Could anyone answer this? After lap band surgery can I ever have soda again??

It was one of the rules from my surgeon. I don't miss it. I have had one sip and it made me feel "gassy"

I was a Diet Pepsi-aholic before the pre-surgery diet. I stopped cold turkey on January 18, the day I started my pre-surgery diet, and really don't miss it. I did take up drinking hot tea in the mornings, but the only other thing I drink is water, with an occasional glass of iced tea.

I still have the odd glass of diet coke (usually only as a vodka mixer). It makes me gassy too, but I just burp more (attractive, I know!)

But, I waited until I was 6 weeks post-op to try.

my surgeon said it was a BIG no-no . . . so I have not been brave enought to test why

Some people do and some don't. Drs are so different! I never drank one until I was 2½ years post op. Does not bother me but I try not to drink them since they are bad for you and keep you from drinking your Water. But I have never found anything to take the place of my diet coke . . .still searching. If you do try one pour it over ice and let it sit a little bit. But remember they are like chips if you drink one you will want another one, so if you can keep from doing it I say don't.

Cheri

Could anyone answer this? After lap band surgery can I ever have soda again??

Its a big NO-NO

My doctor says NO! To be truthful I don't really miss it. And I save so much money when I eat out. Not just soda but coffee. While I drink it black anyway it's hard to get your money's worth when you have to stop drinking when your food comes. Not uncommon for coffee to be 2.50 at a breakfast joint. I'm a cheapskate so I guess I look at the money aspect. I did not however give up my .99 soda from Cumberland Farms (Northeast convenience stores) until the day before surgery. I do still get my black Ice Coffee from there (Big Gulp size) also .99.

My Dr. told me no not ever! It stretches your pouch and the acid from coke and other drinks like it may erode your band.

I was at an event that only had canned soft drinks ( no water...go figure), so I tried my old favorite dr pepper. After a couple of sips, I just threw it away. The taste is not the same!! YUK!!!! I no longer like how they taste. So definitely a good thing!

My Dr. told me no not ever! It stretches your pouch and the acid from coke and other drinks like it may erode your band.

The coke never touches your band. How can it erode it?

I was told by my surgeon that I can never drink soda or anything carbonated again after the surgery. He did however tell me that some patients had such a hard time giving up soda that they would open it and let it sit on the counter to let it go flat before drinking it.

I was told by the doctor not to drink it because of the pain. But I did take a drink from my daughters and it didn't hurt if I really feel like I need a drink I order her a small take a few sips and that seems to take care of the want for it.

I went almost 3 years without any soda. A couple months ago work stress was getting to me and I was eating everything under the sun and started drinking soda, which started from a sip from my fiance's. For about a month I was drinking coke almost everyday.

Then stopped again about a month ago and haven't had even a sip since.

My doc said as long as I didn't drink the sugared stuff carbonated drinks were okay. I happily drank soda for the first two years of my banding. The one day a few months ago I couldn't drink carbonated soda or water any more. Bummer. But I've learned to live with it.

OK m1aman,

This is how I understand it from my surgeon. ( May be Wrong May be Right)

The band is sitting on your stomach like a rubber band around your finger. If you tighten the rubber band, the blood is restricted. So with the lap band, the band is tightened around your stomach to reduce food and drink flow into your stomach, the coke (coke is very acidic) would sit above the band waiting to go through. While it is sitting there it can eat at the stomach wall from the inside out thus causing erosion. Also, the skin under the band can die because it is no longer recieving a blood supply which causes erosion period.

I hope that makes sense.