Coffee post-op? Also, leg cramps.

Hi all,

My center cautions that no coffee (not even decaf) should be consumed after RNY due to it's high acid content. I can do it, but that is the one thing I know beforehand that I will miss. Tea, even black tea, is allowed. Have others here been similarly instructed? I have seen several folks mention enjoying coffee here, so I wonder if it's a timing issue.

One other thing I am thinking about is my tendency towards very intense, painful leg and foot cramps at night. These often come while I'm still awake but lying down, other times they wake me up, and I have to get up, carefully lower my weight onto that leg or foot, and then hobble around for 10-15 minutes before it is safe to go back to bed. This started happening during one of my marathon HMR liquid diets, and as it was medically supervised, I was taking 5 horse-pills of potassium a day to combat it (the most they would prescribe), though it was still a nightly occurrence even with the pills. This gradually became a frequent experience even when not dieting, but was guaranteed to be a nightly issue whenever I restricted my intake. So over the past few weeks I have been eating bananas - sometimes 2 a day but at least 1, within an hour or so of bed. Amazingly, this has virtually eliminated my cramps - I can feel them begin but I just stretch and they vani****'s so much better! At any rate, I know I won't be able to have a banana for a long while after surgery. Do any of you struggle with this issue? How have you dealt with it as an RNY patient?

I saw my surgeon at 4 weeks post op and asked him about coffee and he said go for it. I know a lot of folks don't. I do but I'm not drinking nearly as much as I used to

One thing ive noticed about surgeons is that if there isn't a specific medical study proving something then they generally don't buy into it. I had a similar situation with omeprazole and high blood pressure.

You can probably purée a banana with some Greek yogurt and milk pretty soon after surgery. Maybe 10-14 days out? The thing is you're adding calories and carbs. Also a banana has more than 10g of sugar which is usually a big no-no. I don't think you'll "break the bank" with 1 banana but most of us are so focused on protein and water we don't have room to be messing around with them.

If if you do purée one I would definitely try to mix it with a liquid that has no sugar. Even plain Greek yogurt has some sugar.

Hi Scott,

Thanks for responding. Though I am concerned about these painful cramps after surgery, I am more concerned with following my post-surgery weight-loss protocol to the letter. Now that I'm finally taking this (to me) enormous step and having surgery, I want to give myself every chance to succeed. So if bananas are too high in sugar to add in anytime soon, which I agree they likely are, then I accept that I may I have to live with the cramps. It just won't be pleasant. But I want to get and to remain slim and that is my first priority. Other things people use to combat this include drinking quinine water and various over-the-counter patent medicines. I even tried slipping a bar of soap in between the sheets, down by my legs, as this is a (probably totally ridiculous) old-wives type of cure (that didn't work for me!).

Yes definitely follow the advice of your surgeon over mine! Once you put some post-op weeks under your belt you'll know better how your body is responding and maybe then you can test some things on your own. Also you'd be surprised at how many "mini-ailments" cure themselves after having this surgery. You never know those leg cramps might not be an issue at all.

Isn't quinine water also known as Tonic water? If so that would be much worse than a banana in terms of carbs and sugar.

Hi Scott,

No, of course, I wouldn't consider adding regular tonic water to my diet. Quinine is a very bitter alkaloid and regular tonic water is loaded with sugar to combat it's extreme bitterness. One way or another I will work on finding a healthy way to be comfortable, one that is consistent with my dieting parameters, if I am plagued by leg cramps post-op. And maybe as you suggest the cramps may simply disappear, which would be wonderful! Thanks for your comments!

I've been instructed to stay away from coffee (decaf or regular) because it can cause ulcers. Instead, they recommend green tea (caffeinated or decaf) as many studies have shown it helps weight loss and prevents gastric issues.

Hi MarinaGirl,

I will enjoy my last few weeks as a coffee drinker! I am willing to give it up if it's necessary. My center okayed black tea as well as green and all herbal teas. They nixed artificial sweeteners altogether, as well.

How are your magnesium, calcium, and B & D vitamin levels? Deficiencies with them can also lead to leg cramps.

As far as I know my magnesium, calcium, B & D vitamins are within normal range, but I haven't checked recently. I was deficient in D a couple of years ago though, and my doc had me supplement. Fine since then.

I don't drink coffee- no help for you there.

i have had significant leg cramps- something I never experienced pre-op. Gatorade G2 seems to be best at keeping them at bay for me. Anytime the leg cramps return I notice I'm out of G2.