@RealScoobyDoo

5 cups of sugar might be a bit much.

The one thing that scared me into having the sleeve surgery was being diagnosed with prediabetes, and I was actually 0.1 off of the diagnosis of diabetes with an A1C of 6.4. After the surgery, within 3 months I was, and continue to have normal blood sugars. I test myself fasting every 3 months.(I'm almost 2 years out from surgery). I didn't do artificial sweeteners before the surgery, and after I find that most of them give me the trots or I don't like the taste. I don't drink my calories anymore in the form of sodas or sugary coffee drinks. After your surgery you will need to see what your body can tolerate. Just keep in mind that the foods that cause us to become diabetic are those carbs like bread, Pasta, baked goodies, sugary drinks, etc. If you were a rat and ate nothing but artificial sweeteners all day long, I'm sure you would be covered in tumors and die young. But you're not. Making a choice between a packet or two a day of stevia, Truvia, Splenda, Sweet and Low, Nutrasweet or plain old sugar should not that big of a deal, IMHO.

I was in the first group to gt done at Florence Oasis Hospital with Dr. Fernando Garcia. I had heard how noisy Mi Doctor was, so I agreed to switch. Florence Hospital is quiet with a nice courtyard to walk in. The nurses were very attentive and professional.

I also brought $200. I only used $60. $20 tip for our driver, cabs back and forth from Walmart, some fruit ice from a street vendor, and a Mani/pedi. I got some souvenirs at Walmart but used my credit card.

I used Dr Fernando Garcia at Oasis Hospital in Tijuana in March 2013. IThink I paid $4300. Great experience! Pain meds scheduled so I never "suffered". Everyone was very attentive, and recovery at the Marriot was nice. Excellent care! And this summer my partner (a physician herself) went to him and is already wearing size 8 jeans. (I'm wearing 12s.)

Hey there...I had surgery w Garcia on March 29 and am down 48 pounds...206 to 158, and size 20-22 to 12-14. And I feel great! Really pretty effortless...can't do meat, except for tiny amounts of ground beef and soft chicken. Best thing I've ever done, great surgeon, great experience. For what it's worth, in the US it's often nurses who take out staples and drains, so doing that with a smile and good bedside manner is not what makes a good doctor. Sent from my iPhone using VST

What's "older"? I'm 50 and had surgery 3 1/2 months ago. I'm a stay at home mom of kids ages 1,2,5&7 and had to resume my mommy duties 6 days after surgery. It was fine, but getting in my liquids was a challenge. I had my 7 year old lift the baby for diaper changes and gettig into the crib. Sent from my iPhone using VST

I have chocolate every once in a while, but it's good quality stuff and a piece only about 1cm. I don't deny myself anything...just got off a cruise and tried small bites of anything I wanted. SMALL bites! And I lost 2 pounds in the cruise. Sent from my iPhone using VST

I was on Protein shakes and Atkins type food for 3 weeks before surgery and lost 15 pounds, gained all that while in the hospital and it took over 2 weeks to lose all the Water weight. I'm now 7 weeks out and have gone from 206 (preop) to 172. Sent from my iPhone using VST

I also get hungry...in the clear liquid stage I ate tons of fruit juice pops. They saved me! And when I moved to full liquids it was the fudge pops that saved me! Sent from my iPhone using VST

A lot of us use straws with no problem. Right after surgery I found it easier to take small sips with a straw. I just don't take a big suck down. As far as what I wished I had known, there's nothing, really. Except I'm 6 weeks out and still am limited to 1/4 cup of any solid. So I still rely on Protein shakes for most of my diet, with occasional yogurt and cottage cheese. Sent from my iPhone using VST

I got passports for two of my kids and my partner for the cruise we just went on. We applied the first week in March and the passports came in 2 weeks two days. And we did not order them expedited, which usually takes 2 weeks, not a couple of days. One gal leaving with our group April 2 did not have a passport and it did not hold us up getting across the border. Sent from my iPhone using VST

I didn't think I would be the one to post about a stall,, but I stayed the same from 3 weeks post op to 5 1/2 weeks. We just got back from a one week cruise and voila, I dropped 3 pounds in the cruise. The only thing I can think of was that I made an effort to grt in all my Water since it was hot. How can you NOT lose weight on 800cal/day? It's gotta come off... Sent from my iPhone using VST

I would keep in mind that the care you are getting preop is most likely the care you'll be getting postop. And after surgery you could feel like crap physically and emotionally. On the other hand, you want a skilled surgeon even if the peons in the office stink. Sent from my iPhone using VST

I'm an ARNP and my partner is a family physician, and I chose to go to Dr. Garcia March 29. You will have the best of care....post op meds are scheduled and given on time, call light is answered right away...I recommend Dr.Garcia's team without reservations. Deborah Sent from my iPhone using VST

I started juicing as soon as I came home from surgery, but I used a fine mesh strainer because I couldn't tolerated the little pieces of veggies. (I think the kale was the culprit.) I drank the juice instead of Water the first few days when I was still just taking sips. I figured I was taking in only about 100 kcal/day in juice and I think it helped me feel better sooner. Sent from my iPhone using VST

When I lingered too long at Walmart it got dark so i took a cab home. Same precautions as any city, but I always felt safe. Sent from my iPhone using VST

My BMi was 32 at surgery day and I got 3 Lovenox shots while I was in the hospital. Sent from my iPhone using VST

I flew in to San Diego...flight was 1/2 hour early and got in at 10:15. Driver was stuck at the border and didn't get there until noon, then we drove around a little looking at the boat and picked another up at 12:45. We went straight to Oasis, took about 30 minutes, I think. We did paperwork, went to our rooms, got lab work and an IV I think within an hour. Then chest X-ray. They took he other gal before me, so I was last I the day and went to surgery around 5:30pm and was done at 6:10. Really glad I did same day even though I was very hungry and thirsty. I had never left my two youngest-1&2. Good luck to you! Sent from my iPhone using VST

The Mirena IUD does not contain estrogen, the hormone that can increase the chance of someone getting blood clots. We do not normally recommend women having their Mirena removed before surgery, and if someone is on a combined birth control pill, patch, or ring, they could switch to a progesterone-only method for 4-6 weeks after surgery if needed. Take all the other precautions that you would when flying, but the info to remove the Mirena is most likely incorrect. Deborah (CNM) Sent from my iPhone using VST

I thought my gall bladder was worse than the sleeve, but the gall bladder was outpatient. After my sleeve I was on scheduled IV pain meds for the first 2days. Sent from my iPhone using VST

I'm 50 and April 16 was going to be my official "im menopausal" day. (A year without periods). And damn, if I didn't get it a week before my surgery March 20. Thus the countdown begins again. Sigh. Dropping excess weight can mess with your cycles. It's not anything to worry about unless you've been a year without a cycle and then have bleeding. Sent from my iPhone using VST

Now that I'm done, I wish that I had had the single incision surgery. My uppermost incision separated and is now basically a hole that I'm waiting to fill in. It's a little smaller than a dime and goes down 1/4" to the internal sutures. You can see the neat little stitches. When it's healed I'm going to have a horrible scar right in the middle, about 2" below my sternum. But I just didn't have the extra $1000. Decided to buy chickens instead. At least you can eat them! Sent from my iPhone using VST

I'm 2 weeks post op and am getting about 50-75 carbs a day. I use the LoseIt! App to track. I was getting much less and felt like crap so I increased them. Almost all my carbs are still from the milk I mix with my shakes. Sent from my iPhone using VST

I was on clears for a week, and full liquids for 2 weeks before going to puréed. Sent from my iPhone using VST