Soda & straws....:help:

How long do you have to wait before you can drink soda again and how long before you can drink through a straw. How has everyone else handled this situation? I am having trouble tolerating a lot of water and crystal light isnt always great. They make me feel like I am drinking lead. I tolerate milk better than anything else but I can't drink milk all day. Any suggestions? I dont like flavored water or the protein drinks. I think I am a picky drinker..... I was told not to drink out of a straw, I dont know for how long or why. I think I could get in more fluid if I could use a straw. What do you all think?

My surgeon has told me that I am not to drink soda at all I terribly miss my diet cokes, but it's a sacrifice I've had to make to feel this good. Have you tried juice with water? I drink a lot of Fruit 2 O's, Gatoraide Propel fitness water, and I like diet green tea. When I drink, I take 3 small sips, wait about 3-5 mins and take another drink. My doctor told me that I'll be constantly drinking. Decaf teas and coffee's can count as a fluid intake also. I'm not sure about the straw question. I imagine my Dr will say no, because you can take in too much liquid too soon. Hope that was helpful!

I was told not to use a straw because you can take in to much liquied at a time however I ahve used a straw when I have had juice boxes I am just very careful on how much I drink and as far as the soda thing goes I was told not to have anything carbinaied until at least four months. I have been haveing the same isuess with not being able to get my fluids in its hard so i know where you arecoming form my nurse tells me that he does not want me drining juice because of all the sugar in it but he rather me drink the juice then nothing becuae I am no wear near get 48oz in and I would say if you can drink the milk go for it that is going to help with your proten in I can't even do that much right know one day milk is ok and then the next day or even a sip or two later my poch wants nothing to do with it just hang in there and maybe talk to your nurse or rd Nicki

It is my understanding that carbonated beverages ( thus soda) is a No-No for a long time. I was appoved to sip through straw at 1 month, it is my understanding the straw should be avoided immed post-op. I to have a hard time finding a drink I just love. I use to GULP water all the time. Now I really have to focus to get my liquids in I do OK with shakes, but tastes have indeed changed post-op. I have found that the further post-op i am I tolerate fluid better---Hang in there. jackie

I find that now I can take much larger drinks of water than at the beginning can everyone else do this now. My doctor said no to the straw in the beginning but ok now. Kim

I was banded on Sept 4 and tried some Fresca about a week ago - OMG, I'm never doing that again! I think I'm done with Diet Coke for good. I swear, the gas pain hurt so much, it was like the first day out of the hospital when I had those air bubbles after the surgery. I found that I just drink water now, nothing else. It's okay, but not the same. Especially when I meet a friend for a drink and I want something non-calorie and diet coke used to do it for me, but now I have to get tea.

I was told that I could drink with a straw from my doctor after 6 weeks.

Soda: I was under the impression that ideally (and that's my goal) to NEVER drink carbonated beverages again. The carbonation stretches your pouch! Knowing this, I weaned myself off of them starting back in June when I started the process of getting approved. I knew if I waited till surgery, and then suddenly couldn't have them anymore, it would be much harder! I have replaced Coke with a much healthier friend - Luzianne decaf tea sweetened w/ Splenda. If I'm out, I get unsweetened tea and sweeten it with S&L. Straws: the method behind the madness of straws is that you take in extra air when drinking through a straw. However, I was having a horrible time directly post-op. Every time I would drink, even sips, it would hurt. I found if I drank through a straw, I took smaller sips and it didn't hurt. I would suc****il the liquid came up, hold my tongue over the straw and blow out the air, then drink... trying to avoid the extra air. I talked to my doctor about it and he said if that helped, go ahead and do it. I do much better now and don't always have to drink through a straw, but sometimes still do (like if I'm out on the run!) ~ Tara