Question:
Has anyone had soda?
Just curious. Has anyone had diet soda after surgery? If so, how long after and what were the effects? Thanks. — Ky_Kutie (posted on December 17, 2006)
December 17, 2006
I haven't had soda. I don't plan on having soda. During the classes they
instucted us that not only could soda give you bad gas and a stomach ache
it could also stretch your pouch. I would talk to your doctor before
drinking anything cabonated. You could end up in the emergency room with
acute pain.
— trenansac
December 17, 2006
i drink diet soda alot, you burp, you fart so it doesnt blow out your
pouch, that is such bs. i dont drink regular soda because of the sugar not
the carbonation. its fine with my doc and fine with me!!i had one a week
after open rny, no problems at all!!! im almost 4 years post op and ihave
been the same weight for all this time. i still dont eat alot of food
either!!
— shellypoe
December 17, 2006
I'd like to clarify that I didn't say it blows out your pouch. I said it
stretches it. If you want to stretch your pouch capacity back to the size
of a football again then that's up to you. I think you should talk to your
doctor and get the information first. I don't think that people who have
gotten to their goal weight did it by drinking soda. I disagree with
drinking soda though but the choice is yours. Do you want to be healthy
and keep your weight off?
— trenansac
December 17, 2006
Lots of folks drink diet soda. See what your surgeon wants you to do.
Everyone is different. Mine is not opposed to it. I was never a big soda
drinker but every couple of months or so I may crave a soda and will have
it. I cannot drink alot of it, but I get my craving out of the way. I have
to go slow with it or it can be somewhat uncomfortable. You won't gain
weight if you follow the rules, don't drink with a meal, before after
etc..just follow the rules. I have a friend who drink a mixture of water
& soda. Works for her...
End up in the hospital with pain??? That is new to me but maybe it has
happened to someone? That's a first.... Keep in mind that gas from the
soda will escape, like any other gas in your body.
Best Wishes
— Kriola
December 17, 2006
I've had soda and I don't worry about it stretching anything; however, I
know that I don't much like it anymore. I hate burping and soda makes me
feel thirsty. When I have drunk it, I only have taken a few small sips -
then I go back to old faithful water. Actually, I really like Propel
Fitness Water (with calcium) .. tastes really good.
— Nicki F.
December 17, 2006
I have had some Diet Dr. Pepper. But all I could handle was 1-2 sips. I
think it was more of a taste satisfying thing more than anything. As long
as I had the taste in my mouth I didn't crave it anymore. So what do you
all think about not using straws??? My doctor does not want us using
straws. I am sort of baffled by this, but am following the rules.
— Jenivere
December 17, 2006
Although my dietician told me not to drink soda (and I don't), I saw a
thing on Mythbusters about it, and they concluded that it does not stretch
your stomach. My niece, who had the surgery about a year before I did,
drinks soda a lot. In ffact, she eats and drinks whatever she wants.
— Novashannon
December 17, 2006
I have tried a few sips not really thinking & found it to be quite
uncomfortable. Lesson learned the hard way.
— D
December 17, 2006
I am 3 years out and just a couple of months ago started to drink died pop.
At first I started with the coke zeo and now drink reg diet. Pop just did
not set well with me. I know you are supose to drink it flat but I would
rather not have any at all then drink it flat.
Natalie
— rollergirl41
December 18, 2006
I am almost 3 years out and for the first two plus years did not drink
soda. I stopped drinking soda 6 months prior to surgery as a reward for
getting an appt to see a surgeon. I wanted to be able to tell them at my
appt that I had stopped drinking soda. I was told, and took seriously
that, first of all, that soda would still expand in my pouch, even when
flat, it is too hard to work for the weight loss we attain to mess with my
success. It may or may not "stretch" your pouch, but it certanly
does expand while in there. The other fact I considered in delaying
drinking soda was that approximately 80% of wls patients that later on go
through a revision surgery because of failure with their first surgery
drink soda. That is a huge number to consider. Don't jepordize your
success, be very careful with soda. This past August I began drinking diet
soda again in moderation, in part for the caffine need during many hours of
driving, and have found no issues for me. I sip, drink slow, and enjoy in
moderation. If I find that I am not drinking much water, then I pull
myself off the soda until I work out the water issue. The real issue is
not to drink or not to drink, but when to drink, and can you do moderation,
or is this just a sell out to go back to an old bad habit? You don't say
how long you are out from surgery, but I would hold off as long as
possible, and teach yourself to enjoy water and other good fluids. What is
the rush? It will taste the same later, be sure you are enjoying good
changes in your life now. I enjoy an occasional soda now, and don't regret
the almost 3 years without. I like the flavor, but I really like that I
can make better choices now, and I have control over soda, it does not have
control over me. Best to you.
Patricia P
— Patricia P
December 18, 2006
I have been letting caffiene free diet soda go flat just to satisfy my
craving for cola. I would never drink a whole 16 oz bottle at once it lasts
me about 3 days. I have read that caffeine can stop calcium absorbtion and
soda is also a diuretic and can cause dehydration.
— jennl
December 18, 2006
Diet soda expanding the pouch in and of itself is a myth. My surgeon
doesn't like us to drink it simply because it can cause discomfort, it is
nothing but empty calories, and it can be a trigger food for some. If you
Google the subject, you will find most surgeons don't allow it, but not
because it stre
— stabellina
December 18, 2006
i think the answer to your question is: some do and some don't, but who is
right? i have a good friend that had gbs last year and has lost about 150
lbs. she drinks diet soda ALL the time and i mean LOTS of it. in an eight
hour shift at work she probably drinks 4 or 5 12oz sodas.. she burps all
the time too. her motto is "there's more room out than in.!!" but
what it boils down to is, every BODY is different, some tolerate it and
some don't. the fact is water is best and you should limit soda as much as
possible. hope this helps
— RNlvnCARSON
December 19, 2006
Hello. I, too, do not think there is any one right or wrong answer to this
question. I have been post-op for approximately 2 years now, and started
drinking diet soda 6 months after my surgery. I have lost 205 pounds in
the first 18 months (been the same weight for the past 6 months), and have
not had a single problem with it. I do burp alot afterwards, but never
have had any major discomfort from it. My doctor does not recommend it
ONLY because of the empty calories (although diet has NO calories), but
says it is not unsafe to drink it. My opinion is if people were drinking
regular/diet soda PRIOR to their surgery, it seems to me that their
stomachs would have been the size of a watermelons instead of footballs if
gas/carbonation caused stretching. (I know this is a gross exaggeration,
but you get the picture). Good luck in whatever decision you make. : D
— Firebutie
December 19, 2006
I have, at 2 yrs out, BUT only afer I let it go flat.. thats the only way I
can drink it. Its very uncomfortable if I dont let it sit until flat...
— Kalli R.
December 20, 2006
I havent had surgery yet so I dont know personally. My doctor told me even
if you drink diet sodas and they say no carbs, they do have carbs. He said
that can cause you not to lose the weight you could lose without drinking
diet sodas. I hope this helps.
— barfiep01
December 24, 2006
Shannon, I am almost one year out and I do not drink soda of any kind.
Before surgery I would drink about 2-4 cans of Diet Coke a day, plus three
or four cups of regular coffee in the morning! While I was in the hospital
post surgery, I decided to kick my caffeine habit as well. That was a 24
year relationship! Having a morhpine drip will certainly help with the
with the withdrawal headaches. But I do not drink any soda at all, and
occasionally I will have half regular half decaf coffee - like once every
two weeks. Bottom line - soda has NO redeeming value and it DOES eat away
at the calcium in your bones. I read tha tsome folks let in go flat but
what is the point of that? I would rather be having water instead. Good
luck to you on your journey and Merry Christmas!
— Mrs. Crabapple
December 28, 2006
I am almost five years out. I do drink diet soda, due to just plain water,
herb tea and things like Crystal Lite make it difficult to motivate me to
drink enough on a daily basis, and I've ended up dehydrated and needing IV
fluids more than once. It's an individual issue, as far as I'm concerned.
What works for one may not work for another. I've kept my initial weight
loss off, so...
— DeeDK62
Click Here to Return