Question:
Should we drink regular coffee? decaf only?

I enjoy drinking coffee - black no sugar or cream or flavorings. I still get my water in too. Is coffee really that bad for you? Do you drink coffee? Looking back through my BTC food plan for post ops they note decaf only. Thanks!    — debmi (posted on January 31, 2005)

January 30, 2005
If you are only drinking one or two cups of regular coffee per day, it probably won't hurt you. You will get responses that drinking regular coffee with cause dehydration and leach calcium from your bones. I did some research and you would have to drink about 16 cups of coffee per day - strong coffee - to cause dehydration. And that's providing you don't drink anything else. The water in two cups of coffee pretty much replaces any fluid it causes you to loose. Of course, drinking decaf after surgery is a good way to break the caffeine habit, if you want. I have one cup of coffee every day and have been doing so since about 4 months after surgery. I've had no ill effects. I keep taking all my supplements. But I really, really enjoy my coffee in the morning. I am more of the school of thought that anything in moderation won't cause harm.
   — koogy

January 30, 2005
I resumed my 2 cups per day around 8 months post op since I was able to get so much water in. I read that for every cup of coffee to drink 1 1/2 cups of water to offset it. I was easily able to do that plus get in the regular 64 oz that's recommended too. Note that if you do give up the coffee for a few months, do it slowly. You might get bad headaches from the caffeine withdrawal. I started switching regular with decaf slowly over the month before my surgery and had no problems.
   — Yolanda J.

January 31, 2005
Hi! I drink one to two cups of regular coffee everyday, and have had no bad effects. I can't live without my coffee, haha! I personally don't think it is bad for you in moderation, unless it's one of those calorie laden ones from Starbucks, you know the ones that look like a sunday, haha!!
   — Carey N.

January 31, 2005
Susan has a good answer. I too drink coffee in the am, in fact nothing but a Starbucks grande coffee of the day will do, but after thats gone, nothing but water, baby, all day loooong. As long as you keep up with your calcium supplements (citrate only), and drink a ton of water, you should be able to have some coffee.
   — Cindy R.

January 31, 2005
My doctor told me that as long as I did not overdo it, I could have some regular coffee. The rule of thumb is, if you drink 8 ounces of coffee you need to replace it with 16 ounces of water(or decaf fluids). I can do that!!! I need my morning coffee. Also, just FYI, I was told by my surgeon that there is something they can give you know if you really need to take an NSAID(such as ibuprofen or any anti inflammatory) before you take it and it will protect your pouch. I had some problems in the hospital and they were going to give me ibuprofen and I told them I could not take it and the doctor came in and talked to me about it. If you really think you need an anti-inflammatory for a medical condition such as arthritis or such, talk to your doctor. Sorry I don't remember what the medication was called. I was on very good pain meds. LOL
   — CAMFR

January 31, 2005
My doctor explained to me that the caffine in coffee causes a reaction in the brain and can cause you to be hungry causing grazing. Same with Aspertame. He advises us against both caffine and aspertame. Once in a while is fine, but not daily.
   — jk_harris