Carbonated drinks? Gum?

What is everyone's experience after surgery with carbonated beverages? I've already eliminated sodas as part of my life change, but am craving the bubbles of a seltzer.

Thoughts on gum? I've always been a sugarless gum (Trident) chewer. Haven't chewed since surgery. Read somewhere gum wasn't recommended but not sure if it was true.

Thanks for your feedback.

I'm assuming we're talking about sugar-free carbonated beverages.

Apparently, some surgeons have told their patients that carbonation can stretch their stomach. I believe that's been debunked. However, I would certainly avoid carbonation until your stomach heals. And there are some good reasons to limit carbonated beverages in the long term:

1. I find I have to drink carbonated beverages much more slowly, which makes it more difficult to get the amount of fluid I need.
2. Carbonated beverages don't generally offer much nutrition.
3. While artificial sweeteners haven't been found to be harmful, it makes sense to use them only in moderation.
4. For the first six months or so, I found carbonated beverages felt uncomfortable in my stomach if I took more than a couple of sips.

There are some lightly carbonated, low calorie, fruit-flavoured drinks that I tolerated well even in the first six months. They usually have about 12-15 calories per bottle.

I realised before surgery that what I really craved was that first ice-cold sip or two of a carbonated beverage; after that it was kind of "meh". So sometimes I keep a soda in the coldest part of the fridge, pull it out for a sip or two, and then put it back. After a couple of days it loses most of its carbonation, and then I poli**** off.

As for sugarless gum, I don't think most surgeons put any restrictions on using it.

Carbonation is fine once you have healed up and it does not bother you. Some people can never handle it again. When lapbands were popular doctors did not want patients chewing gum because it would sometimes require surgery to remove it if it was accidentally swallowed.

I remember my surgeon showing us a patient *****quired emergency surgery when she swallowed a bay leaf while eating soup. That was years ago and I don't think there is any restriction with gum chewing with RNY or VSG

I am 4 years out and drink diet pepsi without issue. Have not died yet from it.... j/k

My surgeon gave the OK for carbonation at 4 weeks post-op. It can make some people uncomfortable or cause gas, but I haven't had any trouble with it. I buy large bottles of sugar-free seltzer and drink one each morning to help meet my water goals.

Gum and carbonation are matters of personal choice. There is nothing inherently wrong with either. You should probably wait on both until you are completely healed from surgery though.

the bubbles can make me have pressure...

the surgarless gum makes me have GAS!!! not good for me

I returned to carbonation accidentally around 10 weeks post op. I ordered a Diet Cherry Limeaide from Sonic and for some reason didn't remember it being carbonated, but it is. I sipped it really slowly but had no issues with it. I now drink Diet Coke regularly (about 4-5 cans per week). I actually have more trouble now with carbonation then I did in the beginning. I prefer to swallow my meds/vitamins with carbonated drinks so I open a can of Diet Coke and let it flatten some. It's nice that I can drink the same can for days because I don't need it to be super fizzy to be satisfying. When I was still in WL phase I would often get a $1 large Diet Coke from McDonald's and it always staved off hunger/cravings when I was just head hungry.

As long as it is zero calorie, there is no difference between soda and seltzer. If the carbonation bothers you, stop.

Gum is fine as long as you don't swallow it. If you think you could, skip it.

From my own experience I can only say please be careful and buyer beware. I too had no problem with carbonation until I did! I nearly died from a perforated ulcer. The gastroenterologist said absolutely no carbonation,no caffeine and no nicotine. It happened 12 years after my RNY. As for gum the only thing was that it could cause gas just like straws can.