Question:
What is the deal with Coffee????
I know that we are not suppose to drink regular coffee but I have heard conflicting information. Can someone just give it to me straight. What is so bad about regular coffee????? — sagarmy (posted on April 20, 2008)
April 20, 2008
It is not the coffee, it is the caffeine. the caffeine is a irritant to the
stomach. I was told I coulld drink decaffeinated drinks. Whick includes
coffee, tea. We also can't drink carbonateddrinks. So I have given up all
of these before my surgery. I have one more test Monday before I can be
scheduled for the surgery. I hope this helps.
— Rie73
April 20, 2008
Well, as I sit here this morning, reading the boards and having my first
cup of coffee.....I wonder what your doctor might advise you. I think many
of us have been told not to consume too much caffiene, but I have never
been told to NOT drink coffee. I know it canbe acidic and caffience is an
appetite stimulant, so maybe those are issues to think about. But I have
had no problems at all drinking real coffee from very soon after surgery.
I do this in moderation....2 cups only.
— Lisa S.
April 20, 2008
Caffeine can act as a diarrhetic to some people. You need to drink a good
quantity of water after surgery. If you urinate TOO much due to caffeine
intake, you may become dehydrated. You should not use citrus juices daily
either, such as orange or graperuit, as the acid will deter initial
healing, and may act as an irritant to your stomach, causing ulcers in
later months. Eating an orange or grapefruit is much better. Fruit juices
are concentrated, and a glass of OJ usually has about the juice of 5
oranges.
— Dave Chambers
April 20, 2008
This was one of the things I asked my surgeon during my consultation. He
said there's no reason I couldn't drink coffee, but because my stomach will
be so much smaller, I won't be able to drink a lot of it. I went from
drinking probably 6 to 8 cups per day to 1 per day and I drink decaf, just
because I felt all the caffeine wasn't good for me.
— Kar708
April 20, 2008
My surgeon said no caffeine for a month after surgery. I think it is
because caffeine acts as a diarrhetic and your body will need as much
hydration as possible after surgery.
— GlitterGal
April 20, 2008
if you can tolorate it go for it. I drink regular coffee. I am not bothered
by it.
— obx100
April 20, 2008
My nutritionist said as long as you keep it under 300 mg caffeine a day,
it's okay. I am unable to tolerate coffee since my surgery and have
become a green tea fan - only 20 mg of caffeine per serving and it can be
counted towards my liquid intake (per my nut). Hope this helps. Deb
— dthomp
April 20, 2008
I was told to limit the amount of coffee. I drink , on average 1 to 2 cups
per day and then I'm done. I'm three months out, lost 60 lbs. and have had
no problems with anything.
I think you just have to see what works for you. For me, one of the nice
parts of my day is getting up and having my coffee. As much as I wanted
the surgery and wanted to lose weight I still need some pleasure in my life
too. Now if the caffeine was causing a problem then I'd have to give it
up...but so far so good.
— cjjordan
April 20, 2008
From what I was told the issue is a matter of fluid retention. Caffeine
causes you to LOSE water. Drinking it is a net LOSS for the body. We have
smaller stomachs and have a harder time GETTING ENOUGH water. My surgeon
told me to avoid the caffeine because of this.
— hubarlow
April 20, 2008
Regular Coffee slows healing and creates a desire for food. It is more
than the cafine, but most doctors will allow you to have decafinated coffee
after three months. Decafinated Tea does not create hunger like
decafineted coffee will. Ask your doctor all have different rules, so you
will see a large varity of answers here.
— William (Bill) wmil
April 20, 2008
Coffee is a quad-rillion dollar a year enterprise--- many poorer countries'
economies need coffee exports to sustain themselves. You want to abandon
coffee and cause the ruin of these struggling democracies?
I went back to coffee at about 1 week out. Took it slowly and gradually
worked my way back to about 1/2 gallon a day. For me, coffee was a food
substitute-- there was a guilt-free pleasure in enjoying the carb-free
taste of it and a distraction from wanting food in the ritual of grinding
the beans and brewing of the pot.
The important thing is that you need to watch how you react to the
caffeine, to any emotional tie you might have to drinking coffee and eating
donuts (or other pastries) and to what you put in it. There are trace
carbohydrates in some artificial sweeteners and there are sugars in milk
products, so read your labels (and avoid artificial creamers).
For truly habituated coffee drinkers, the caffeine is no more a diuretic
than drinking an equal amount of water. Also, although some claim that
caffeine or other substances in the coffee promotes hunger, there is also a
wide body of literature that indicates that caffeine actually curbs
appetite (which is why it's put in so many OTC diet pills).
Can the caffeine impede your body's ability to fully absorb some vitamins
and minerals? Yes-- but the proper solution isn't to drink less coffee,
it's simply to take more vitamins and minerals (c'mon, that's an easy
one).
The bottom line is that, if you are a regular coffee drinker, you will be
making many changes after surgery-- you will be learning new behaviors
regarding food, if you smoke you will need to cut down (or stop altogether)
and your ability to consume alcohol will also change. With all those
changes (which are all good, don't get me wrong), I have long thought that
giving up coffee is just a lot to ask (which I am typing as I have some
coffee to help me recover from a mild hangover, but that is a question for
another day).
— SteveColarossi
April 20, 2008
I have been drinking coffee since about 2-3 weeks out. I really didn't
want it until then. I love coffee and drink about 1-2 cups a day. I drink
regular and actually a high-test version called Ahab's Revenge which has A
LOT of caffeine! I like the taste and it doesn't bother me.
— Debbi S.
April 20, 2008
I AM ALMOST 6YRS OUT OF OPEN RNY AND I HAVE BEEN DRINKING REGULAR COFFEE
SINCE DAY 1.LOVE MY COFFEE.PS I DRINK LIKE 4-5 CUPS A DAY.
— deb44m
April 20, 2008
I have had no problem with coffee. I actually like the lattes from
Starbucks. (Mostly milk ...) A Venti skinny will get you 16 grams of
protein & are sugar free without sorbitol.
— MAG
April 20, 2008
It is the caffeine that it contains. I drink regular coffee and it does not
bother me and never has. Some people have more irritation to the stomach
than others.
— nascar_angel_3_2003
April 20, 2008
My doc said coffee and any caffeine is fine, but for every caffeinated bev
you drink you have to also drink that same amount in water to make up for
the dehydrating effects of caffeine...this is over and above your normal
daily water intake.
— [Deactivated Member]
April 20, 2008
Among the reasons already stated, I was told the caffeine leaches calcium
from our bones. As women, that is an important aspect. For me, decaf
works just fine - I no longer "need" that caffeine JOLT. Good
luck!!
— NJOY
April 20, 2008
it's not the coffee -- it's the caffiene -- caffiene will dehydrate you and
also cause hunger -- you can have all the de-caf coffee you want :)
— RCassety
April 20, 2008
I haven't had surgery yet but I no longer drink anything with caffeine It
took a while but as far as coffee goes I slowing made myself go to
decaffeinated coffee for one thing I didn't want the head aches. My nut
told us no caffeine at all and I'm going to listen to her.
— alihorn
April 21, 2008
I have never been told not to have coffee. I enjoy my coffee and it does
not affect my appetite or water intake. Start slow and see what your body
can handle!
— daisyrock3
April 21, 2008
Docs can't really find any proof that coffee is bad for people...Caffeine
is bad for SOME people...and like everything else they made a mistake and
put a blanket statement on coffee that was false and it's taking a while to
uncover the truth that coffeein moderation is actually good for most
people. The biggest problem for us with RNY or DS is that coffee blocks the
absorption of Iron and CAlcuim and B-12...and more...So do not take any
vits or supps near coffe times...wait two hours before or after. Been
drinking coffee 3 months after surgery and 4 years all together...It
doesn't bother me...
— .Anita R.
April 21, 2008
I drink a bunch of coffee daily - around 60 oz, and probably another 32 oz
of ice tea. I also drink close to a gallon of Crystal Lite, so I guess
that compensates for any diuretic effect of the caffeine. I've not
experienced any negative consequences. I had RNY in 12/05 and have
maintained my total weight loss within 5 lbs. YMMV
— blues-singer
April 21, 2008
I am about to have my coffee. I was told that I could have it as long as I
limit it to 2 8oz cups per day. Or as I like to have it one big 16oz mug!
— inatiff
April 22, 2008
My doctor recently told me that coffee is fine, actually helps with my
headaches!!! And I have found it can be used as another way to get Protein
in as well...add some flovored Protein to your coffee and have different
tastes! Pretty good actually!!!!
— shellymarie
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