Soda???????????

I was told by my doc that studies have shown that over longer long term carbination breaks down the pouch.

Hi - I am almost 3 years out.  My husband is 4 years out.  He can drink pop & beer  just fine.  I cannot.  Every once in awhile I will have a diet soda.  BUT it has to be when I have no food in my stomach.  If there is food in there, it fizzes up inside & is MAJOR uncomfortable for me.  I may sip one here & there - but seldom, if ever, have I finished even 12 oz.  My husband's nurse said that he drank pop occasionally after surgery & did fine.  I just find that it is too uncomfortable most of the time, & I do fine with iced tea or Crystal Lite. I , too, keep thinking about the pop bottle & balloon..... Hugs,  Laura

I am almost a year out and have had a few pops (sodas), but usually after they sit and the carbonation is mostly gone.  I have found that it takes me most of a week to drink 1 - 20oz bottle of pop.  I also avoid the caffinated ones as they seem to have a lot more carbonation than the non-caffinated ones (except for rootbeer).  I usually have a Fresca or Diet Sprite.  I have had the same experience as someone else posted (sorry, can't remember her name), but if I drink something carbonated with food in my stomach, it is horribly uncomfortable. It has to be when my stomach is empty. One thing that has also helped me with the flavor craving is finding the pop cicles that Pop Cicle has that are made from diet pop - Diet A&W Root Beer, Diet Orange Crush and Diet Dr. Pepper...it is a great treat to get the pop flavors that I really like without all the carbonation.  My best advice (if you want it - if not - ignore this).  Stick with what your doc & nut advise as they know what works best for their patients.  I don't know why the different doctors have such different plans, but each has found what works best for their patients.  Every person is different, as well, so who knows how it will affect you.   I say, stick with the Crystal Lite, etc.