CAFFEINE!!

Hello - I see a ton of posts from people that have just had the surgery or are years out. I am about 4 and a half weeks out and am starting to add some texture to my foods and starting to slowly see what works for me. What is the time when people started adding a little caffeine back into the day? Or does anyone have a natural substitute that might help. The first 2 weeks I felt pretty good, but now that I'm back to work, I'm dragging!

Thanks - this is a great forum!

Because caffeine is a diuretic and we struggle so much with hydration in the early days, it's best to avoid it then. I started back to a cup of coffee after a few weeks when ai was regularly getting over 100oz of liquids in.

Most surgeons have a specific timeframe, at least in my experience. My plan allowed caffeine after 8 weeks. I only had it in coffee, obviously. I'm almost 5 months out, and I still drink only water (sometimes with crystal light) and coffee.

I try not to have coffee everyday so I don't get so addicted to caffeine again. Some of the best energy I had was right after surgery when my body was caffeine free.

I was allowed coffee in the hospital right after surgery if I wanted it. The only thing my plan said was to try to limit coffee to 1 cup a day.

My surgeon approved coffee for me starting one month after surgery. He thinks its an appetite suppressant. I used to drink it one half hot skim milk and one half strong coffee. Now its usual coffee and a splash of half and half. I am 8 years out. Diane S

Coffee can be really acidic and irtiirritato the sleeve. Ask your doc. But be prepared for more "acid burn" when you add coffee.

Early on after my surgery coffee, even decaf made my stomach hurt. But after a couple of months I was able to enjoy it again. I think your stomach just has to be fully healed. And it's weird , I actually love coffee now more than before surgery. mmmm.. I think I'll have a cup right now

Everyone is different. I drink coffee by the gallon. Literally. In the morning I will drink at least 32oz of caffeine coffee. Throughout the rest of the day I will drink much more decaf - hot in the cold months, iced in the hot months. The diuretic effect is not as bad as many think. But you will need to experiment to see how it all works out for you. As they say, your mileage may vary.

I'm just over a week out and my surgeon told me on the day of procedure that I could have coffee the next day. He said "they will tell you that you can't, but I'm telling you that you can" lol

I drink coffee everyday, but if your having trouble keeping up with your hydration I wouldn't incorporate it. If you've mastered the art of getting at least 64 oz in you could maybe incorporate it. I mean 64 oz of water, not protein drink.

While in the beginning they say we can count protein drinks. I don't think that thick creamy mess is actually very hydrating. Good luck!