lap band question.....

a friend of mine had the lap band in March.  I don't totally understand some of her "rules".  She says that she can never have carbonated drinks for the rest of her life, but when I ask her why.....she says she doesn't know.  Any lapbanders out there?  Do you drink diet soft drinks?  Sugarfree Redbull? or even an occasional beer?  Just wondering.   She seems to be having a very hard time missing diet Mt Dew.  With RNY for me I do not drink carbonation often at all, but it's because I just simply don't care for it.  I seem to drink unsweet tea as my drink of choice.   Thanks for your help, Rebecca

Rules, rules, rules!!!  I hate rules!    When I got lapband over 10 months ago, I heard some of those rules too!  I was told not to drink out of a straw (I do it sometimes), I was told not to eat corn (but I like corn) and I was also told not to drink carbonated drinks.  I have to be honest, the carbonated drinks, I actually see the point of not drinking. Here's why... The carbonation, even the diet drinks, have a lot of sodium and/or a lot of gas...carbon, go figure! Anyway, that carbon does get in or just pass the tightened stoma and causes it to expand and is painfully uncomfortable. Plus... is Diet Mtn. Dew really worth the burps and farts that can be associated with drinking a lotdiet drinks? NOT! So, as far as the rules go, I personally take some and leave some.  I drink water based, non-carbonated drinks as a rule of thumb and I feel great. Plus, it is easier to get the hydration my body so desparately needs to esp. during these hot summer months. This is just one lapbanders opinion. Nanci