With the support of my husband, I have decided to undergo WLS.  Together, he and I have pretty much decided that the sleeve would be the best option for me.  I am now in the process of waiting on my insurance to give me the go-ahead, and should have more of that next week.  My cardiologist, neurologist, neurosurgeon, and PCP all believe that this would greatly benefit me health wise.  I just want to feel better.  I am 36 and on full disability due to 3 brain operations and 4 strokes, have sleep apnea, high blood pressure, high chlosterol and other things. 

My question is this.  I was reading about the post op diet.  All of the diet plans I read have said that you must drink diet drinks and use artificial sweeteners.  The neurological condition I have, I cannot have any form of artificial sweeteners.  It sends me into very bad headaches for days and makes me very sick.  Will this automatically make it so I can't have the surgery?

Please give me your thoughts.

Thank you,

Patty

 Hi patty

Do you mean the protien shakes or do you mean the diet stuff people use to flavour their water? If its the later you don't have to drink them I think people just do it to make their water easier to take in- some people use herbal teas etc instead.
If its the protien drinks you mean I'm sure there are some that don't contain artificial sweeteners - I know there are more and more people that can't tolerate them.
I realise my answer probably didn't help much :-)

Good luck.

I'm pre-op, but based on what I've read, I do not think it means you can't have surgery.  I think it will limit your options post-op, just because you won't be able to use things like Mio or whatever to flavor your water or add splenda to something to make it sweeter.  You'll just need to be extra careful with reading labels, etc.  I'm sure there are protein powders that don't contain artificial sweeteners.  Mention it to your nutritionist and/or surgeon, and they can probably help you with this.

 I don't see why you would have to use those products.  In my case, they are all entirely optional.  Ask the docs and nutritionist when you get in next.  

I as well don't care for artificial sweeteners.  It is a personal preference.  I have used regular sugar, just less of it.  Stevia, as mentioned, is also a good alternative.

I think it wou;d be OK to use actual fruit, berries or say cucumber to flavor your water. Just let it float in the water for flavor, don't eat it.

There are definitely protein powders out there that don't use artificial sweeteners. Dymatize All Natural Elite is one, it uses a mixture of fructose and stevia and gets good reviews. www.dymatize.com/products/protein/detail/86/all-natural-elit e-whey-protein-2-lb/

there are others too, you can find more by Googling something like "protein powder without artificial sweetener." The Dymatize gets you 24 g protein in 125 calories.