Question:
Caffeine-free? Hope not!
What about coffee as a pre-operative liquid in the two days before surgery, up to the midnight before the big day? Is it considered a "clear liquid"? Also, have you been given the go-ahead to drink this go juice after wls? (Please say yes; I can't live without caffeine!) Thanks for sharing what you know.... — Biking O. (posted on September 1, 2003)
September 1, 2003
Melody...I went for my pre-op testing 9 days before surgery. I was told
absolutely no caffine from that day forward. After surgery I was told no
caffine until I am 6 weeks post-op. Of course every doc is different.
Maybe you should call and ask his nurse what their guidelines are for
caffine. Best of luck!
— Maria S
September 1, 2003
I've heard some similar tales and was wondering if this was the generally
accepted norm. While I love a good cup of morning coffee, I have always had
unsweetened iced tea to drink, and I know how lousy I feel if I miss my
morning cup of sludge! I can just imagine how cranky I'd be with none
before, none during and none after for quite a few weeks - yikes! So I've
been trying to wean myself off of caffine (and carbonated beverages) by
substituting 1/2 decaf and 1/2 reg coffees in the coffee maker. It tastes a
little different, not nearly as good, but after a week or two, I can
honestly say that it is not too bad. I'll then go to 1/4 cup reg. and 3/4
cup decaf until I'm at 100% decaf. I also substitue cold water and crushed
ice whenever I feel like a tall glass of iced tea. Somedays I wonder, ok,
I've given up sugar, fast foods, beer, bread, carbs and pasta and NOW YOU
WANT ME TO GIVE UP MY MORNING JOLT!!! Well, I guess I'll adjust, I'll just
be sleepy and groggy! There are worse ways to feel - right!
— track
September 1, 2003
Hi, I had Hot tea along with my broth in the Hospital, Iam a coffee drinker
in the morning to, but have been doing tea.Iam almost 4 weeks Post-Op, also
I had a Duncan donuts coffee the other morning with sweet-n-low and all
went well. Good Luck!!!
— blainejrjeni
September 1, 2003
My Dr (Dr Terry Simpson) said the whole caffeine thing is a myth. I have
been able to have coffee since the day after surgery, heck I am drinking it
right now :-) I am now 1 year post op and have lost 139 pounds!!! Didn't
seem to hinder my health or loss.
— Stephanie B.
September 1, 2003
I was told no caffeine following surgery. (1) It interferes with vitamin
absorption; (2) It stimulates hunger. None of us needs that. I went off
caffeine cold turkey and my heart raced for a few days and I felt like crap
for a few days, but after that, I don't miss it.
— Cathy S.
September 1, 2003
Caffeine also leaches the calcuim from your bones. It will not show up in
blood work. It is not a myth. You can do your own research on caffeine
and find out all the facts. It is also an appetite stimulant which we
don't need. But, I do drink two cups every morning. Couldn't live without
it. BUT, pre-op, I drank a whole pot every morning.
— Delores S.
September 1, 2003
Caffeine i a diuretic. Something you dont need right after surgery, since
we all flirt with dehydration as is. For each cup of caffeinated beverage
drink TWO cups of water. Have two cups of coffee during the day? Then you
must drink 4 cups to makeup for it plus your required 8 cups. During the
first month thats near impossible. Dehydration is DANGEROUS, can leadto
bloodclots and other serious omplications. Would you give coffe to a baby?
Thats what you pouch is righ after surgery. Do yourself a favor and get
offcaffeine BEFORE the big day. Why have another reason to feel YUK after
surgery?
— bob-haller
September 2, 2003
I was never told no caffeine and was given coffee in the hospital as soon
as I had my "leak test" the morning after surgery. However, I
drank, on the average, 4-6 cups a day preop and am down to 1-2 (usually
just one) post op. Nothing tastes the same since surgery EXCEPT coffee
but my capacity for it (or desire) has waned a lot. After the first cup of
the day, I'm usually satisfied and don't need more than that.
— susanje
September 2, 2003
Melody, I did a little internet research on this once before when it came
up. 1) One study showed that if you only drink 1-2 cups of caffeinated
coffee per day, the liquid the coffee is made of compensates for the mild
diruetic effect of the caffeine. If you drink more than that, then the
diuretic effect is increased. 2) caffeine is not an appetite stimulant; in
fact, many times it is added to over the counter diet aids as it helps to
depress appetite. And, yes, it is considered a clear liquid. I couldn't
tolerate coffee again until about 2-3 months (or longer) after surgery.
Now I am about 10 months out and enjoy my one cup of coffee every morning.
Best of course is to follow your own surgeon's directions on this, however.
— koogy
September 2, 2003
This is another one of those topics that has as many opinions as there are
people willing to give them. Therefore, I strongly suggest following your
doc's orders on this one. S/he will know why they recommend whatever they
do. My dietitian said no caffeine for the first year, but after that it
would be OK. I didn't ask why because it's not a big deal for me to give
it up, but I'm guessing the year-long limitation has something to do with
the new "plumbing" learning to work well together. I know it
won't hurt me to give up caffeine, and the dietitian and doc say it will
help me, so why not follow orders?
— Vespa R.
September 2, 2003
I'm not sure if you can have it dure the first 6 wks post op because of the
caffeine. During that time you need to get your water in. That is more
important. After that, I never heard anything about it.
— spring A.
September 4, 2003
I was the world's biggest caffeine addict pre-op. My doctor required me to
phase out the caffeine so that I wouldn't be psychotic post-op! I did
reduce my caffeine quite a bit pre-op, but I still had a bad headache the
first weekpost-op. My pouch wouldn't tolerate caffeine for about a year.
Now at 18 months, I drink caffeinated coffee because I like it so much.
But I felt better without the caffeine, and I'm trying to reduce my intake
once more.
— Kathy J.
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