ok, what's the deal on carbonation

I've never been a big soda drinker, until a couple years before surgery, i'd have a can of soda several times a week.. OR when I would do atkins I would crave carbonation like CRAZY! It was weird.  Anyway, I stopped drinking soda 6 months before surgery because I was told you couldn't have it after surgery, and I wanted to get out of the habit long before the surgery, to make the adjustment easier. I did great for a LONG time...but then after watching other family WLS people drink soda, I would have just a sip, figured that couldn't hurt me.. then the sips got bigger...then I met my now husband and he drank soda around me all the time, so I'd sip his.. I would even ask him to order lemonade or something if he wouldn't mind, just because I was finding I kept sipping his soda. Then it got to where now on occasion I get my OWN soda. ALWAYS sugar free by the way, so it's the carbonation I'm talking about not the sugar, that's not a problem. My surgeon told us the carbonation doesn't stretch the pouch, but it stretches the outlet so it just kinda becomes like an open shoot. So Soda was a big no no. Different peoples surgeons are different on a lot of things. Is soda just something to avoid for weight loss in general, just like the general public should avoid it? Or was there a risk of it stretching the stomach or outlet just shortly after surgery? I'm almost three years out....and I'm not talking about drinking 68 ounces twice a day, or being a big soda addict. But is  diet soda this far out really going to hurt me? Or Have I already done irreversible damage?

What does everyone think? Do I need to avoid those sips? Can I drink my own soda now and then...or does everyone concure that Soda is a solid "no no"? And If it is a big no no is it too late for me?

An occasional soda is fine. Not something I would make a habit of. Even with the diet, 'they' say that the fake sugar in them can make you crave the real stuff. The carbonation doesn't stretch your pouch though...it has two ways to pass if it builds up...you either belch or make music out the other end. I do drink pop, just not a lot, and not very often. Mostly to be honest I just drink plain old water. Some sugar free Crystal Light type drinks, or an occasional green tea. I am like Gatorade G2 these days as well.

How is the weight loss going?

Thanks for your reply, yeah.. I don't drink it a LOT...sometimes I like a Rooster Booster (diet) from QT for an energy pick me up...but seriously, it's not a daily ritual... most of my carbonation drinking came with drinking grape vodka with diet sprite but I'm not drinking near as much lately, and that whole soda/vodka thing was a short phase (2 weeks tops, but it was a lot of soda in those two weeks).. I just was mostly wondering if I've done irreversable damage....I thought I might have after my very first sip!

The weight loss is ok...I've found a couple products that when I use them WITH the tool of my little stomach it helps keep the grazing at bay, I haven't gained weight for 2 months now, and after gaining 20 lbs in 4 months that's a GREAT accomplishment, so the little changes I'm making are making a difference, and I'm even losing a few lbs...not the 20 lbs I put on..but I really feel I'm on the right track...now I just need to make a few MORE changes.. or actually just be MORE consistent with the changes I've made to get more of the weight off..but ya know? even if I just lose 5 lbs a month  and it's in a way that I'm not killing myself over it.. then that will all add up! Thanks for asking!

Leslee

Well, at the risk of getting flamed (lol), I have been drinking Diet Soda since about 5 months post op.  When I eat the right foods like dense protein, etc, then my pouch works just like anyone else's.  So I don't feel that it's done any damage to my pouch in particular. 

I find the differing opinions on soda very interesting.  We have doctors who disagree and patients who disagree.  I wish there was a clear cut answer about this and several other issues surrounding our surgeries.  It's confusing sometimes.

Thank you for taking the risk of being flamed! LOL. Everyone's responses are helping. I guess one way to test it to know for sure is the  5 day pouch test right?...  Thanks!

Whew, good question.  I am sure you will get so many different answers here as doctors feel differently about it.  My doctor just required that I give it up for 6 months to let things get all healed and such.  Then I could have it in moderation.  So, at six months out, I did add it back in but only occasionally.  Then recently I got back to drinking it regularly like before surgery (diet of course).  I have had some issues with being hungry and having carb cravings and really have struggled at moments.  And it wasn't until a couple of weeks ago did I realize that it was to blame.  My nutritionist had always said we could drink it as far as the pouch went but that in some people the sweet flavor even if diet coupled with the caffeine caused severe carb cravings and hunger in some people.  Well, two weeks ago I had some stomach problems and had to go on liquids and no carbonation for a week.  So, after the week was over, they suggested I leave off the carbonation for an additional week or so just to make sure the inflammation in my intestines was gone.  Well, I have been eating my normal routine or trying at least.  I just haven't been as hungry physically or in my head like I had been the last several months.  The only thing different is no Coke Zero.  So, my plan is to not add it back in and see if the cravings stay at bay.  If they do, I will continue not drinking it.  We shall see.   

Melissa

Thank you, that really helps. Yeah, my main concern was "oh my have I messed up my pouch?!" Cause that's the one thing that would be irreversible. Thanks for your response.

I don't think a soda or two or even three a week is a huge problem...I've never been a big soda drinker(even before wls) but now, not a chance, it gives me horrid stomach problems.  Enjoy! Dede