Diet soda

Is anyone who is post-op alloud to drink diet soda (like diet rootbeer or whatever) since it has no carbs, caffine, calories, or sugar?!?!? ~Amy post-op DS 11-5-04

You aren't supposed to drink soda because of the carbonation. If you let it go flat you can have some diet soda. But you definitely need to make sure its completely flat because you don't want to stretch your pouch. Also, make sure you get caffeine free diet soda. Caffeine will make you get dehydrated.

We're allowed to drink diet soda. Our surgeon just says we may want to pour it into a glass and stir it with a fork a little to get it so it's not so carbonated because the carbonation can be a little uncomfortable. I haven't heard that it stretches your pouch because the part of your stomach that they make your pouch out of doesn't really stretch, and it's a liquid, so it goes right through you, remember, there's nothing that holds the liquids in your pouch like your old stomach, the hole at the bottom of your pouch leading into your intestines is always open. So, if you want some, go ahead. I know many many post op patients who drink diet soda and are just fine.

EW. I didnt get RNY. I got DS. I drink diet soda because it doesnt hurt my stomach. But i know im not suppose to yet, but its so hard not to!!! ~Amy post-op DS 11-5-04

I didn't see you had the DS. I looked it up and the only thing different from RNY vs DS is that the top part of the gastric bypass is connected below the duodenum (duodenum is the part that opens and closes at the bottom of your stomach where the food leaves your stomach and enters your intestine) which keeps the upper part of the digestive process the same as before surgery (except that your stomach is smaller). Your pyloric valve continues to regulate the emptying of the stomach contents into the duodenum and all of the hormones and secretions that occur in the duodenum continue after surgery. I would say that you can probably drink some soda, but would have to stretch it out over a long period of time otherwise it'd give you a feeling of fullness because it'd fill your pouch. It still wouldn't stretch it though.

my surgeon said that the first 7 months not to drink diet or any drink with carbonation like seltzer water. He said it will not stretch the pouch, only grazing all day on food will do that. But one thing to watch out for is that the aspartame (spelling) used in diet soda can cause cravings. The carbonation can cause that painful gas full stomach feeling. I don't know if that would happen with DS though.