Question:
Is diet iced tea okay to use in place of water when you are post-op?

I don't mean complete substitution, it is just that since I was a kid that is all I would drink. Never big on soda, water, or kool-aid types. Do you think I could do 50/50-water/diet tea?    — kyle S. (posted on February 12, 2002)

February 12, 2002
Good question! A few weeks back I asked if my protein supplement could be counted as part of my fluid. I didn't know! But, the answer to your question is YES! The rule is if it's liquid at room temperature, it counts as part of your fluid. But, there's a downside to the iced tea. It really should be decaf. For every ounce of a caffeinated beverage you drink through the day, you must replace that with a decaffinated beverage. Example: You need 64 oz of fluid a day. You drink 8 oz of regular coffee in the morning. That means you need to drink another 8 oz of fluid equaling 72 oz! It's just easier to get your fluid from a decaffinated beverage in the first place! Good luck
   — Kristin R.

February 12, 2002
Yes, Yes and Yes. I had the worst time getting water down. It hurt my stomach so bad - room temperature & cold. My doc suggested hot tea. Now I am drinking that and getting my water in better (still not at a liter yet) and I like it. It doesn't hurt my tummy and I find I can take big drinks with it rather than sip.
   — Goldilauxx B.

February 12, 2002
Hi. I have a website that is very enlightening. It's http://www.holymtn.com/tea/caffeine_content.htm I have also heard much about the fact that caffienated beverages dehydrate and that for every ounce of one you drink, you have to drink another ounce of water to make up for the diuretic effect. But there's a real variance between the caffiene content of, say, coffee, and that of instant tea. So it's all relative. I always want to know the "real deal" about stuff, and this is one area where I needed to check it out for myself. I drink Crystal Light tea, mixed roughly half and half with water... the caffiene content this way is, in my opinion, negligble compared to that of coffee, et al.
   — Joya K.

February 12, 2002
ONLY IF THE TEA IS DECAFFINATED!!!!!!!! Caffeine is a diaretic and will deplete the body of fluids. You must double your liquid intake for every amount of caffeine drinks you drink..... 2 water for every 1 caffeine drink. I found sugar free tang and broth..... I just decided after surgery I had to do what I needed to do to get the water down... regardless of what I liked and did not like! My best to you!
   — Pamela W.

February 13, 2002
Crystal Light makes a decaf iced tea....it's very good.
   — [Anonymous]