Question:
when can I drink a coke????
im dying for one! — samanthajo (posted on February 8, 2010)
February 8, 2010
Hi Samantha - I'm assuming that you had RNY (you mentioned it in your
profile). That's the surgery I had, not sure about the others. My doctor
said I could/should pretty much say goodbye to sodas going forward after my
surgery, and believe it or not, that's what I've done. Sodas (Cokes, full
flavor, and Orange Soda) were one of my biggest weaknesses pre-op. They
were hard for me to give up - in fact, I never did give them up until I had
this operation.
I'm not going to lie - I do crave them on occasion (but it is rare and less
and less often the longer I am w/o them) and sometimes I do have a little
sip to satisfy that craving, but it never goes past that. They are way too
fizzy for me and they taste strange now. There are approx. 35 grams of
sugar in a can of regular soda - I barely have that much in days.
Try to use your post-op time to relearn how to enjoy water - if you have
to, put a little crystal light in it. Unsweetened iced tea is very
refreshing - I put in a little bit of Splenda. If I'm really wanting
something different, I will take some 100% juice and mix it 1 or 2 oz to
6oz water. It gives a nice flavor without the sugar.
I know several post-ops that drink soda, but most of them are more than 5
years out. I truly believe that sodas (especially non-diet) are a slippery
slope. But, we are all individuals and for some people it might not be. I
know in my head that if I start drinking diet, nothing will stop me from
grabbing a regular coke, and next thing I know, I'll be drinking several a
day. I want to avoid the scenario where that happens and the weight will
start to pile on. I have lost 110 lbs in 9 months - I worked hard for
that. No soda will ever taste as good as I feel right now.
Didn't mean to preach to you, just sharing my opinion and my story. Good
luck to you.
— stellarsan
February 8, 2010
OH don't ask this! Everyone will wonder why you had they surgery just to
go back to drinking coke. Like you shouldn't be able to drink coke once a
year like a real person. My doctor honestly told me that this surgery
would enable me to have the occasional coke or piece of pizza and not gain
100 pounds, you know like normal people can. I would ask your surgeon, but
go with your gut, your new gut. Can you really have just one tiny half a
glass a month or will it be the beginning of trouble?
— beccay10
February 8, 2010
I drink a diet soda on occasion at a year and a half out, but I'll pour it
in a glass and put it back in the refrigerator for a while to let the fizz
lessen then I sip it slowly over a span of time. The thing about soda is
that it fizzes and releases carbon-dioxide gas, which blows your pouch up
like a balloon. In extreme instances on a new pouch, it could conceivably
cause it to spring a leak or rupture. It certainly can stretch it, and the
acid in a coke can dissolve a steak in a day or so, so I shudder to think
what it is doing to a healing pouch. It will also dissolve an iron spike in
a short time. You have to have a Haz-Mat endorsement to transport it in a
truck. All this for empty calories with no food value. We humans do some
really stupid things that animals wouldn't dream of doing. It's something
you should consider a rare treat when it won't interfere with your daily
intake of protein and nourishing foods. Bottoms up!
— Dusty Ray Vaughn
February 8, 2010
I drink a diet soda on occasion at a year and a half out, but I'll pour it
in a glass and put it back in the refrigerator for a while to let the fizz
lessen then I sip it slowly over a span of time. The thing about soda is
that it fizzes and releases carbon-dioxide gas, which blows your pouch up
like a balloon. In extreme instances on a new pouch, it could conceivably
cause it to spring a leak or rupture. It certainly can stretch it, and the
acid in a coke can dissolve a steak in a day or so, so I shudder to think
what it is doing to a healing pouch. It will also dissolve an iron spike in
a short time. You have to have a Haz-Mat endorsement to transport it in a
truck. All this for empty calories with no food value. We humans do some
really stupid things that animals wouldn't dream of doing. It's something
you should consider a rare treat when it won't interfere with your daily
intake of protein and nourishing foods. Bottoms up!
— Dusty Ray Vaughn
February 8, 2010
I can share from experience that you should NEVER drink anything carbonated
after your surgery. I'm one of those who felt fine after my surgery 3 1/2
years ago and eventually worked sugar-free soda back into my diet. Little
did I realize how the carbonation would stretch my pouch. I ended up
having to have surgery for an incisional hernia along requiring a large
piece of mesh being inserted. This has resulted in renewed restriction
(somewhat) of my pouch (not intentional, I'm sure, since the surgery wasn't
directly related to my original RYN pouch). My surgeon for this procedure
reminded me to avoid carbonated beverages to prevent any additional
'stretching' of my pouch. Take my advice - remember it as a nice part of
your old self and don't tempt yourself to make it a part of your NEW self.
You'll feel better and it won't be long before you don't miss it at all.
Good luck : )
— tonidaniels913
February 8, 2010
carbonation expands your pouch - I was told no more soda -EVER by my doc,
that is if I want to keep the weight off.
— marksgirl
February 8, 2010
I'm 19 months out and I don't drink carbonated beverages. I gave them up
before surgery. My doctor said after 6 months Icould try them, but it
would be better if I never drank them again. I've tried one a few times
just because I remember how refreshing they used to be. Now, they taste
strange, burns as it goes down and my pouch just doesn't like it.
My drinks of choice are water, iced tea and Crystal Lite.
— JB1114
February 9, 2010
My dr gave strict instructions.... No carbonated beverages ever... if you
let it go flat (yuck) you should be fine but way to much sugar in a regular
coke.
— phyllismmay
February 9, 2010
The money you had to pay to have this gift you should never what to drink a
soda. I have been 1yr and 6 month without having not even one, so find
something else to drink I drink great value drinks you put in the water and
when I do that it helps my craving. Be strong before long you won't even
miss it. kaybusk
— kaybusk
February 10, 2010
Hi Samantha,
WOW.....it's amazing how different Dr's are. I have never been told not to
ever drink a carbonated soda again. I was a diet Dr. Pepper aholic before
my RNY Gastric surgery on 12/28/09. My dietician told me to wait about 2
wks & see how the carbonation feels to my stomach. I've maybe bought 3
small & tried a sip or two and it didn't bug my stomach but I just lost
the craving of having at least 44 oz per day. I also prefer store bought
or fast food fountain soda rather than a can or bottled soda. Talk to your
dr or dietician to see their thoughts but several people on here had
complications from the carbonation so ......do some more research online
& see what you find out. Just like my stomach doesn't like cheese very
much so EVRYBODY IS DIFFERENT. Good Luck on your weight lose journey!!
— 3decks
February 10, 2010
NEVER.....THATS HOW WE ALL GOT INTO THE SITUATION WE WERE IN TO START WITH.
RIGHT! IS IT WORTH TAKING A CHANCE? I SAY NO WAY.
JOAN
— joanib504
February 10, 2010
A couple of months after my RNY I was able to drink diet soft drinks poured
over ice and allowed to stand for five minutes before drinking without any
real problems. I would say if you want just give it a try and see how you
handle it.
— rkurquhart
February 10, 2010
The correct answer to this questions in NEVER!
— fatbirdy
February 11, 2010
Bad news-never, if you're going to follow the surgeon's rule, which is only
there for our benefit. My dietician said I could have FLAT, sugar-free.
What's the point of that? I'm 30 months post-op and I've not gone back to
soda. I used to drink 2 Route 44 sodas from Sonic EVERYDAY! You can do
it!
Good news-It feels amazing to conquer my bad habits and addictions. After
almost 5 decades of diets, I am in control of food instead of it
controlling me. I am not always compliant, but the soda battle has been
won. The more good habits you develop, the better off you'll be.
— gouldsfiya
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