Newly banded! Need advice from veterans!

 Hello everyone, I got banded on the 25th of June. I am having a little bit of a hard time with my band. I don't know what restriction is supposed to feel like. I also have a hunger issue. When I am hungry, it feels like I haven't ate any food in 15 years! Then I noticed that I am having issues with low blood sugar. I get weak and sweaty. How do I use this tool to the best of my ability and maintain good glucose levels? I am on my puréed stage. I have sugar free pudding, unsweetened applesauce, protein shakes, mashed potatoes, soft meats like ground beef, turkey and tuna, I drink water all day and crystal light. I also need help learning to chew more and it's hard for me to eat slow when my sugar gets low. I just need some guidance from experienced bandsters. I appreciate any advice and help than anyone can lend.  Thank you in Advance!

If you don't eat breakfast you should start. You've gone all night w/o eating, so have breakfast, or at least a protein shake. You could also do some oatmeal or Greek yougurt with protein added for breakfast. Try to space your meals out evenly.

Hi,
Welcome to banded life.

Some people refer to the period between their surgery and their first fill as "Bandster Hell" because of the hunger and all of the changes their bodies go through.

It helped me to have small meals or snacks every few hours.
Some docs say not to snack, but that did not work for me.

With the surgery and small
Ouch, it made sense to me to eat something small (like 150-200 calories) every 3 hours or so ... Rather than eat a meal every 5 or 6 hours.

So, I started the day with some water .... Then a yogurt or small protein shake.

I had some applesauce or pudding as a mid morning snack.

I had tuna salad or egg salad at lunch
I had a piece of string cheese as an afternoon snack or a small protein shake.

Dinner was chili or a mashed up meatball ... You can have refried beans with cheese

Then a nighttime snack of yogurt or pudding

In between, I waited for about an hour and then drank water. I knew that something to eat was never more than a few hours away. The frequent eating kept my blood sugar more level.

I made a list of things to do besides eat and I distracted myself between meals/snacks by doing things on that list.

Hang in there. You will probably get a fill soon and the band will really start to work for you.

 Thank you for the advice. I will definitely try it. I will let you know how it works out.

Kath is right on with her feedback. Definitely bandster hell. That crazy, hungry feeling where I have to eat, and I have to eat now is familiar to me. I adjusted once I got used to eating at regular intervals. It still happens now when I'm not making sure I eat reasonable amounts of food consistantly throughout the day.

I do wonder about the blood sugar. I've never had to monitor my blood sugar, but will it adjust over time? Or is there something your doctor suggests you eat to keep your sugars more level?

 I haven't had my follow-up appointment yet so, I don't know how to combat it. My glucose levels will definitely be one of my concerns when I go in for my follow-up appointment.

I never had issues with my blood sugar level before, but I have since being banded. It kind of surprised me since that is something I associate with RNY and also b/c my band has never worked. However when I got the band I did commit to eating less and eating healthier. So eating less and not having as much in my system, if I go too long w/o eathing my blood sugar level will sometimes now drop. And when it drops, it's not a huge drop. Very little acutally, but I must be a little sensative to changes after a certain point. Anyway I do try to space out meals/snacks. Always keep something with u. When you're further out this is easier. A protein bar or some nuts in your purse. Or even a RTD protein shake.

I have low blood sugar and my pcd told me to keep candy in my purse for emergenices. (mine is a couple of jolly rancher).  I agree with Maria about keeping nuts, a protein bar and (healthy snacks) for those times. If in doubt, always check/ask your doctor.

For years, I always had my questions wrote down when I went to the doctor.
So write down any questions/concerns/doubts that you have and ask the dr/nurse.
It works for me.

 I had this problem post-op.  my nutritionist suggested I eat 6 meals per day, 3 meals of 200 calories + 3 at 100 calories, each with a ratio of carbs/protein of 2/1...so for every 2 gr carb, I had to eat one gram of protein at each meal/snack.  I also supplemented protein by making SF instant pudding and adding 2 scoops of my protein shake to each batch.  Eating this way kept my blood glucose from diving.