Lap-Band Support

I am post op 2.5 weeks from Lap-Band.  I am having such hunger - yes, EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL...and I need to reach out to someone who has been there or going through the same thing.  I lost 18 pounds initially, but gained 5 back last week.  I feel like I am making tremendous sacrifices and am so mourning food and have terrible mood swings.

I have not had my first fill yet..............does it get better after that!!??

Hi Beth, & welcome.  So glad you found us!!  I, too, am a bandster.

Yes, it does get better!!  The mood swings are your hormones trying to figure out where they belong now that they're not attached to those 18 lbs you lost.  Some pertinent questions to ask you...

Are you getting in your protein shakes?
Are you drinking at least 64 oz of water per day?
Are you exercising at all?
Are you following the 30-30-30 rule? (no liquids 30 minutes before, during or after each meal)

Because you don't have any restriction yet, if you drink fluids as you eat, all you are doing is flushing the food you eat out of your pouch & down into your main stomach.

Keep posting here & asking questions.  I will help as much as I can.  As always, the firm rule is when in doubt, call your wl team...that's what they get paid the big bucks for...lol.

Hi Beth,

I SO feel for you and know what you are going through.  I am 2.5 weeks out too and I cried so much too.  I feel like I am getting less and less emotional as each day passes.  It is good to talk about your feelings and just get them out.  This is a major life change and it will take time. 
I can see how frustrated you must be about gaining five pounds back.  I just figure you body is adjusting and you will see the weight drop eventually.  I am trying to stay away from the scale as much as I can but it is hard. 

Hang in there!

Christine

Don't worry - it does get better!

Try to substituting low cal things like the sugar free popsicles to help you with hunger.  One thing I did on soft foods is mix a scoop of protein powder with a sugar free pudding. 

Right now, you are most concerned with healing, so just stick with it!

PM me if you ever want to chat...I'm 7 months out, so still losing.  I've lost about 40% of my excess weight as of today.  I hope to be at 70% lost by my 1 year anniversary. 

Thanks guys!!!  Those encouraging words are so helpful!!  To answer some of the questions........yes, I am getting my 64 oz plus of water/crystal light in.......yes, I am exercising - almost 2 miles a day!!!  And I am having my protein shakes....although I am so tired of mixing it with milk...so I just bought one today which you mix with water - for iced tea (not so great by the way).

I think I have just about shed those 5 pounds I gained back...............BUT.........there is NO doubt I am eating more than I should be....the amounts recommended on my diet sheet.......1oz protein, 1/4 veggies...1tbls of this or that...................

I am sticking to the healthy stuff NO DOUBT...I have not faltered one time with that.  I even made it through Easter candy and three kids with not even a lick!!!  BUT.......for example..........last night I had 2 grilled turkey patties......NO BREAD........just wrapped them in lettuce and tomato, and then had a tossed salad.  I am finally to my soft food/regular diet...and I was craving salad and it seemed to work well for me.  I am sure my salad should have been smaller...and my guess is I should have eaten HALF a turkey pattie???  I am actually STILL hungry after eating that...but I CAN convince myself that I am satisfied enough.  Another example....breakfast is 2 eggs and slice of rye toast.  When breakfast should be 1/2 of egg and one slice of rye toast.  After my stomach healed I could tell a big difference in how things went down quicker...I am just noping that I am one of those people who need a few adjustments to get where I need to be.  I am looking forward to the first fill so I can actually eat very small amounts of food and feel full.  I am really doing the best I can..............if I had MORE will power and could control my hunger, I would not have had to seek the surgery.

The 1.75 miles of walking daily is what has calmed my mind about eating a little more.  I feel I have sacrificed so much while everyone else around me is enjoying.....I miss my diet pepsi's so bad.  I just hope I am not hurting or ruining anything with having larger portions prior to my first fill.  This journey has made me feel as if I am a food addict.......although I was never one of those people that had 12 hotdogs, 3 bowls of icecream, a dozen eggs for breakfast...etc etc...like you see on the Learning Channel.  I always ate WHEN I wanted to.....and gave into most of my desires....unless it was sugars...I tried to cut back...since I am diabetic.

this is such a change for me.  I hope I make it.  I keep thinking I will be the one that the band does not work for....as if I had to deal with this hunger daily from now on, I will not make it.  I am just looking forward to easier times after the fill.  Am I crazY??!

Beth, it does get better!  I just wanted to let you know how I have worked my band.  I came out of surgery with the mind set that nothing would be differant and it usually is not, it will take a few fills to get restriction so I planned that I just needed to be on a diet just like I always have and then by the time I have restriction I will have already lost weight. Hang in there and follow the band rules and you will be fine.  Good luck