Caffeine? I hate to ask something I know you've been asked b4...
I was told it's because caffeine is a diuretic and will dry you out. It's hard enough to stay hydrated and I'm still not doing a great job getting my water in, although I drink tea when I go out and I know it's probably not decaffienated. The straw thing is because it introduces too much air into your stomach and produces gas problems. I've just started using a straw (3 months out) and I can tell a difference when I use one - but I like them so I deal with it.
I want to add one to your questions...what about the gum thing? I was told not to chew gum at the hospital and haven't chewed it since. How long do we wait??
They don't want us to use a straw because we gulp air when we sip. This causes us to get air in our stomach and can hurt.
Now the caffiene is different. Caffiene is a appetite stimulant. Therefore drink caffiene then you are more hungry.
We had a discussion recently about sodas and caffiene.
Here was the response from the Hickory forum about caffiene and soda
1. Soda and junk food tend to go hand in hand. They are joined at the hip. If you give up the junk food but continue to drink soda, the junk food will creep back into your diet.
2. Most of the popular sodas (Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Sundrop, etc) have high amounts of caffeine. Caffeine is an appetite stimulant. You certainly don't want to stimulate your appetite when you are trying to lose weight.
3. Now the third and most important reason (and a retort to those drinking caffeine-free soda). The carbonation can make you feel bad by putting pressure on your pouch. No big deal, that goes away pretty quickly. However, that pressure can cause your anastamosis (the opening between the pouch and intestine) to stretch from the diameter of your little finger to the diameter of your thumb or more. Then food just falls through, weightloss stops or weight regain occurs.
This is why we stay no carbonated beverages. Now if they made a cola flavored Crystal Lite!!
Tamara
Now the caffiene is different. Caffiene is a appetite stimulant. Therefore drink caffiene then you are more hungry.
We had a discussion recently about sodas and caffiene.
Here was the response from the Hickory forum about caffiene and soda
1. Soda and junk food tend to go hand in hand. They are joined at the hip. If you give up the junk food but continue to drink soda, the junk food will creep back into your diet.
2. Most of the popular sodas (Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Sundrop, etc) have high amounts of caffeine. Caffeine is an appetite stimulant. You certainly don't want to stimulate your appetite when you are trying to lose weight.
3. Now the third and most important reason (and a retort to those drinking caffeine-free soda). The carbonation can make you feel bad by putting pressure on your pouch. No big deal, that goes away pretty quickly. However, that pressure can cause your anastamosis (the opening between the pouch and intestine) to stretch from the diameter of your little finger to the diameter of your thumb or more. Then food just falls through, weightloss stops or weight regain occurs.
This is why we stay no carbonated beverages. Now if they made a cola flavored Crystal Lite!!
Tamara
My understanding on the logic of not chewing gum is due to the risks if you accidently swallow it. It could get stuck in the pouch, or even worse, in the anastamosis and you'd have to be scoped to get it out. I accidently swallowed a half of a stick of gum about three months out and PANICKED for a couple of hours until I was sure that it had made its way through the pouch. I'm almost 20 months out now and haven't chewed a piece since - for me it just isn't worth it (note that before surgery I regularly would swallow my gum - without even thinking about it. I started doing it as a kid and even when I would try not to the first moment I didn't think NOT to swallow it I would!)
As for the caffeine, are you not allowed any? My program allows up to two 8 ounce cups (tea, coffee, etc.) a day, but not carbonated beverages. I second the other reasons for not drinking sodas - it can (1) cause a very uncomfortable feeling and (2) can cause the opening to stretch. I missed Diet Coke more than anything else immediately after surgery. Now, occasionally, (read less than once a week) if I REALLY want one I'll let it go mostly flat, and pour it over lots of ice to reduce the carbonation, and then sip it very slowly.
As for the caffeine, are you not allowed any? My program allows up to two 8 ounce cups (tea, coffee, etc.) a day, but not carbonated beverages. I second the other reasons for not drinking sodas - it can (1) cause a very uncomfortable feeling and (2) can cause the opening to stretch. I missed Diet Coke more than anything else immediately after surgery. Now, occasionally, (read less than once a week) if I REALLY want one I'll let it go mostly flat, and pour it over lots of ice to reduce the carbonation, and then sip it very slowly.
(deactivated member)
on 4/26/09 10:56 am
on 4/26/09 10:56 am
Caffeine besides a diuretic is also acidic. Not good. Tore up my stomach pre-op. I had to quit way before it was a surgery issue. Soda bubbles....I don't buy that it stretches the pouch, but carbonation north will give your carbonation south if you get my drift! LOL
I don't buy the no straws deal, I take in more liquid/air without one....but when right out of surgery, the sucking in extra air/or drinking too fast/ too many liquids at once could definitely be an issue for some. They gave me a straw in the hospital??? Go figure.
Gum, there is the stuck in the hole deal, and if it does get lodged, will have to be removed with an endoscope with teeth! However the main reason is that the activated saliva triggers the remnant stomach to become active and release into the intestines. Again, acid with nothing to dilute it.
I don't buy the no straws deal, I take in more liquid/air without one....but when right out of surgery, the sucking in extra air/or drinking too fast/ too many liquids at once could definitely be an issue for some. They gave me a straw in the hospital??? Go figure.
Gum, there is the stuck in the hole deal, and if it does get lodged, will have to be removed with an endoscope with teeth! However the main reason is that the activated saliva triggers the remnant stomach to become active and release into the intestines. Again, acid with nothing to dilute it.
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