So F****ING CONFUSED! (YES IM BI**HING ABOUT THE BAND!)HELP!!

okay so not only did I endure the most horrible recovery from surgery but I lost 20lbs great!!! now ?!?! Im never full..Im always hungry!!! every one tells me this is bandster hell?? WTF!!! im so irritated I did not just go through this whole experience to lose weight be full and 1 week later be hungry all the time again!!! This makes no sense!!!!! Im peed off and I need some help advice something!!! I cant believe I have to suffer for a whole month until my first fill!!! This is just the dumbest thing I have ever heard of in my life!!! Im so happy I lost 20lbs and now im dreading this whole thing!! I cant control my hunger!! If I could I wouldnt be fat in the first place!!! PLEASE I NEED HELP ADVICE SUPPORT anything!!!!!!

I was banded the day before and I'm hungry too -- if you spend time reading through old posts you'll find the everyone has been in this position, survived, and has gone on to lose weight.  Good luck!

ShanaR, You are doing fine. Relax. Anything lost before you find your "sweet spot" is a bonus. After 1-4 fills, you will find your spot and do much better.  Hang in there. Be gentle with yourself and know that much better/easier day are in store for you. You are breaking old habits and yes, it's damn hard. Food has "been there" for all of us and we're turinng a corner. . .  Come back to this site every day so you know you are not alone. You will feel supported and renewed with hope. . . promise. HANG IN THERE. . .  Hugs, Cindy

Thank you soo much!!! this is very helpful!!
Shana

Oh no hun!  I am sorry you are feeling this way!! First off, yes, it is bandster hell!  And second, NO, you WON'T feel this way until your first fill.     The liquid stage is terrible.  And mushie stage is some better.  But once you get to eating soft foods, it will be alright.   But it is important to stick to the instructions the doc gave you.   Get to the mushies and soft foods.  It will be over soon!   I actually sat on my livingroom floor and cried with regret to my husband.    I no longer regret it.     Hang in there hun!  Jeanee

thank you so much for replying! Its very helpful when people reply! Im much better now and more understanding about whats going on! I was never told about this part of the surgery as Im finding out im not the only one who had no idea about this part, So thank you again!
Shana

Research is vital when having any elective surgery.  It's just something that has to be done. Seems like every other post is someone struggling with bandster hell.  There is a LOT of information about it  out there.  Tons.  Any board has the same issue posted time and time again. You can't have a fill early, that's not how it works.  The sutures placed during surgery are not designed to hold the band in place long term, adhesions formed by your body hold the band long term.  When people don't follow the post op diet carefully and when they get fills early and such, the adhesions do not have the opportunity to form well and slips are a HUGE risk in the future. So you'll have to take this time and work with your diet.  Just cut out the bad foods and stick with healthy alternatives within your post op diet until you can get a fill and get restriction.  With restriction it will be much easier. Losing weight is not the easiest thing any of us have ever done and banding doesn't make it a piece of cake either.  It makes it possible.  Big difference.  You can do this, just hang in there!

big difference from your earlier blunt post. But yeah If you never joined OH than most people would never know what this bandster hell is. Alot of people have Pm me and told me they never heard of this until joining this board. I guess some people get lucky with having a very informative surgeon. Oh well. I love this board! Venting is great! Yea I know losing weight isnt easy if it was I wouldnt be fat and wouldnt have gotten any kind of surgery to help me out. I didnt get fat over night im not gonna get skinny over night, Everyone assumes when someone posts a question they want a quick fix. What a wonderful stereotype. Its amazing how quick people are to assume we newbies havent done any research or dont know anything. In reality its the information that is not told to us by our surgeons and groups. But o well life is experience and we learn from the mistakes.

Shana, I am sorry that you are going through such a rough time for the  bandster hell period.  All you can do is drink liquids or mushies - whatever your doc advises, and walk as much as you can.  This is a very short period, and your 20 lbs so far is amazing!  What were your expectations of this period?  Did the doc give you any guidance on your post-surgical experience?  It sounds as though you weren't given any information - what you are going through is very normal.  I took my pain meds and slept as much as I could.  Otherwise I was walking and drinking. Hang in there - you can get through this.

I am so sorry you are feeling so frustrated right now.  I am sure anything I say you already know: like "Remember the band isn't magic" or "this is a lifetime decision" or "Being FULL never did anything good for us in the past" or even "Nothing worthwhile was ever easy" If you are hungry - eat, but choose smart.  It is gonna take time for us all to figure out how to address our hunger and face our 'head hunger.'  Do all the things for yourself that you know will support your efforts - get all your liquids, take your vitamins, exercise, etc.  Right now you just need to know lots of us out here are fighting the same battle as you, and we will be there for each other when it is hard to hold ourselves up.   Patience is an active virtue...darn it.  LOL