone for reading this and especially all that help me.

I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to paste part of a response that I posted in another thread... as it sums up my view of what we all need to be aware of in the first few weeks with the band.

The lapband is an incredibly wonderful tool. You'll read that over and over and over again in these forums. Just like any tool... unless you use it properly, it won't work. An important note with the lapband is that it may well be many weeks (or even months) from the time you have your surgery until the lapband becomes a fully-functioning tool. Again, those with lots of band experience say that finding their "sweet spot" of good restriction without negative effects can take many fills and/or adjustments (unfills). In fact, depending on your surgeon, your band may not have any fill whatsoever until several weeks after your surgery (allowing time for everything to heal).

After the initial 2 or 3 weeks with the band, you may find that you have little or even no restriction. This can be very frustrating and many many people gain back weight that they lost during the pre-surgery diets. Some people who go into the surgery with unrealistic expectations even fall completely off the wagon and never recover. Others go on binges, but eventually get 'hold of themselves' again and go on to get fills and, ultimately, become successful.

Those who go into the surgery with realistic expectations know that during the time of little or no fills that they may experience what has come to be known as "bandster hell". That is, they don't have a fully-functioning tool and are, essentially, doing nothing more than dieting... as they have dozens of times before in their lives. They may hit plateaus and the scale may not move at all. They may be hungry much or all of the day, even right after eating a meal. The difference for these people, however, is that they know and believe in their hearts and minds that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. If they can only get past the tough times... that they will be rewarded with much better times ahead. They look at the success stories of those who have come before them and rely on their support and comfort to get them through the rough times. They know and realize that the band will not keep them from gaining weight or stop them from eating too much. The band cannot stop them from yo-yo'ing. The band cannot make them eat the right things. The band can and will, however, eventually (sooner for some.. later for others)... help provide restriction so that they feel full faster.. and stay full longer. It won't stop the 'head hunger' and cravings. It won't heal their inner child or help them get revenge on a cruel world that hates the obese.

Thousands and thousands of people have been successful with the lapband. You'll find dozens and dozens who regularly post here on these boards. The things that you'll find in common with all of them here is that they 'used and continue to use their tool', but don't rely on it to do the hard work. They all worked through the difficult times when it felt like their bands weren't even there at all. They know that their fight with obesity may never truly be over. They know that maintaining weight loss is often as hard or harder than it was to lose the weight in the first place. And finally, they don't sugarcoat their experiences with the band. They are honest and upfront about the hard work that it took to be successful.

Futurbander...You're going to make it through this. Make you your #1 priority. Make good food choices because YOU DESERVE IT and You are WORTH IT! You ARE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL!