I know most carbonated drinks have a lot of empty calories & no nutritional value but what is the deal with how it actually effects the band itself? Some doctors say its ok to have a carbonated drink every now and then & others say not at all? Whats the real story?

It depends on who you ask.

Carbonation does expand in the stomach- that's a fact. The band issue is that because carbonated drinks pass through the band immediately they expand the stomach below the band, potentially pushing upward on the band. This can cause slips.

On a personal level, I think risking it with carbonation is foolish. When I had my surgery the woman sharing a room with me was there to have a band replacement. Her band slipped and her stomach prolapsed up through her band. She also regain 40 pounds. All this was a direct result of her drinking soda (carbonation).

I've gone through way too much to get where I am and refuse to risk it by making the same mistake that woman sharing my room made. It's just not worth it.

It depends on who you ask.

Carbonation does expand in the stomach- that's a fact. The band issue is that because carbonated drinks pass through the band immediately they expand the stomach below the band, potentially pushing upward on the band. This can cause slips.

On a personal level, I think risking it with carbonation is foolish. When I had my surgery the woman sharing a room with me was there to have a band replacement. Her band slipped and her stomach prolapsed up through her band. She also regain 40 pounds. All this was a direct result of her drinking soda (carbonation).

I've gone through way too much to get where I am and refuse to risk it by making the same mistake that woman sharing my room made. It's just not worth it.

Just wanted to thank you for sharing this. I always wondered if it could actually cause harm to the band, as I was basically told it was more likely to cause discomfort than do actual harm. Glad I gave up my diet coke addiction before getting the band...totally not worth that kind of risk!

I havent had one in 4 months.....not going to pick it back up now. Though I do miss Dr Pepper sometimes.

Personally I gave up soda about 8 years ago, if you take a glass of coke and put nails or a piece of meat in the soda, the soda will dissolove them! When a friend proved it to me that was the end of my romance with coke! God only knows what it does to your insides! But I did know it was because of the gas it would cause after you drink it. if it's below your band it doesn't really escape. I was told if I wanted to drink pop let it first go flat! No thanks!!