I have been banded just over three weeks now. I loved diet soda before I was banded but have avoided soda since surgery. I was told by my nutricianist appointment the day before banding that soda does not work with the band. I have read from posts that most people just feel really uncomfortable from their experience post-band with soda. I have heard mixed reviews as far as medical evidence that it is bad for the pouch. I have tried the rare sip from my husbands soda and have never felt weird feelings from it. I have not had a fill yet so maybe I am just so unrestricted that it doesn't have any adverse affect? Is there any serious medical evidence that shows soda is horrible for the band (pouch stretching or ?)? I am willing to live without it for sure but life would be so much more pleasant with it. I am finding I am very limited on low calorie drinks. Juices are out. I do ice tea with splenda and of course a ton of water but I am getting a little bored with those. Thanks for any info, Teresa

In my written post op instructions from my nutritionalist it clearly stated in big bold capitalized letters NO CARBONATION EVER AGAIN!!

I never questioned why, I just figured these were the instructions from my Dr. and my nutritionalist and since I was a self pay and paying alot of money .I'm going to listen to their directions. They are the professionals with more knowledge about the banb then I have.. However I have heard all kinds of different theories as to why not to drink sodas ie: band erosion, reflux, pouch stretching

so if any of this is true , having a soda is not worth it to me.

Just My opinion

Good Luck to you

Michelle

Teresa -

There are lots of options for low-calorie drinks that are non-carbonated besides Water and iced tea.

There are tons of sugarfree mixes on the market, like Crystal Light, Kool Aid, things like that. There is also a large market of flavored waters, like Fruit2O.

Of course, the very best thing is plain ol' water, but I know that doesn't always satisfy the taste buds. Try one of the many sugarfree flavors out there! Or splash some lemon, apple cider vinegar, or even juice in your water to alter the flavor.

As far as the carbonation dilemma goes - at some point you may be at a restriction where you CAN'T drink carbonation anyway, whether it harms the pouch or not. But if we're not supposed to have NSAIDS because of possible gastric ulcers, I can't imagine that carbonated beverages are much better. And anything that can irritate/erode the lining of the stomach increases the chances that the band could be eroded through those thinner stomach walls, so for me it just is not worth it. I don't even think about it - I just don't have it. Period. But lots of people do - you have to evaluate the possible risks against your desires, and make your own decision.

I was absolutely addicted to Diet Coke before the band. I think I drank several per day. I haven't had any since getting banded. I switched to Crystal Light and I was surprised by how easy it was to do so. Now I find I drink more Water than anything else.

I think no matter how hard a habit is to break, we can develop new, healthier habits without too much difficulty.

I went to the Texas Bandster Bash recently and one of the surgeons stated that there is medical evidence than people who drink carbonated beverages while banded do not lose as much weight as those who don't. It was a simple correlation, didn't say why not. And I didn't write down the citation, sorry. But I could hazard a guess as to why not. I think when we go against doctor's advice on one thing, it's easier to go against it on other things and pretty soon. . . well, you get the idea.

Nancy

OK, I get understand the diet soda thing but what about Perrier

bottle Water. I like it for a change sometime. What do ya'll think?

Carolyn

Thank you for all the helpful advice and support. I am sure they had a reason for telling me no soda also but I wish I would have thought to ask why. Like most of you, I have heard different opinions and theories and was just wondering if it was based on scientific data. Of course I wouldn't want to risk the band, I was a self pay also. Keep the ideas and theories coming though. Best wishes, Teresa

Carolyn -

It's the CARBONATION that's the problem - not the "soda". Champagne, beer, Perrier, soda, sparkling Water... All of these things have carbonation, which is acidic.