Question:
Has anyone else had trouble with carbonation?

I have had a lot of trouble with tummy aches, abdomen pain and cramping, lots of gas, rumbling in my intestines and then diarrhea. I think it is carbonation from diet drinks. It even happens with diet 7-Up so can't be caffeine. Anyone else had this sort of thing or is it something else?    — Becky G. (posted on November 24, 2003)

November 23, 2003
My surgeon recommends don't use carbonated beverage, so I don't use them. It's best to check with what your surgeon recommends.
   — Cathy S.

November 23, 2003
Artificial sweetner will take care of most carbonation.
   — Danmark

November 23, 2003
I was told not to drink carbonated beverages at all! They stretch your pouch. It is best not to drink them at all.
   — Gene F.

November 23, 2003
My surgeon says no to carbonated beverages and no to drinking through straws for at least 6 months. It might be a good idea to check with your surgeon/nutritionist.
   — Carolyn M.

November 23, 2003
My surgeon, as many of the previous posters mentioned, discourages carbonated beverages and even provides you with a handout "Dangers of Carbonation" Basically when the gas from the soda warms in the pouch it causes it to expand therefore not only causing the initial discomfort but also the possibility of stretching the pouch. If you are really "craving" the taste of a soda I do now of some people who will have one flat (shake it up an let carbonation fizz out) but even that is not too good for you because the acid from the soda is still there.
   — SassySamara

November 23, 2003
Most of us have had this problem and that is why nearly all the docs tell us to STAY AWAY from soda.
   — Delores S.

November 23, 2003
Yes! I thought my drink was "flat" I took a few sips and realized no...it wasn't flat enough. I didn't get diarrhea, but I did get some massive rumblings and cramping in my pouch and intestines. I have NEVER drank another sip of diet soda (or anything else with carbonation) since. It was very painful and I learned my lesson quickly. As always with anything strange, you should contact your surgeons office just to be sure there isn't something else going on...especially with the diarrhea. Good luck!
   — Kamy

November 24, 2003
I drink about 1 can of Diet VAnilla Pepsi per week as a treat. I put it on alot of ice and stir stir stir it until it doesn't foam anymore, but still it just depends on the day. Some days it's fine, but other days it just doesn't agree with me and my pouch rumbles, etc. When that happens, I don't finish my soda, I just pour it out.
   — beeda

November 24, 2003
Your still a 'newbie :) I found that I didnt even like the taste of soda the first year. After that, I had to 'be careful' cause once the soda caused a MAJOR pain attack. Now three years post , soda isnt a problem. It takes times.
   — star .

November 24, 2003
I had surgery about 1 month before you. I find I have to stay away from carbonated beverages except for flavored water. Even that is in very small doses. Frankly my addiction to Diet Coke was almost worse than my food addiction and I've been pleased to be free of it since surgery. It was expensive and I was badly "hooked" and required one every few hours. So glad to be free of this crutch. I stick with Crystal Light in nice bottles now.
   — Margaret G.

November 24, 2003
had surgery 16 months ago. Early out it (diet pop) tasted nasty and foreign to me and preop I'd been a major drinker of it. Since about 6 months out I've had no problems with it. Drink about a 6 pack a day. Not saying it's good for you, but it does NOT stretch the pouch (and I'd like to see one single 'current' study that says it does - anyone who buys the balloon on the bottle theory needs to take a refresher course in basic chemistry and biology).
   — [Deactivated Member]

November 24, 2003
I totally agree with Ruth, carbonation does not stretch the pouch..pleez, there is an opening on two ends of the pouch. However, in such a small space, carbonation and the gas can cause discomfort and a feeling of bloating. I'm 21 months out and have some soda on occasion but thankfully have lost my taste for it. When I do have soda, I burp alot though! If you are having pain/cramping/gas and discomfort, uh, why don't you just stop drinking it?
   — Cindy R.

November 24, 2003
Believe it or not, there are people who are 'normal' weight and/or never had any surgery who have issues with carbonation. This is not something exclusive to WLS patients. Yes, we could get argue the pre vs post reaction, but the fact is your stomach is different now and you should expect that not everything will be the same (thank goodness). I've had a sip or two of diet pop on rare occasion but I never have more than that because of the way it makes me feel. It just isn't worth it. I'm totally undecided as to whether it makes the pouch stretch or not. Some tend to think it's impossible to stretch the pouch under any circumstances. The pouch may not stretch back to 'normal' but I think it would be able to stretch some. Let's not even get on the topic of using any food or drink as a treat or reward. That is a mindset I find self-destructive. There is a difference in how one perceives food. If you're going to have something out of the ordinary, do it and deal with it. But don't think that because you did something worth a 'reward' that food is the way to go. That just seems like we're dooming ourselves. Okay..I've ranted...sorry.
   — Diane S.

November 24, 2003
Drinking anything carbonated was instant loose my cookies for my entire life. I ever considered trying it as a postie. Its not common but I have met others like me. My surgeon discourages carbonated beverages post op. Why drink something that may stretch your pouch. Eventually you will worry its too big and you can eat too much:( Trust me that day will come:(
   — bob-haller

November 25, 2003
Before the surgery...I was on yet another diet, however, with this diet, I gave up drinking sodas. I lost a lot of weight. I continued with the diet, just added sodas back and I started packing the pounds back on! When I realized that little drink had that much effect on me, I quit drinking them...why do that to yourself???
   — Danette C.

November 26, 2003
I can no longer have carbonated drinks. Too much pain. I am 7 months post-op.
   — miss_sweet_lori

November 26, 2003
I had my surgery exactly 2 years ago today. There's only a handful of things I have to stay away from, but carbonated drinks is the main one. I cannot at all drink anything carbonated or I will get bloated, gassy, you name it. Just a terrible feeling. When I started out, I thought I would die if I could never drink a Dr. Pepper again, but the taste really does go away. I don't even think about them anymore. Thank goodness for sweet tea. That's all I drink. RNY 11/26/01 Started at 240, at goal now of 123. Life is GREAT!!
   — Lori M.

Click Here to Return