Question:
How soon after surgery can I have carbonated beverages?

   — [Anonymous] (posted on August 15, 2001)

August 15, 2001
I was told to wait 6 months. The carbination can be very uncomfortable, just like gas. It can make you feel very full and miserable. But, if I couldn't wait, to let it go flat before I drank it. That didn't sound too apealing, so I "cold turkeyed" diet coke. Good Luck
   — bek4901

August 15, 2001
Just put Splenda (or some other sweetener) in, stir it up good and you'll lose half the fizz and have a diet drink closer to the taste of regular. Sip it slow, don't drink much and you should be ok. But you may find that carbonated drinks don't thrill you like before. But still it's nice to have one "once in awhile" in "small amounts". ;)
   — Danmark

August 15, 2001
Hi!! I tried diet pepsi one week post op,just let it sit on the glass with ice a few minutes,don't drink it out of the can.My Doctor said the carbonation on a can of pop will not strecht your pouch,it does however cause some discomfort SOMETIMES,and it makes you burp a lot more than pre op.Hey one can of diet soda here and there won't hurt anybody.
   — Monica J.

August 16, 2001
I've been told to wait until 6 months but since I've made it this far I've decided just to stay away from it for good. I was a MAJOR Pepsi junky. If you do decide to try it make sure it's caffein free. Caffein is poison.
   — Meredith A.

August 16, 2001
Our doctor, and the nutrtionist who specializes in WLS patients say you have to give up ALL carbonated beverages - THEY WILL STRETCH OUT YOUR POUCH, which undermines the whole point of having the surgery! If you cannot live without a soda, buy Diet Rite soda; it has no calories and has no sodium - most sodas are LOADED with too much sodium, hard on your kidneys, which are already stressing from all the protein we ingest. Then pour the Diet Rite over some ice and let it get mostly flat. Still tastes okay and will satisfy the craving, but won't stretch out your pouch. Also try Crystal Lite drinks instead - no carbonation. Hope this helps. They told us those who drank carbonated beverages ended up stretched out, eating more and stop losing, and I for one, don't plan to put my poor old bodkin through this ordeal only to fail. Godo luck to you!
   — Lisa D.

August 21, 2001
My surgeon told me that, in a study of WLS patients that lasted ten years, they found that the single most important factor in who remained successful in keeping thier weight off after ten years were the people who did not drink carbonated beverages. So I would say never.
   — marlo T.

August 23, 2001
I am 5 1/2 months post-op and i have lost 110lbs. I OCCASIONALLY have a soda. I love diet rite and also the clear sodas that have no sodium, caffeine or sugar. You can buy them almost everywhere and Wal-Mart has their own brand thats great. They are called spakling beverages....I find i end up wasting most of my sodas though. I have a few sips and burp and I am done. I think we just sometimes NEED the fizz and once we taste it the need is over for a while. My surgeon also said no sodas but you read so many different things...this Dco said this this Doc said that...I think alot of us have to find out for ourselves what works and what doesn't. There is no one answer for all...just like the One size fits all thing.......Grrrrrrrrrrrrr.
   — Tracy L.