My doc says no coffee for 2 months post-op, no alcohol for 4 months post op. As with my pregnancies, I can live without the alcohol, but coffee...that's a tough one. I know caffeine is an appetite stimulant, but I swear, for me it is not!!! A cup of coffee can really take my mind of hunger for a while. I started my pre-op diet today and switched to de-caf. The last month or so I limited myself to one cup per day so I'm hoping the headaches will not be too bad. I'm curious to know if other people received similar doctor's orders regarding caffeine...

My doc says no coffee for 2 months post-op, no alcohol for 4 months post op. As with my pregnancies, I can live without the alcohol, but coffee...that's a tough one. I know caffeine is an appetite stimulant, but I swear, for me it is not!!! A cup of coffee can really take my mind of hunger for a while. I started my pre-op diet today and switched to de-caf. The last month or so I limited myself to one cup per day so I'm hoping the headaches will not be too bad. I'm curious to know if other people received similar doctor's orders regarding caffeine...

I was a major coffee drinker and I gave it up in August 2009 before my surgery. I thought I was going to die. After about a week I was actually glad that I gave it up. I felt alot better.

The reason that my doctor doesn't want me to drink coffee is not becaues of the appetite stimulant but because coffee is a natural diuretic and it will dehydrate you. The key to lapband is that you stay hydrated. My nutritionist said that for every cup of coffee that you drink, it takes 2 cups of Water to replace what you lose. I'm also not supposed to have decaff coffee because even that has a small amount of caffine in it.

Now I can not lie. Since I gave the coffee up in August I have had 1 cup. It tasted pretty good but like I said I am glad that I gave it up. I found that I am not as nervous as I was before when drinking coffee.

Anyway all doctors are different so if your doctor said that you can drink coffee then you should be ok. But I would follow his orders and not drink it before you are supposed to.

Doctors seem to be all over the map on tea, coffee, and alcohol (not to mention other foods). You can find studies that say that caffeine is a diuretic, that it isn't a diuretic, that it makes you eat more or less, that it helps alertness, that it does nothing... I have to wonder if their own preferences control just what studies each doctor decides to believe and transmit as orders to patients. Well, that's no true exactly...I don't really wonder. Since this is a diet for life I am choosing to drink my tea and coffee much the same way I always have...2 cups of hot tea in the morning and a latte here and there through the week. Gallons of unsweetened tea during the day. An occaisional cocktail...calories permitting. My doctor says "whatever works".

My doc is a no-coffee doc, too--and I thought it might be the end of me! But I've been coffee-free since December.

To tell you the truth, I haven't missed it much. Once I got through the initial withdrawal, it was smooth sailing.

I've enjoyed the extra $$, too.

I used to be a daily (or twice-daily) fixture at my local Starbucks. They know me by name, and would start making "my" drink when they saw my car pulling in.

A couple of weeks ago, I met a friend there, and after I placed and received my order, the barrista looked at me and said, "I know I know you!"

It was THE BEST feeling--made giving coffee up MORE than worth it. I'd lost so much weight since the last time I was in that she didn't recognize me; she recognized my voice, and knew there was something. And of course, once I told her who I was, she realized it.

But man, that was an NSV if there ever was one. Giving up those lattes (even though they were the skinny sugar-free, fat-free ones) helped me get where I am now.

Oh, caffeine has pretty soundly been disproved to be a diuretic. It is mildly so---but most of the Fluid in a caffeinated drink is available to the body for hydration.

The concern with it vis-a-vis banding isn't its diuretic effect; it's that coffee (even decaf) contains acids and tannins that can be very irritating, especially to a new band.

I drink (real, caffeinated) tea from time to time, and have no difficulties with this. Coffee does irritate my stomach now, so I avoid it--decaf, too. I think everyone's body is a bit different in terms of tolerance of this sort of thing.

my doc did not take coffee away...just use artificial sweeteners.

I love my coffee with fat free hazelnut creamer. Have used it for 15 years! When I worked overseas I would order the stuff online I was so hooked. I switched to sugar free hazelnut and it's simply terrible. I endured it trying to keep to my low carb diet but I slowly started losing my taste for coffee. By the time I had surgery...I was ok. Now, almost 3 wks post op, back to my normal fat free hazelnut creamer but I think I have lost that loving feeling for it! I can barely drink 1/4 of a cup in the am...very unusual!! I just don't know. My taste buds seem to be changing.

I can't say I miss it at this point in time!

I love coffee and im allowed to have it... good luck without it :-)

Im having problems with the no pop... everytime I see it i just want to drink soooo much of it but couldnt!

My Dr. say no Coffee post op initially. I JUST couldn't do it. I have followed everything else to a tee. I have up'd my water intake to compinsate for the diuretic issue and have limited myself to 1 small cup in the morning diluted.

I was a major coffee drinker and I gave it up in August 2009 before my surgery. I thought I was going to die. After about a week I was actually glad that I gave it up. I felt alot better.

The reason that my doctor doesn't want me to drink coffee is not becaues of the appetite stimulant but because coffee is a natural diuretic and it will dehydrate you. The key to LAP-BAND® is that you stay hydrated. My nutritionist said that for every cup of coffee that you drink, it takes 2 cups of Water to replace what you lose. I'm also not supposed to have decaff coffee because even that has a small amount of caffine in it.

Now I can not lie. Since I gave the coffee up in August I have had 1 cup. It tasted pretty good but like I said I am glad that I gave it up. I found that I am not as nervous as I was before when drinking coffee.

Anyway all doctors are different so if your doctor said that you can drink coffee then you should be ok. But I would follow his orders and not drink it before you are supposed to.

As Betsy indicated, this is old information. More recent studies have debunked the myth that caffeine is a diuretic... (see link below)

The Wonders of Water

Fortunately, my surgeon allows coffee, caffeine, and carbonated beverages, so long as the patient tolerates them. And fortunately for me - I do.

Brad

Funny you saythat about the coffee. I was told 1 cup a day but I never asked why. So your post has made me realise why. Thanks.

I'm sorry.....but what a load of hooey. I drink 1.5-2 cups of coffee in the morning. Didn't stop before or after my surgery. I use a couple of Sweet N' Lows and use Soy Silk creamer. Coffee is a mild diuretic for ppl who drink several cups through-out their day, but it's not a big deal for those who like a cup or two in the morning.

I don't function well without at least one cup of coffee (well 2, I guess, since a 12+ oz mug would be considered that?) so it's more the caffeine fix than anything else. Even with wicked acid reflux I manage to get my coffee down now, especially since starting on prilosec.

I remember at the seminar my doctor said coffee is ok in moderation but no dairy, and I know I can't handle it black, so phew, I guess I will start trying alternatives now, such as different teas.

I used to drink a lot of soda, but got hooked on crystal lite lemon tea, and ice water. Yay! That's one small hurdle I won't need to bounce over when the time comes.

I don't function well without at least one cup of coffee (well 2, I guess, since a 12+ oz mug would be considered that?) so it's more the caffeine fix than anything else. Even with wicked acid reflux I manage to get my coffee down now, especially since starting on prilosec.

I remember at the seminar my doctor said coffee is ok in moderation but no dairy, and I know I can't handle it black, so phew, I guess I will start trying alternatives now, such as different teas.

I used to drink a lot of soda, but got hooked on crystal lite lemon tea, and ice Water. Yay! That's one small hurdle I won't need to bounce over when the time comes.

Why no dairy? Also caffine can cause acid reflux which can cause band erosion. Alcohol can also cause band erosion. 4 months after my surgery I had band erosion and I was a coffee drinker and enjoyed alcohol as well. I am definitely changing my eating habits my second time around already stopped drinking coffee and alcohol its' been a week and I am still dying for coffee.

Surgery in 3 days though so I want to do better this time. My doc also doesnt see a problem with coffee and alcohol though we are being cautious because I already had band erosion.

I have just completed my 3rd day without coffee...no headache today! I think doing it gradually helped. I do plan on going back to coffee after doc says ok. I'm not a Starbucks gal...invested in a super-automatic machine of my own and love the fresh brewed taste I get at home! I have always used splenda and skim milk, so not much to change there. Half & Half is a real treat for me...no more of that!

I don't know why the "no dairy" rule, but i will be sure to ask at my next, hopefully pre-op appt. I think he is opposed to liquid calories of any sort though.

I also don't understand how foods and drinks on the inside of your esophagus/pouch can cause erosion to a band on the outside. Is that assuming major reflux and esophagus erosion? Doesn't the coffee gurgle right on through from pouch to stomach?