Carbonated Beverages: Yes or No??

Just curious what your surgeon's instructions were regarding carbonated beverages...

I thought I remembered my surgeon's instructions stating no carbonated beverages, ever. All my paperwork is home so I can't check right now.

I was surprised today to hear from a coworker who had Lapband that she is allowed to have carbonated drinks. Her only advice from her surgeon was not to "chug or guzzle" them, but take small sips and allow a minute or two for the liquid to pass through the stoma - this way she doesn't overload it with bubbles and risk dilation.

What are your thoughts?

My surgeon said no . I know alot of people that do drink it though. They just let it go flat some before they do drink it.

I was a huge Pepsi drinker before the band I lived on the stuff. I got a craving for it a couple of weeks ago and  I took a small drink of it.

I couldn't stand the stuff. It was so sweet and just nasty . I have no desire to even drink it anymore, all it did was take that one sip and I wasn't missing anything :o)

Some surgeons say its okay and others say its not okay .  You would think everybody would have the same rules for the lap band but we dont.

I dont drink soda on a regular basis.  Every now and again I'll have a Diet Coke with Lime.   Even then, I pour it over ice and let it sit for minute.   I never end up finishing the can.

I agree with not chugging or guzzling... but I dont chug or guzzle any liquid.  I cant.  

I drink beer on a weekly basis.

I had my WLS 19 months ago and was taught at the support group meetings that my Doctors office held to don't have carbonated beverages.  If I felt like I just had to have one then I was to pour it into a glass and to stir it until the drink went flat.  We were taught that the carbonation could stretch our pouch.  I stopped having soft drinks about a month prior to my surgery.  I really do no miss the chemicals.  I want to do everything in my power to protect my band and my little pouch.

My surgeon says no and I quit Diet Coke, (cold turkey), the day before my surgery.  Surprisingly, I don't miss it.  I will have an occasional swallow of my husbands when we're at the movies, but for me it's not worth the unknown risk.  I'm also very skeptical of the unknown health risks that all those additives, artificial colors and sweetners and carbonation may have had on my body.  I care a lot more about my health in general today than I did before!

Lisa O.

Every now and then I will take a sip or two from my husband's Diet Coke.  I don't do it very often, because the carbonation gives me the burps, and it's uncomfortable.  I used to be a big Diet Coke drinker, but now I drink water, or iced tea.  I don't miss pop at all.

My surgeon said no.  I was addictied to Diet Coke and stopped the day before my surgery and never had another sip.  I feel if I did I would crave it all over again.

One time a year after my surgery I took a drink of a fruit juice and didn't realize it was carbonated...I felt so uncomfortable afterwards and kept burping.  I don't know if it stretches your pouch but I can tell you it felt like it was stretching my pouch!!!

My surgeon says if its flat and diet thats its fine.  I have a couple sips of dt soda, but to be honest I was so addicted to it, I'm afraid if I have one I wont be able to stop myself.  I was an 8 pack drinker!!!!!  LOL....Now its coffee, tea or flavored water! 

 Another no

Absolutely not! It led to my revision surgery so I will NEVER touch the stuff.  Some argue that it can't stretch the pouch because "liquids just go right through."  I beg to differ...soda & carbonation in general expands (ever guzzle a coke when you're really thirsty and it feels like a rock in your chest for a few minutes?  Just sayin.)  When I started drinking with meals and drinking soda again 5 years after my RNY, THAT is when I gained at a RAPID rate and required a revision due to my pouch and stoma being stretched, then I was hungry more often and thus ate more and more food.  Result was a disgusting weight gain & subsequent revision surgery.

This is *my* experience and *my* story, so I don't need or care to hear that there is "scientific proof" that it "doesn't stretch your pouch", I LIVED IT and that means more to me than anything.

Anyway, drinking soda is not that gratifying...we've had to make way bigger changes than that in order to sustain long term success...so why risk it? :)