Caffeine?

I'm just curious when I'd be able to drink regular, caffeinated coffee again. I had my surgery 10/29/12 and this is one question I neglected to ask today at my first post-op appointment.

Also, just wanted to share that the nurse-practitoner that works with my surgeon gave me a prescription for omeprozole for heartburn so I really hope that helps!

I'm down 27 lbs since my pre-op appointment! . NP said I looked really good and all my incisions have healed nicely.

~Helen

Caffeine slows the healing process, but I understand the addiction, and I, too, am a diet coke addict and imbibe daily....so YES, once you're well healed, caffeine is allowed.

I miss my daily diet coke and I don't like coffee.  *sniffle*

I drink crystal light and diet snapple; however, I prefer the peach tea flavor. I believe it does have minimal amounts of caffeine. So, this should be avoided?  I do like to drink plain water, but I also like to flavor it too.  

Caffeine also has diuretic properties to it, too, so you need to take that into consideration with your fluid needs.  Basically, you'll need to drink twice as much if you plan on making that your primary fluid.  Something else to try is Lipton's decaf tea bags and brew your own.  I wanted sweet tea when I was healing, and I did this and sweetened with Splenda.  I also craved green koolaid, so I did the same with that.

I am a avid coffee drinker...  (not good, I know).  I waited about 8 weeks before I re-introduced it.  After  my DS revision, it did not taste the same for the first ~4 months or so.  I can't really explain it, it just tasted bad.  I was so bummed but (stupid me) just kept on trying it until the taste was back to "normal".       I probably should have stayed away from it to break my addiction.  Today it is my favorite beverage once again.  

just a little side note on caffeinated coffee.  if/when you return to drinking the high-test stuff, coffee is a diuretic, and will dehydrate us.  i read some where that we must drink 8 oz of water for every 8 oz of caffeinated coffee.  this of course is on top of the mandatory 64 oz a day.

congrats on your wl, and for choosing the ds. yay helen!!

Actually, this is an old wives' tale. Caffeine is a very mild diuretic, and people who consume it on a regular basis lose even this effect. There are some valid reasons to avoid caffeine, but the diuretic effect isn't one of them.