Question:
I was told that you can't drink soda's after surgery, is this true?
— Alisha R. (posted on July 1, 2004)
July 1, 2004
It totally depends on your surgeon and nutritionist.
— JoSyrNY
July 1, 2004
immediately after surgery you probably will not be ABLE to due to the
carbonation. Later, down the road, you will probably tolerate them much
better although they can sometimes cause you to feel bloated from the
carbonation. I admit that I do drink diet sodas, but generally only on the
weekends when I am out running around. During the week I try my best to
stay away from them due to the carbonation and the caffeine.
— Christy L.
July 1, 2004
my dr says no it stretches your pouch
— donald H.
July 1, 2004
My surgeon said no! His rationale for this was for several reasons.
First he said right after surgery, the carbonation in your new tummy will
be very, very painful. His second reason was that carbonated drinks are
hard on the kidneys. I'd like to see the medical information on that, but
I take him at his word. He said most carbonated beverages had lots of
sodium in them which I didn't need. I can see that. And lastly he said in
his practice, people who were most successful long-term refrained from
carbonated beverages. I thought I'd die a thousand deaths without my Diet
Coke, but I haven't really missed it. Tastes do indeed change.
— Cathy S.
July 1, 2004
Please don't take this wrong, but I figure as long as I can burp or toot, I
can drink pop. It was around 3 months out before I tried diet pop. It hurt
like holy heck. Then I put artifical sugar in to make it sweet like
regular. One of fringe benefits of doing this is it ALSO makes the pop fiz
up. This of course, means most of the carbination is taken out. I love pop
this way. I'm three years out and can drink pop with carbonation, however I
still don't enjoy it UNLESS I sweeten and flatten it with artifical sugar.
;)
— Danmark
July 1, 2004
My Doctor says no carbonation after surgery. I'm over a year out and have
not even had a sip of soda, and I was a 2liter every 2 days kind of soda
drinker. He says it will make you uncomfortable. I've also heard that
carbonation depletes the calcium in your body. Personally, I'd rather not
waste what little room I have, on something that is not good for me anyway.
Just my opinion. :-). But, I think you should listen to what your Doctor
says.
— KellyJeanB
July 1, 2004
I am two years out and to my goal. I started drinking soda about three
months ago. I always enjoyed it but gave it up in order to do everything I
could to lose my 150 pounds. I only drink it about every other day and I
can't drink it out of the can or bottle as it makes me belch too much. I
put it in a glass with ice and totally enjoy it. That's the point isn't
it? Reward and enjoy it? It was worth the wait--or should I say weight???
— buhret
July 1, 2004
I had also heard no soda as a post op, but the question is asked all the
time at our support group, and the surgeon says, not as a new post op as it
will be uncomfortable and you are still healing, but no damage will be
done, in general. He suggests to drink as tolerated, caffiene frre, and
diet. I drink on rare occasions, sipping from my husband's glass. I don't
think I have ever had a whole soda, and for sure, the carbonation is
uncomfortable for me right from a bottle or can. I would still listen to
yur Dr. though. Good luck!!
— Fixnmyself
July 1, 2004
I was about 9 months out before I had any soda. I have noproblem with it.
It does not stretch your pouch - you have two openings and the carbonation
will go one way or another. I don't plan on going anywhere areound polite
company if I have a Diet Vanilla Pepsi!
— koogy
July 1, 2004
I've been drinking soda since 1 week post-op. It hasn't hurt my weight
loss at all and I'm over 2 1/2 years post-op.
— Patty H.
July 1, 2004
I was told no soda after surgery ever. I used to love diet coke, I dont
have any urge to have any. I tried Crystal Light and its okay. I do love
dark strong coffee, I know thats bad and I drink lots of water.
— debmi
July 2, 2004
I was told no colored soda, diet 7up or diet Sprite only and only in small
amounts. Colored sodas can damage the lining of your stomach and since our
stomachs are so small now not to drink them. I was addicted to Diet Coke
before surgery but have not even wanted one since and I am 10 months out.
They do not interest me anymore. My now addiction in Crystal Light, I
drink a gallon a day at least.
— tazfan
July 2, 2004
I just made a discovery about carbonation and just posted it on the main
board. I have been drinking caffenee free diet pop since 4 months post op
and didn't believe it was a problem. I have also been having problems with
vomiting since 10 months out because I would get this uncomfortable pain in
my chest after my evening meal and vomiting made me feel better instantly.
Since I gave up the pop on June 20th I have not suffered a chest pain
incident - gotta been the carbonation.
— bbjnay
July 2, 2004
I've been drinking soda since about 4 months post op, no problems at all.
I have not had a 'can' of soda ,only fountain drinks or canned soda poured
over ice. Either way, no problems whatsoever and I've been at goal for
over 4 months now!
— chelle3081
July 2, 2004
Some good answers. The bottom line is nothing is never with this surgery
unless you cannot tolerate it. Now whether you should or not is a
different story. The part about carbonation hurting/being uncomfortable as
a new post-op is so true, along with a more important reason, that it
leeches calcium from our bones which we already have problems absorbing.
But another reason, the main one in my case, is that I have a hard enough
time getting in 64 oz of water and I don't have the time to drink much
soda. I have the occasional soda, but a six pack in my house or a 2 liter
goes flat before I can drink it.
— Cindy R.
July 2, 2004
I am almost 2yrs post-op and I live on pop just like I did before surgery
except I now drink diet only. I started drinking pop a couple months
post-op and I drank it flat until 4-5mo post-op and just open and go since.
Good luck!
— Sandy M.
July 3, 2004
Alisha...my surgeon told me (as well as my dietician) that I could never
have pop or carbonated beverages again. I was told that the carbonation,
once the beverage is in your stomach, could stretch the pouch causing your
weight loss to be slower than it should be or even stretch the pouch to the
point where you can eat more and, in doing so, gain weight. I was told
that even if you let the pop sit out and go flat, the carbonation is still
there and the gas from the carbonation will activate once in your pouch and
could stretch it that way also. And finally, I was told that carbonation
and caffiene can stimulate your bowel and pouch and make you feel hungry.
Hope this helps. I'm 6 months post op and will never have pop again, which
is the thing I miss the most. There is nothing, and I do mean NOTHING,
that I'll even try that may jeopardize my weight loss. It took a full year
for me to try everything possible to lose weight on my own (actually my
whole life) and nothing is worth gaining weight or not losing as I should.
Hope this helps...good luck and God bless.
— Katherine F.
July 4, 2004
yes you can have soda,its totally up to you,unless you never put anything
in your mouth that your doc doesnt recommend, i know i started about 2
months out with lots of ice, now i can drink it right out of the can, just
stay away from the sugar, my pouch was never troubled by the bubbles, i
believe in moderation so i dont ever feel deprived, and i never do. just
sip slowly to see how it sits, you will burp, i promise you that!!! good
luck.
— shellypoe
July 6, 2004
As I mentioned before, ask your Drs. opinion, but I drink a minimum amount
due to losing the desire for it. Of course, diet, and caffiene free, as
caffiene is a diuretic. As one of the other posters mentioned, and my Drs.
confirmed at our support group, carbonation cannot stretch your pouch since
it is open on both ends. It is a matter of comfort and tolerability. It
never hindered my weight loss---120 pounds gone and below goal at 1 year
post-op, and easily being maintained at 18 months post op. Good luck!
— Fixnmyself
July 14, 2004
Alisha,
I think which surgery you have and who your surgeon is and what his or her
protocol is has everything to do with the answers that you're getting
here.
I had an open BPD/DS 2 yrs ago, and have been drinking regular (not diet)
pop since about 2 weeks post-op. Probably should have waited a little
longer, since there are so many healing issues going on internally, but I
fared fine.
It doesn't seem to have any affect on my weight loss or well-being. I've
lost 205 lbs and my comorbidities.
Blessings,
dina
— Dina McBride
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