Hi I have some questions for people who have already been sleeved by Dr garcia and worked with alma at ready for change....you can shed some light......? So far it's been a great experience!

1.Do you get some kind of aftercare package or info or a packet from them? And at what point does this take place???

2. How do you know how many days to do the preop diet for? Does Alma call you at some point to tell you? I emailed her all this and waiting to here back -which she has been great but thought I would put it out there on here....

3. When did you hand the money order over and who to?

Just curious......surgery on April 2, and since its already March 10th --it's right around the corner!!!

Thanks!

I am going with dr garcia. My surgery will b on april 26th. As for me Alma had sent me an email with all the information. The forms and step by step information.

My surgery is this Friday with Dr. Garcia. I never received the packet of info from Alma the first time, but I emailed her and asked her to send it again and she was more than happy to. The diet depends on your BMI. The higher your BMI, the longer you do it. I'm doing mine for 10 days. I don't know the answers to your other questions yet, but I will be posting and blogging my experience after surgery and I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you have once I'm through.... If someone else doesn't answer them first, that is.

you'll get the packet upon discharge. pre op diet is sent via email. We turned the money over after being admitted to the hospital.

Confidence where are you having your surgery at?

I had surgery 3/8 the day you leave the hospital to go to the hotel your drain is removed by dr Luna (who is awesome) And you are giving post op info, meds, other things you will need to care for stiches. Dr. Luna will explain everything in detail to you.

O sorry pre op you said. Really it depends on bmi just ask mine was 33 so I did one week some people have to do 2 or more. Once you confirm you date tell her ur ready to make the deposit And she will give you all the info.

I will add I booked 2 weeks prior to going paid deposit 8 days before

They give you a package with all of your post op diet instructions, they also give you a report stating what they did, what you labs were...leak test results Etc... Everything except the diet instructions are in Spanish.... They also give you a little stuffed animal stomach. (Thought this was a bit weird but whatever, it's still a nice gesture.)

Thank you everyone! I received the email from Alma on preop- looks like I'm having to do it 10 days prior per bmi... Anyone do it for 14? What is your average loss for preop!??Wanted to get a jump start and start changing some habits earlier. Surgery 4/2 so not so far away...

I did the pre-op diet for 2 weeks. I lost 16 lbs prior to surgery. I was told that I did well because Dr Garcia did not have to do a 5th incision higher up on the stomach during the procedure. You get out of it what you put into it. I drank a ton of crystal light during the last 3 "fluid only days." I asked the Dr and they said it was also ok to do Gatorade during that last 3 days which definitely helped with the hunger pains. I thought I would be starved the day of the surgery but surprisingly I wasn't hungry at all. In fact, I was sleeved 6 days ago and I haven't been hungry for a second of it.

 

As far as the aftercare packet. They give it to you as you are being discharged from the hospital. It contained some wound care items, all of the contact info for all of the doctors in the practice and some gatorade and water. Dr Velazco will give you the diet on the first day so you have time to read it and ask her questions. She is so nice.

 

As for your payment question... I chose to pay with a credit card. There is a small additional processing fee for this, but I felt more safe doing this than carrying a cashiers check over the border... plus... I get points on the card.

I did the pre-op diet for 2 weeks. I lost 16 lbs prior to surgery. I was told that I did well because Dr Garcia did not have to do a 5th incision higher up on the stomach during the procedure. You get out of it what you put into it. I drank a ton of crystal light during the last 3 "fluid only days." I asked the Dr and they said it was also ok to do Gatorade during that last 3 days which definitely helped with the hunger pains. I thought I would be starved the day of the surgery but surprisingly I wasn't hungry at all. In fact' date=' I was sleeved 6 days ago and I haven't been hungry for a second of it.

As far as the aftercare packet. They give it to you as you are being discharged from the hospital. It contained some wound care items, all of the contact info for all of the doctors in the practice and some gatorade and water. Dr Velazco will give you the diet on the first day so you have time to read it and ask her questions. She is so nice.

As for your payment question... I chose to pay with a credit card. There is a small additional processing fee for this, but I felt more safe doing this than carrying a cashiers check over the border... plus... I get points on the card. [/quote']

Jay sounds like they communicated with you well. Alma told me I didn't have to do the 3 day clear liquids. Then I ate dinner the night before surgery because the packet said I could. When I finally got a call from Rosie she said not to eat :/ thankfully another vst member was in the Marriott and had a bottle of magnesium citrate to clear me out. I ended up having the 5th incision and I haven't received my post op diet package yet from dr velazco and I agree she is awesome and super nice

The thing I'll never understand about this process is the unlimited number of pre-op diet variations... Some doctors do 2 weeks, some do 3 days (I know this can be based on BMI). But some also put you on a two week pre-op diet then they give you one last pig-out dinner right before surgery. I'm sure every doctor goes with their diet because that's what has worked for them in the past, but it's strange how there can be such a vast difference in practices.

I will have my surgery at mi doctor in Tijuanna

Thank you Jay for all the info ! It will really help alot! I'm going to do preop 2 weeks before I've decided! Need a head start as summer is right around the corner!!!!

Thanks again!!!