Allieg8tor

My surgery was Oct. 2nd. I've been doing pretty awesomely, I think. I've healed really well and I kind of made things easier on myself for the post-op diet by introducing one item at at time that was on the list, so that I always felt like I was getting more variety. I stayed with the same three items until I couldn't take it, added one, and that's really gotten me through the worst of it. For me, it's all about a "reward" system, so I just kinda set it up so that I always feel like there's a little surprise to look forward to! Homemade sugar free Hot chocolate was my favorite so far!

Don't feel bad for asking questions, that's what this forum is for, you know? That's why I love it!! I hope I can be as helpful as people have been to me on this site, as I learn more!

A gold card is a discount card that they sell there, they're good for a year, mine was only $5 because I bought a bunch of stuff with it and they had some kind of special, but usually, they're $15, it is definitely worth it though, trust me. A friend of mine used mine to buy some Protein powder and just that one purchase alone saved him ten dollars, it was originally $40, and he paid around $30.

I have a gold card, so in Texas, a case of 12 was $23 and some change, but I could've gotten another case for $11 something with their buy one, get one half sale.

Aaaannndd, the verdict is: THESE SHAKES ARE AMAZING! Literally the best flavor. I wish it would last forever. I bought a case of 12 to start. Yay!! <3 Has anyone tried them heated?

I've found it now!! It is in the middle of my tummy! XD mystery solved, you can all return to your regularly scheduled programming. It doesn't hurt really, but I just found it applying light pressure around the incisions. Someone suggested it was their largest incision, and it was mine too. XP

-likes this a gazillion times- I must buy them ALL!!

Well, I'm only 11 days out, but I've lost 12 pounds according to my scale since my surgery date, but it may be off a pound or two, since that's two different scales and two different outfits. I don't think the numbers much matter as long as it's a loss, you know? I'm happy.

WHAT? I might have to order online!! xD My local GNC only has it in powder form, but I'll still go check tomorrow! <3

Don't have second thoughts, guys. The surgery isn't as bad as you might think. I'm not gonna lie, it is a little nerve wracking and waking up is weird, sometimes you're in a little pain, but, for the most part, you feel pretty good. Trust me on this, I was banded on 10/2, and it is totally worth it! All you have to do is show up and go to sleep! I purposely stayed up all night so I didn't fret too much about the IV and all that, and it worked! I was relaxed from being sleepy and I was ready to get to sleep when the anesthetic kicked in. Staying relaxed makes it significantly less painful, because your body is more relaxed too. Just breathe, it'll be over before you know it. The worst part for me were the few days/hours before surgery. I cried a few times, but right after waking up, I was so proud of myself for doing it!!

Call me crazy, but my scars are kinda cool to me. They look like a "cut here" line, like on a little kid's craft, and I think that's pretty awesome! They're also kinda like reminders of what I did for myself. I may be worried about extra, loose skin and all that, but I hope the incision marks stay, because I think they're unique and their cause is for a purpose I wouldn't mind being reminded of every once in a while.

Yay! I've been eyeing the pumpkin spice flavor for a while. I usually just buy the RTD flavors, but that pumpkin spice one has me curious. I guess I'll take a leap of faith and trust you guys on it! I will pick up some and try it!! can't wait! I love fall flavors! <3 it'll be like getting a pumpkin spice latte without the guilt!

So, I'll admit, I've found the post-op diet still a bit difficult, but I've just spaced it out by taking my list of ten or so items and introducing a new one to mix it up a bit whenever I feel limited, well, yesterday I introduced sugar free cocoa! Ms. Betty, my dietician, said I could have sugar free cocoa if I used the 25 cal. Sugar free kind, but I decided to make my own 25 cal. Sugar free kind!' <3 I use Promised Land, organic, fat free milk (which tastes more like real milk than it does water! A really welcome surprise! It's also still creamy!) Hershey's cocoa, the baking kind. Unsweetened and all that good stuff. (1tbsp is 9 cal., but you don't need that much for one cup) 2-3 tsp of Xylitol (it's about 10 cal. A tsp, but it tastes like real sugar, doesn't have one of those bitter aftertastes of most alternatives, and is (mostly) not harmful, apart from causing a bit of bathroom trouble if you eat too much! It's my go-to artificial sweetener!) It legit tastes like actual, regular hot chocolate, you guys. It has become my favorite part of the full liquids diet. <3 You guys should try it!

I'm ten days post surgery today, yay! The only thing really worrying me is that sometimes I get strong hiccups. I had LAP-Band/Plication surgery, so I guess I'm probably only paranoid, but can strong hiccups cause a slip? My hiccups are pretty powerful and the hurt quite a bit when it happens, feels like my organs all take a leap for a minute! Is this okay? Did this happen to others post-surgery. I've read how some people can use it as a sign of having eaten plenty, but this is unrelated to my food intake, it just kinda happens. Thank you all for your help, I really appreciate this forum and everyone willing to post what knowledge they have!

That would be bad, lol! I think I have a port, but I know I'm losing weight, so as long as it's working I don't care! I'm down 8lbs since surgery, ten days ago!!

Thanks for all the replies! I guess it just seemed weird to me since everyone has been talking about how they know where their port site is, and I'm just over here like, "Well, I have four incisions, so I'm gonna guess it's somewhere around one of those!"

Okay, awesome. Did it hurt when she found it any? Was it uncomfortable?

I'm nine days out of surgery and so many people talk about port pain, but I don't even feel my port. Is that really that abnormal? I'm all worried that the fill shots are gonna hurt now..

Nerves got to me too, but don't worry, as long as you're doing your diet right, you should be fine! I lost 13lbs on my 2 week pre-op diet!

Hi! Welcome!! This forum is very, very helpful! Ask anything you need to and you'll definitely get an answer, but don't forget to ask your doctor too! <3

Don't freak out too bad. Weight fluctuates naturally. Also, are you weighing yourself in the same clothes every day? Clothes weigh something too! Generally speaking, you're heavier later in the day and lighter earlier in the day, weight naturally fluctuates, so don't panic too much.

I do, and I called her, then I called the nurse. The nurse said that she'd remind Ms. Betty to call me, but she didn't get around to it, I guess. I'm feeling much better now and I'm drinking more often, so I'm not going to worry about it until the 15th, my post-op appointment. It was scary there for a few days, but I'm all good now!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, LAP-BANDERS! =D This is one of my favorite holidays! Do you guys love it too? <3 This picture is kind of an art throwback! I did this one is high school, quite a few years ago!

Name, real or screen~ Allie Goal weight for October 31st~ 285 Weight on October 1st~ 297 Age~ 23 City/State~ Texarkana, TX Dietary goal for October~ Follow the Post-OP diet faithfully, because I definitely don't want to hurt myself! Exercise goal for October~ Walk, heal, swim again by the end of it! (Indoor, Olympic pool at my school) Personal goal for October~ Heal, heal, heal! Date banded~ October 2, 2013 Total weight loss since banding/pre op diet~ 41lbs since July 2nd, when I started dieting to prepare for LAP-Band. Favorite Halloween Activity~ EVERYTHING! But if I had to pick on, DRESS UP! <3 Costumes are so fun!! <3