Seems to be a very mixed camp among the healthcare providers with bands and the consumption of soft drinks. I went cold turkey on Diet Coke and other similar drinks when I started my pre-op. I am a software engineer by trade and one of the unwritten rules is we down lots of these drinks, with sugar or otherwise. I will admit to drinking 5 or 6 over the course of a day and that is not counting the occasional supersized drink from the convenience store once in a while. The first week I was sort of tired and didn't understand why. Now 5 weeks later it was suggested that I setup an appointment with my PCP to see about lowering some of my BP medications. I know I have been told in the past to cut back on the caffeine and sodium, but never had any guess it would add up to 30-40 points on my BP. Also seeing a sizable drop in blood sugar levels. Anyone else see drops like this? Getting off the medications is motivation enough to make me stay off of them. Not to mention the extra $$$ that I was literally xxxxxxx down the toilet.

I know there are different opinions about carbonation and the band. My doctor did not tell me not to drink carbonation, but I discovered that there were days I could drink soda and days I could not. Over the years, I discovered that I just don't really want it much anymore. I do like to have an occasional diet soda, but it's rare. (I don't mind artificial sweetener, so I gave up sugared soda many many years ago, just because of the calories). Honestly, if I am following the rules, I just don't usually have time to drink soda. If I don't drink 30 min before or 2 hours after a meal, and if I'm working in the required amount of water between meals, I'm not sure when I'd find time for a Coke! It's amazing what a difference one small thing can make! Now if I could just get my husband and kids (can't make the kids stop until he does) to give up soda, we could go on a cruise with the savings!

Shelly

I occasionally will have a diet soft drink. But usually will open it and let it sit for awhile sometimes it will take a couple of days to drink it, I used to drink quite a bit of diet soda three to four cans a day.

Drinking Diet soft drinks have never been High on my list of items that I have given up.

I rather drink Water or ice tea.

Even though there may be differences between healthcare providers the makers of the lapband unequivocally say not to drink carbonated drinks. On the other hand, I don't listen and seem to drink them just fine. However, if I end up screwing up my band it's my own damn fault and I won't be able to blame anyone else because I knew there were risks.

Don't you just hate that accountability thing? I've always suspected it is and has been highly overrated.

Even though there may be differences between healthcare providers the makers of the lapband unequivocally say not to drink carbonated drinks. On the other hand, I don't listen and seem to drink them just fine. However, if I end up screwing up my band it's my own damn fault and I won't be able to blame anyone else because I knew there were risks.

This is another one of those things I have taken for granted for the past 7 years. I didn't realize how I had placed my band at risk. All this time, I thought it was just about whether I felt uncomfortable or whether I did/didn't lose weight. It kind of scares the crap out of me now. The thought of losing my band literally almost makes me panic. My new mantra is "I'll be good, I'll be good, I'll be good..."

Shelly