Question:
Why do I have to quit drinking caffine before and not have it after WLS?

I have head we needed to stop drinking or eating anything with caffine in it before surgery, and not have it at all after surgery. Why? Does it thin the blood or something? Can I drink half decaf and half caffine coffee? I will be having a RNY in just over 3 weeks. How soon should I stop? I don't smoke, and I had my last drink last night, is there anything else I should quit before surgery? Thanks a bunch, Annie    — Annie R. (posted on July 16, 2001)

July 15, 2001
There are lots of medical reasons not to drink caffeine, although my surgeon didn't tell me to stop. Both my husband and I stopped well before surgery for practical reasons: we knew we would not have the capacity to waste on coffee post-op, and did not want to face caffeine withdrawal headaches on top of everything else. So, we quit well ahead of time (a month) to make sure it would not be a problem. It was six months before coffee tasted good to me again, but my husband was sipping a cup 2 weeks after his surgery. We have stuck to decaf, because the caffeine is simply not good for you. And the amount is still much less - need to save room for water! - Kate -
   — kateseidel

July 16, 2001
My surgeon told me to cut the caffine and also any sugar substitutes because they all increase you hunger. Caffine and sugar substitutes serves as appeitte stimulaters, particularly in beverages. Take it from an AVID Pepsi drinker. Prior to surgery I was over a liter a day. I would buy two 2liters every other day and would go into convulsions without them. I cut out the soda about a month prior to surgery and now I don't crave them. It is water or decaffinated tea for me. It is more beneficial than all that sugar and carbonation in soft drinks.
   — L F.

July 16, 2001
Caffine is also a diuretic and since you are supposed to get as much water as possible after surgery to avoid dehydration the caffine would just be defeating the purpose. Don't worry about withdrawels. I went through Pepsi detox for the five days that I was in the hospital recovering and have been fine without it every since. I did however have a farewell glass of Pepsi at 8:45pm the night before my surgery.
   — Meredith A.

July 16, 2001
Caffeine also stops the absorbtion of calcium, i believe it's calcium. Since our bodies don't absorb everything anymore this is very important. good luck all
   — Lisa B.

July 16, 2001
Remember..everybody is different..when I had the surgery I was unhappy until I found a life style I was happy with...I find I am either hungry or after a couple bites of something I am uncomfortable...I have lost my best friend..FOOD...BUT..I find that I give myself a couple things that do make me happy...one of which is my Coffee Latte with sugerfee carmel which I have almost every day... We have to be able to live with our new bodies and we still a vice now and then.
   — Debora H.