Question:
Will I eventually be able to drink sodas and alcohol?
My surgeon says I will never drink alcohol again, but he's very strict. I just wondered if y'all drink. I never had alcohol that often before but was curious. As for soda, I SO miss my diet Dr. Pepper and wondered if soda is okay eventually. Thanks for any help! — Kelli T. (posted on August 25, 2003)
August 25, 2003
I was a Diet Coke-a-holic pre-op and have just lost my taste for it
following surgery. I've tasted it a couple of times but it tastes ghastly
to me now. I've almost gotten to the point where cold water really
satisfies me now and it's almost all that I drink any more.
— Cathy S.
August 25, 2003
Hi, I took my first drink when i was 5 months post-op. I think most Dr's
tell u to wait at least 6 months. I had a beer. The other night i went to
a party and i had a mixed drink, and i only had to have 1, but i was
feeling good and ordered a beer, but i couldn't drink it at all. So be
careful, and drink only in moderation because it will hit u harder now then
before. I will say that it will effect u much faster then it did pre-op. I
wasnt a big soda person pre-op so not having soda isn't a problem for me.
I do taste it every now and again to get my tongue wet, but i haven't drank
1 whole one yet.
— sexysag37
August 25, 2003
Hi Kelli. I'm almost 2 years post op now and I drink soft drinks and
alcohol.....both in very strict moderation. I have always enjoyed soda --
diet and fully leaded -- and started drinking them about a year after
surgery. I average about 3 cans a week. I don't have the same taste for
it that I used to but I do enjoy it from time to time. As for alcohol, I
don't drink it regularly but I do have a glass of wine occasionally. One
glass of wine is about all I can handle -- my capacity has gone WAY down!
A lot of people will try and scare you about drinking carbonated beverages
-- give you the whole "gas expanding your pouch" routine. My
surgeon assures me that you'll burp long before your pouch permanently
stretches. Use your common sense and don't overdo. Enjoy.
— Pam S.
August 25, 2003
My doc says drink all you want of Diet Caffiene free soda. I don't know
about the alcohol because I don't drink....I am just over a year out. He
started letting me have it at about 8 months....Good Luck....Open RNY
8/12/02 down 125+ lbs
— Sharon1964
August 25, 2003
My experience has mirrored that of Pam except that I went on vacation after
6 months out (to celebrate losing about 200 pounds and our 10 yr.
anniversaty) and drank a little every day. My capacity is greatly reduced.
I may have 1/2 a beer every few weeks, but that is about it.
— SteveColarossi
August 25, 2003
I had my first drink of wine (red) at one month out, I don't drink soda, I
have no desire for it.
— Sarah S.
August 25, 2003
Post Op my mother-in-law could have soda. It was the only thing she could
keep down at first so her Doc told her to go for it. Diet Only!! She is now
4 mos post-op. I have had up to 2 glasses of wine with dinner, any more
than that and I can feel it. I am almost 5 mos post op. I can not drink
soda anymore, one tiny sip and I want to vomit.
— M B.
August 25, 2003
I went to Vegas on my 3 month anniversary and had no problems at all. I
ordered vodka-cranberry drinks and they were great. I didn't find that my
tolerance was much different and since then I have drank and not noticed it
either. I sure wish I could feel it after 1/2 a drink, but no such luck.
I also have an occasional diet coke and usually don't finish it. Just take
small sips, don't gulp!
— blank first name B.
August 25, 2003
Who can drink soda or alcohol with all the water we are supposed to be
drinking? I drink water exclusively. I do not miss soda (leaded only!),
and I never liked alcohol.
— Ginger M.
August 25, 2003
I drank for the first time on July 4th. I had several Coronas with no real
problem except the alcohol hits REALLY fast. I was flying high on the first
beer. It was the first time I had any alcohol in a couple of years.
Previously, in my younger days I was a professional stunt drinker and could
handle my alcohol quite well. I would have felt what I did on my first beer
until about my 5th. GO SLOW!!! It will sneak up on you. As far as a cola, I
ended up ordering one at a restaurant once. Never again!!! I would have to
burp after every swallow because of the carbonation. I hated it and stick
to water and tea now. I used to be a cola junkie, now I can tell what brand
of bottled water I am drinking by taste. Good Luck!!!
— dkinson
August 25, 2003
Soda? NEVER AGAIN! Carbonation is the only thing that will stretch your
pouch, other than grazing all day long. Why on earth would anyone think
that any soda tasted that good to do that after all we have been through?
I have never heard any nutritionist or surgeon say that it will EVER be
okay to ever have carbonation again. I am shocked to hear that some
surgeons have said otherwise. Interesting!
— Michele B.
August 25, 2003
"I am shocked to hear that some surgeons have said otherwise."
That is because the stretching is only a myth.
— faybay
August 25, 2003
Amen Fay! As for the person who drank Corona but wouldn't drink soda
because of the burping...umm isn't beer carbonated? Causes me to burp
waaay more than pop does. I drink about 4-6 cans of diet soda a day and
have since I was 6 months post-op. Not that I recommend it, but it hasn't
hurt me any.
— [Deactivated Member]
August 25, 2003
I, too, was a Diet Coke fiend before surgery, and I've also lost my taste
for it entirely. Lately, I've found myself thinking about trying it again
when it looks good with (or, that is, just before) a meal, but every time I
do, I don't like it. About alcohol--went on a cruise last month, and
decided to indulge in a pina colada while we were in Cozumel. I drank
about half of it--maybe 5 ounces?--my DH had to practically carry me back
on the ship. Talk about straight to the head! I never was that much of a
drinker, but boy am I a cheap date now! hee hee
— AmyL
August 25, 2003
I had my first taste of beer about 6 months out. It was horrible. It foamed
in my mouth and stomach. Now at almost 15 months out. I can drink anything
with no problem, and unfortunately, I do not have a lower tolerance for
alcohol either.
— MURRAY
August 25, 2003
I've been drinking pop since week 8 post-op. I just had alcohol for the
first time about 3 months ago. No problems. I've been at goal for a year
and these things haven't affected me poorly at all.
— Patty H.
August 25, 2003
I had my first drink of alcohol to celebrate my 10th month out. 1 drink
only and it took me several hours to finish it. Alcohol hits ya like a ton
of bricks so please be careful. I also started to drink diet sodas. I
found that I dont have the desire to snack if I SIP on diet soda. Which is
a good thing for me becasue now all I want to do is snack. It takes me
about 4 or 5 hours to finish one. I would much rather have 1 diet drink
than nibble on junk I REALLY dont need. And I only have 1 a day if that.
And yes it is a myth that sodas strech your pouch. Good luck to you.
~Sidney~ Open RNY 10-23-02 down 110+ and counting (25 to go before goal)
— Siddy I.
August 25, 2003
The carbonation in soda will NOT stretch your pouch. It is little bubbles
of gas that will come up and make you burp. I am 3 1/2 weeks out and have
been drinking a diet soda every couple of days for the last 2 weeks. I
pour it over ice and then as it sits, the bubbles work their own way out.
Besides, I drink it so slowly, that I don't have troubles with the bubbles.
If you drink some and it doesn't sit well with you, then wait a week or
two before you try it again.
— Rachel T.
August 26, 2003
My surgeon said to wait until 6 weeks post op until trying soda. I don't
care for carbonated beverages anyhow, so it was about 9 months before I
tried a diet Coke. It was fine. I had a small amount of alcohol about 1
month after surgery and was fine with that,too.
— koogy
August 26, 2003
I don't drink soda very often (I am just about 13 months out and have maybe
polished off a 12 pack) but I do occaisionally have a drink (one usually is
enough for a good buzz) I like Vanilla Schnapps with Ocean Sprays diet
Cran/Raspberry. Very tasty! I have been very diligent to make the right
choices in my life and have found that an occasional drink does not bother
me. I don't drink every day, but sometimes you just want a drink, just be
careful and don't over-do it, it does hit you much faster. As for your
soda, have a diet Dr. Pepper on the rocks and stir it a bit to lessen some
of the carbonation. Also, on the days you do have soda or alcohol increase
your water by 8-10 oz. (caffine and alcohol tend to dehydrate) So many
people say I will never do that again, and for them that may be the only
way to control the old habits, but some of us can enjoy an occaisional
drink/soda and still stick to a healthy routine, for those that are all or
nothing, stick to a specific regimin, but find what works FOR YOU, not what
works for others. The key to success is what you can stick to for success
for life.
— Dana B.
August 26, 2003
The whole idea that carbonation can stretch a pouch amazes me....If you
think about it for a minute the concept just plain doesn't make sense.It's
not like the air is trapped in our pouches so that it doesn't have any
where to be released....
— jennifer A.
August 28, 2003
Who comes up with this crap about never being able to have sodas or alcohol
again. It's a bunch of bull. I started drinking soda about 6 months out
of my surgery. I waited about 1 year for alcohol. Sure, I burp more with
soda and have to watch the types I drink. I do better with Diet and
Regular and Caffiene doesn't bother me. I also drink tea and coffee.
The only thing I can say about alcohol is that you will drink less and be
more affected than before surgery. I recently went to a party and unwisely
consumed 7 shots over the course of 1 1/2 hours (mainly Tequila). I
couldn't walk straight. When I do drink, I usually have just one and nurse
it along.
Be careful, avoid soda with your meals, don't drink and drive, but
remember, you had this surgery to "LIVE" you life, not hide from
the world.
P.S. I also eat occasional fried foods, carbs, and sugar. I just don't
eat it all the time or in great amounts. I'm 19 months RNY post op and
have lost 230 lbs. So forget the FOOD/SODA/ALCOHOL NAZIS and do what you
want in moderation. It was our over indulgence that got us into trouble in
the first place.
— jean.campbell
August 30, 2003
I'm almost 16 months post-op. I drink alcohol occasionally, in moderation.
I get buzzed after one drink (cheap date!). I still can't tolerate sodas.
The fizz makes me very uncomfortable and really gassy.
— Jennifer A.
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