Can I have a diet coke?

And I don't mean a flat one....I have not had any but a few sips a month ago and when I asked when I could have it again the NP said never!!!  Not that I don't trust her but I see a lot of post ops that have one in their hand walking around at work.  I don't want a whole lot just maybe one here and there and I won't guzzle it cuz I can't guzzle ANYTHING anymore....which is good. 

Debra - we were told no for a couple of reasons.  1) the carbonation will make you feel full and gassy, 2) the caffeine will dehyrdrate you, 3) and probably the very worst -- put a chunk of meat into a bowl with diet coke and let it sit for a day.  Diet coke is one of the most corrosive things around.  Definitely not good for the pouch.  Do yourself a favor and find something else that you like to drink that isn't so damaging to the digestive tract. Linda

You will get a mixed review on this topic. Most will say never. I say we live in a real world. I used to be the worst Diet Coke addict pre-op. I very occasionally have one and sip on it for a while these days. One, it just doesn't taste the same any more and two, it makes me belch like a sailor now. LOL My kids think it's a hoot but the gas is a bit painful before it comes up. I do Diet 7-up more often than Diet Coke these days because it doesn't have the caffeine and won't dehydrate, but it still makes me belch.  Just my two cents. You will need to try for yourself and see what works. Good Luck.

I belch all day long....it is weird and my children are so impressed!!! It is really something!!! I just wondered about the carbonation part of the whole thing.  I will just have to see....

Debra - one of the reasons I am so anti- diet coke is that my brother used to drink it all the time.  He started having horrible heart burn.  His doctor just put him on Zantac.  I knew the heartburn was serious enough that it was severe acid reflux and that he needed something stronger like Nexium.  I made him go back to the doctor.  By the time they finally did an upper endoscopy on him, he had Barrett's Esophagus so bad that they believed it was inoperable cancer.  Fortunately, they were wrong, but he did have to have surgery to have part of his stomach wrapped up around his esophagus to help heal the damage.  Just don't drink that stuff.  There is no point drinking something that corrosive, especially after you've had surgery to improve your health. Linda

My dr. says no pop, especially colas, but because of the tannic acid.  That is very hard on your stomach.  I am not allowed to drink tea for this reason too.  It's also uncomfortable.  I do drink some diet pop, but mostly clear.  For me, my doc said it's not the caffeine so much as the tannic acid, and how it produces more acid in your stomach.  I remember the first time I tried some and the gas was horrible.  Now, it's not so bad, but it's definitely not as enjoyable as it was pre-surgery.

Good to know about the colas.  I just miss it a bit.....it was a huge part of my night working the night shift....no-one said anything to me about tea though so I have been drinking a lot of iced tea these days....