Coffee decaf or Regular

Hey Guys, I would like to draw on your extensive knowledge of WLS.  I'm scheduled for Lap RnY on 3/31.  \ From what I've read, during the liquid diet if I drink coffee it should only be decaf.  Is this accurate? I'm a little concerned becaue I'm a huge coffee drinker.  At least a pot a day.  I'm just concerned about the headaches from lack of caffiene.  I should already be working on removing caffiene now.  Regardless I will do what is required.  I'am dedicated to making this work. Just wondering how long you should be off of the regular coffee and if you can even return to it at all.   Thanks for the info. Jeff

I'm a coffee guy myself, and I did without competely for about 3 months post-op. It helps that I'm not addicted to caffeine. The theory is while you have fresh surgical wounds inside, caffeinated coffee make you susceptible to ulcers, and those are a real biotch for those with altered plumbing. Decaf if you must, and do the doc says. Once the internal swelling goes down (roughly 6 weeks out), try the regular, and go slow. At the first sign of trouble, quit.

Once you get healed up, you'll be pounding the 'bucks... no problemo 

Caffiene is bad - just like was said - it constricts blood vessels and hidners healing. Coffee's acidity can hinder the healing of the pouch - I did without for the first three months, too - and a bit longer if I remember right - just to be safe. I drink a LOT of coffee now. (More than a pot a day, trust me)I just make sure to get in twice as much water as coffee, as coffee can act like a dirhetic (Yeah, spelling's off, so sue me).  Hydration is very important to weight loss. I'd plan on being without for at least three months.  You're going to be going through so many physicological changes that you're not going to notice the coffee being absent. Good luck!

Hey Jeff, caffinated coffee was off limits to me for 3 months post-op.  I did get headaches for a few days, but eventually went away.  Trust me though, on the first day of the 4th month (yes I waited till the exact date) I was the first in line at Dunkin D.  I'm back to drinking the same amount I was pre-op with no ill side effects.  Of course, i drink alot of water in addition. Good luck. John

I switched to decaf and have never looked back. A well made cup of decaf tastes the same as the "leaded" stuff, REALLY! Get a good burr grinder (about $100 refurb from http://www.baratza.com/refurb.php) some very good beans and keep your brew temp at 200 to 205 F and you will have GREAT coffee. Do wait until you are healed though, coffee is indeed tough on your system. I drink 2 to 3 Caps a day (AVOID *$ THEY ONLY SERVE BURNT STALE "COFFEE"!!) and 3 to 6 mugs of drip on top of the caps. The Caps are LOW fat milk and decaf and taste GREAT!

DX posted some information a few months ago about coffee/caffeine use post WLS.  The gist of it was that coffee should probably be avoided for a while after WLS due to the acids and caffein in it but that long term it shouldn't be a problem since the diuretic effect of the caffeine is not substantial so it doesn't have that much of an impact on your liquid requirements post WLS.  It's only a *mild* diuretic.  Correct me if my intrepretation of DX's info is off base.