Question:
Are carbonated beverages going to stretch my pouch?

I like to go out every weekend with my friends and don't want to drink alcohol. Is drinking diet soda going to stretch my pouch or hurt it in any way? Thanks!    — posprudence (posted on June 28, 2007)


June 28, 2007
Yep, any carbonated beverage will stretch it--- but then again it also depends on how far out you are? When in doubt check with your nutritionist.
   — crystalsno

June 28, 2007
I wouldn't chance it, drink iced tea instead.
   — Sheri A.

June 28, 2007
It surely stretch your stomach, and can harm it because of the acid content on that type of beverages. You should'n be drinking them. Maybe trying with crystal light, tea, natural juice or water, its healtier
   — jarizomais

June 28, 2007
I am a year and 4 months out from gastric bypass and I have been drinking cokes and dr peppers for as long as i can remember!! But, I know I didn't drink them right after i had my surgery but i did start drinking them about 4 months after...and here i am still loosing weight! I have gone from 278 lbs to 154 lbs.!! I just lost 10 lbs in about the last week and a half. So, no it didn't stretch mine but always make sure to try and burp after each swallow and drink it slowly- don't gulp it down. ~Melissa
   — WannaBSlim

June 28, 2007
Hi Cassandra, thanks for writing. Going out with your friends is a good thing, alcohol is a bad thing, and I am glad you are staying away from that. In case you don't know, the alcohol goes directly to your liver, and you increase your chances of liver damage with wls surgery and drinking, so please continue to not drink. Carbonated beverages are also an enemy. 80% of people who choose to have a revision after an original wls surgery drink soda of some type. The carbonation does damage to a young pouch, caffine is a real problem for many reasons, it will increase your hunger and mess with your head about what foods you want to eat. I am 3 1/2 years out and stayed away from soda until about a year ago. I don't drink it often, and I balance it with water, but I am really glad I waited for 2 1/2 years to drink any. It taught me a lot along the way. I don't have any solutions to your going out with your friends, but we would tell our children, if you play with matches, you are gonna get fire, perhaps it is time to change the type of going out you do? Do you really want to put yourself in the area of temptation that can cause you to eventually go back to where you started. Sometimes we have to walk away from what we want to get what we really want. Just a thought, the choices and the consequences are yours. Take care. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

June 28, 2007
This seems to be a question that comes up a lot!! My suggestion would be to ask your surgeon. My surgeon told me as long as I could tolerate the soda it was alright to have one. However, it must be diet! I also choose not to drink caffeine. The soda sits fine with me personally and I'm almost 2 months post-op. Good Luck!
   — Zandra C.

June 29, 2007
I've not had my surgery yet (July 18) but do go out with friends who drink. I don't drink any alcohol or soda and I've found that a number of places local to me have diet Crystal Light lemonade. If they don't have anything like that I've asked for extra lemons to put in my water and then add a little Equal or whatever they have on hand. I always tip well if I just have water and I've yet to have a server complain.
   — justmerobin

June 29, 2007
I drink diet soda (7-UP) and plenty of it in the hot climate that I live in. Truly, it has *not* stretched my pouch. It's important to stay well hydrated and just plain water doesn't do it for me. Fruit jiuces might be better in some sense (natural?) than Diet 7-UP except that they contain plenty of sugar -- and that's worse for you than Diet 7-UP in my humble opinion. I do not chug-a-lug and I give myself a good burp (silently when among company) between 'sips'. I don't suggest carbonated beverages during the six month period after RNY however.
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 29, 2007
Check with your doctor and / or nutritionist. However, my doctor said "NO" carbonated sodas...not even diet soda. When you are out with your friends, carry a "to go" package of crystal light with you. Ask for a glass of water and mix in the crystal light. You've come too far to mess things up with a soda. Stay strong...GOOD LUCK !!!
   — AngelaC.

June 29, 2007
Cassandra-- Anything carbonated is bad for your pouch, caffeine isn't your best bet either... When I go out-- I just order water-- and add one of those crystal light single servings- whether I was served a bottle or a glass of water. Then I've got a nice refreshing drink to enjoy too. Have fun.
   — tynkris

June 30, 2007
Alcohol will make you drunk with the first half a drink then you get sober then sick as a dog, yes soda will help to ruin the pouch, get a bottle of pop and put a small balloon over the mouth and leave it till the evening go back and look at it the balloon will be expanded that is what it does to the pouc. Get water with lemon put a sweet n low in it , it tastes like lemonade and looks like a mixed drink.
   — DonnaB.

July 4, 2007
My doctor and my dietician both advised me not to drink carbonated beverages. The myth that it will stretch your stomach was busted by the Mythbusters, but why chance it. I don't drink them. However, my niece, who also had the surgery, d has always drunk them, and she is doing well and three years out.
   — Novashannon

July 12, 2007
Every surgeon is different. Six months after RNY, my surgeon and nutritionist approved diet, caffeine-free beverages. I was fully healed so no risk of harm to my pouch. I've consumed them ever since and have not had any problems (root beer gives me the foamies for the first few sips).
   — Tigs




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