Nightmare

In my nightmare last night I watched myself sipping on a straw attached to a soda. I haven't been having any dreams lately and just returned to using my APAP machine. This is what happens! Sometimes the dreams are great - but seeing myself sipping on a soda made my heart race. NO WAY!!!! 

:) Just sharing. Bad dreams are no fun. 

What was so upsetting? You CAN drink diet soda if you so choose. It isn't going to harm your pouch. 

I am five months post op and part of my surgeons ongoing treatment plan requests that we refrain from using both straws or any carbonated beverage. I take the plan pretty seriously. I understand that everyone has different tolerances and different plans for that matter. My training over the past year made this a very bad dream for me because I just do not want to return to old habits. I was a Pepsi lover. I miss Pepsi. Not enough to have any mind you. :) Thank you for your response. 

Why does your surgeon want you to refrain from straws and carbonation?

I support you in choosing to give up things you feel aren't good or healthy for you.  And I don't think soda is healthy for anyone.  I don't think it's harmful in moderation, like most things are OK in moderation, but I also think it's OK to give it up completely if you choose to, of course.

Thank you. As I went through the classes that prepared me for this journey I asked myself the same thing - why would I need to not use a straw or not have even a tonic with ice? Well in his experience he finds that having his patients not have carbonation at all it helps in both calorie control (even if sugar free options are chosen) and also it effects the potential for ulcers or stretching of the pouch. Same thing with the straw - the idea behind that is also calorie control - you do not drink as fast when you sip versus large pulls through the straw that also introduce (as he explains it) air into the tummy. They seem like simple enough items that of course don't make or break people I am sure - but like I had mentioned I like to feel proud about when I have remained committed to my course. A lot of his program is focused greatly on behavioral changes and management. Discipline plays a huge role as well. I have fought myself over the passed year about discipline and following through with commitments and this is one thing I can finally say in my life I am following through and will see everyone on the other side. It feels really great. 

i remember having dreams that i ate a whole chocolate cake and i would wake up so upset that i wasn't following my plan! i think its just the mind working out the emotions of a big eating change. 

as for the soda, know that you can have diet if you want (yes, even in a straw), but its best to stay away because its just a bunch of chemicals anyway. and some people react to the fake sugar. 

So right you are! I guess it all comes down to things we let into our body and things we don't - my triggers were always sweets of any kind including sugary drinks. I will stay true! I use the occasional sugar free item but try to avoid the chemicals as much as possible. Stevia is in my cupboard but that is really too sweet for my taste buds anymore. Fruits satisfy the sweet cravings now and I even try to limit that as I watch my blood sugar and try to never have spikes too great - helps me stay pretty even in demeanor. 

I had some crazy ones too. I have had them where I have eaten a lot of food that is no longer in my plan. I wake up mad as a hornet at myself and then realize it was a dream. I start laughing out loud then at such a stupid dream. 

It is pretty funny when the moment has passed and you realize the emotion you just put into something completely fabricated by your dream. It's crazy feeling! I hope to keep dreaming and maybe it will be nice and leave out the bad habits part. I will focus on happy thoughts going to bed I guess. :P 

I use straws all the time. My surgeon thinks you can get air in the pouch with straws,which would be uncomfortable but not dangerous. It's also ridiculous, IMHO. I get more air if I don't use a straw. I also drink diet soda, but the carbonation hurts my pouch if I drink it straight out of the bottle. I have been using straws from the beginning, because I smelled the protein in my shakes more without a straw. Hated the smell.