Question:
do any of you still drink caffine?

My surgeon said I need to quit coffee and sodas, I only have one cup a day at 4 am when I get up I cant imagine getting motovated with out it    — jessie J. (posted on July 10, 2003)


July 10, 2003
For surgery or forever? I can see him wanting you to be off it for surgery, but after you are released to regular foods? I didn't drink anything with caffeine until I was released to eat anything I could tolerate. I drink 1-2 cups of coffee a day and some green tea (pretty low but still some caffeine). A word to the wise: If you are going to quit for surgery, do it a couple of weeks ahead of time. A caffeine withdrawal headache in addition to surgery pain is not a pleasant experience! :)
   — ctyst

July 10, 2003
I am one year and one month out from open RNY and I have been having a cup of coffee every day since about 3 months out. My pouch would have freaked out if I had it any sooner. Oh and one side effect is it keeps my bathroom breaks regular. ha ha.
   — Les K.

July 10, 2003
Hi Jesse, I am now 5 mths post-op and I drink pop all of the time, but caffiene free diet, so you might want ot switch to caffeine free. Every doc is diff in telling you what you should drink and shouldn't! Good Luck to you!
   — Melodee S.

July 10, 2003
I avoid caffine for two reasons: it is a diuretic and can cause us to get easily dehydrated and it is an appetite stimulant. If you find you can continue to lose weight while drinking just one cup a day, and it doesn't dehydrate you... go for it! :~) Just be aware that later, when you are trying to lose those last fifty pounds, that cup of caffine can make the difference in losing or maintaining! :~)
   — Sharon M. B.

July 10, 2003
Yes. I drink caffine in both Coffee and Diet Pop.
   — Danmark

July 10, 2003
I started drinking coffee again about 4 months after surgery. As I never liked plain ol' coffee, I only drink espresso from a coffee shop. Most mornings on my way to work I stop and get a grande iced latte with an extra shot of espresso (3 shots total) made with soy milk. I haven't noticed any damage being done. I'm now about 6.5 months post-op and have been at goal for about a month - down 130 pounds. Looking and feeling good!
   — Smitty B.

July 10, 2003
I was told by my surgeon and nutritionist that the caffiene you drink should not be counted as part of yor daily liquid intake due to the diuretic effect. I was off of caffiene pretty much for years before, due to having palpitations from it from a mitral valve prolapse. When I went for my pre-op testing w/ my PCP, as I was leaving I asked him who would write the order for my pre-srgery antibiotics. He then checked my records, saw that I hadn't had an echocardiagram for 4 years and told me to come back the next day for one. He is a cardiologist as well as a PCP. I had the test and was told that the prolapse was no longer there. Go figure, just as the prolapse was gone, I was told to stay away from the caffiene for the diuretic reasons. Oh well, no biggie!
   — Fixnmyself

July 10, 2003
This is one of those issues in life in which you'll have to make your own decision. Doctors often offer "advice" based on the research they've read and we have to decide if we agree or not. Current research shows that people who are accustomed to caffeine do not suffer the diuretic affects of people who are not generally accustomed to it.
   — [Deactivated Member]

July 10, 2003
I have not given up the coffee. My nutrition advisor told me it was OK not to. I drink vita4life protein added in water 60 to 80 ounces a day. I don't include the coffee in water intake. My surgery was 5-12-03 and have lost 50 pounds. Black Coffee is the biggest of all my weaknesses. Although I am noticing I am drinking less of it as time goes on. Maybe one day I won't drink it anymore. This is a wonderful site. Full of beautiful people. Thanks to all. Cheryl
   — cheryl N.

July 10, 2003
I gave up everything....coffee, soda, iced tea as a pre-op and stayed away from it all for nearly 6 months. Then I ventured into a cup of decaf. Heaven! I now have 2 cups of decaf every morning. But I also am very, very vigilant about getting more than 80oz. of water in...plain straight H2O, along with my evening cup of peppermint herbal tea. My decaf is my morning wakeup juice. I have found that I couldn't handle simple decaf...I want the good stuff! As it seems with food, post-op we want only the best since we get so little! LOL I treat myself to the fresh ground whole bean coffee in the grocery store...my absolute fav is the decaf vanilla nut. I would definitely stay away from the sodas at all costs...too many issues there. In addition to the carbonation issue, even diet sodas can make you hold onto weight...the artificial sweeteners also upset the pouch for so many people. Make your one cup of java a day some decaf, so you don't have to worry about calcium absorption issues and hydration. JMHO - Anna LAP RNY 7/3/02 -133lbs.
   — Anna L.

July 10, 2003
I stopped drinking my one cup of regular coffee for about 3-4 months after surgery and didn't miss it - for awhile. I started drinking it again and it has not been a problem. When this question came up not too long ago, I did a little searching on the 'net and came up with these facts from some reputable sources ( medical studies). 1.) In a regular cup of coffee (30 - 120mg of caffeine), the water used to make the coffee generally counteracts the diurtic effect! If your body is used to having a small amount of caffeine every day, the diuretic effect is compensated or by your body. In other words, your body gets used to it! It's a different story if you drink several cups of coffee every day. 2.) Caffeine is added to many over-the-counter diet pills as it is a mild appetite suppressant. Now, some people say it stimulates their appetite, but like any drug, I believe caffeine can affect people in different ways. (I had a friend who was getting chemotherapy who swore that a cup of coffee settled her stomach better than any of the anti nausea meds she tried. I don't think I could get coffee down if I was nauseated for any reason!) Some people can drink coffee right before bed and sleep soundly. I work with a woman who becomes agitated and hyperactive if she takes Benedryl. That med knocks me out cold! Just goes to show how people react differently to caffeine as well as other meds. The point of this is - one cup of coffee probably isn't going to amount to anything, as long as your stomach says it's okay!
   — koogy

July 11, 2003
It may sound odd but my weight loss slowed down as soon as I added coffee back into my diet. (I have since stopped that one.) I also immediattely experienced dehydration and have been fighting an uphill battle with that one ever since. I know we are all different but if you are going to drink caffein then make sure you drink plenty of water too!
   — Carol S.

July 11, 2003
Love coffee (especially iced coffee), can't live without it. I just make sure I drink double water (w/crystal lite) for every serving or I'll dehydrate. Decaf doesn't work for me, I need the caffeine.
   — Mary A.

July 11, 2003
Everyday! I started after about 3 months post op with permission from my surgeon. 212/114.5/108
   — TP

July 11, 2003
My Dr. said "if you can tolerate it, eat or drink it". I've heard of some surgeons telling patients to swear off ALL milk products, sodas, and drink nothing but water for life. BORING!! (course if your lactose intolerant thats a different story). I didn't have this surgery to give up the ONE vice I can still have since I had to give up lots of sugar. I have a 20oz Iced Mocha lite on the chocolate EVERY morning and will sometimes have a soda when I go out to eat. I haven't gained a pound, gotten deydrated, etc and I've been at goal for over 6 months and almost 2 years out.
   — Kris T.




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