Question:
Burp-city before about 2 PM, hungry after

I am 6 mos post LapBand, doing well on the weight loss - BMI under 30 for first time in decades. Had an adjustment 2 wks ago. Before adjustment, was able to eat solid food for breakfast and lunch, now can tolerate only a cup of coffee or tea and SF instant breakfast, and it takes about 45 mins to get both down. (I drink them in that order so the CIB stays with me longer, because the hot liquid is supposed to help me with eating food, and because I need that caffeine!). Then soup or cottage cheese for lunch, but burping throughout breakfast and lunch. (Before this last adjustment I was able to eat a Lean Cuisine or some leftovers for lunch.) Then, starting about 2:00, I get stomach-growling hungry. Surgeon says no snacking, but if I can't make it until dinner (we eat late, around 8:00), I should have a protein bar, which I do, still burping, but I can get all of it down. But, I am still getting hungry an hour or two after that "mid-afternoon meal". I take tiny bites and chew chew chew. Sometimes after a small dinner of solid food I am in distress, still lots of burping. My husband was alarmed at how the burping sounds - sudden noisy intake of air - and says that I need to work out a hand signal if I REALLY need help, because the first couple of times he wanted to call 911 and I had to stop him. (I must admit that if I heard it from a stranger, I would be worried too.) If I stop eating when I feel full, I am hungry again fairly soon afterwards. Doc wants me to eat good quality protein, problem is I can only manage a few bites, then get hungry again, but can't handle the solids early in the day. I am able to eat and keep things down, mostly. Don't want to be a whiner, and not entirely sure that the band is too tight. I have read posts from others and talked to people in my support group that this is normal. (But missed the last meeting, so couldn't ask them about this specifically.) Do any bandsters eat a regular breakfast (e.g., eggs or cereal)? I've never been a breakfast-skipper. Is chronic burping now my new "normal?" Any words of wisdom or encouragement welcome.    — mum (posted on November 13, 2008)

November 13, 2008
Hey Alice, I am in my third year with the LapBand and can completely relate. When I began complaining about burping or feeling the need and not being able to, my surgeon told me that burping, hiccoughing and sneezing are all normal post op. However, hunger is not normal. It sounds like you might need to get just a little teeny bit of an unfill. Nothing crazy, just a little. It is very challenging to find the "sweet spot", but when you are hungry in between meals, something is not right. You are not supposed to eat until you are full, you are supposed to eat until you are satisfied. Eating until full can cause problems. Sounds like a good doc wanting you to eat high quality, dense proteins to keep you satisfied and healthy. If you can only get down a couple of bites and then are hungry an hour later, most likely too tight. The burping will most likely ease off as well. You are not a whiner at all, being curious about your new pouch and health is wonderful. When I'm a little too tight, I also create what my surgeon calls a "vapor lock"- I can only eat a couple of bites of food, air gets trapped and I have to get up and walk around or move until I can burp and then move on. It's not that I am swallowing air as I know I am not. When my band is snug, I can't really eat breakfast, I will either have a protein shake or skip it or wait a couple of hours after I have been up and had some hot coffee or something. If I do eat breakfast, it is usually scrambled eggs or cottage cheese. Then by lunch I can eat some kind of chicken or ham salad and some cooked veggies. By dinner (we eat late too) I can eat whatever I am making for the fam, just small amounts. Having been at this for a while, I would much rather be a little loose and be able to eat high quality meats and veggies and be satisfied all day. If you do this and exercise, all should be right. Remember though, when the band is a little loose, you need to really focus on making good choices and working through and not avoiding your emotional issues that drove you to food in the first place. This is something that is a challenge, but is critical to long term success. When a stressful situation or a trigger occurs that would have you run to food like you would have in the past, don't medicate it with food. Allow yourself to feel the emotion- sadness, boredom, worry, anger, fear- it's not fun, but it's necessary. Really hone in on what is going on and why you are feeling the way you are. Work through it, journal, call a friend, go for a little walk, scream into a pillow or whatever you have to do... don't avoid it and work through it without turning to food. Life is hard, we are always going to have stressful days, learning how to exchange habits and making the choice to make it through to the other side healthier and happier is what it is all about. Congrats and the very best of luck to you. Post anytime and lean on us, Dawn Vickers
   — DawnVic

November 13, 2008
6 YRS POST OP OVER HERE AND BURPING CONSTANTLY. ITS NORMAL.
   — deb44m