I see such mixed opinions on this!

I have always been under the impression that we could not have carbonation because the gas bubbles will expand and possibly stretch your stomach... But I have seen some people say they drink things like carbonated water daily with no problems with stretching. So is it just that we should stay away from sugary carbonated sodas because of the empty calories or because it will truly stretch out our stomachs?

I've read that too, but I'm not going to drink the carbonated beverages just because to do. I would die if my stomach did stretch so I am going to play it safe. No carbonated beverages for this woman! I love my small stomach as it is.....

I am a firm believer (along with my surgeon) that carbonated beverages do not stretch sleeves. They have not stretched mine. I I am almost 20 months post-op and I drink 2-3 sparkling waters everyday. I don't drink it with food, just between meals. I still have great restriction and have maintained my goal weight with in 5 pounds.

Most carbonated beverages (soda and diet soda) however are not "healthy" that's why I think many surgeons tell patients to not drink them. Its the sugar and the fake sugar that is bad- not the carbonation. If I drank 3 sodas a day I would obviously not be able to maintain a 90 pound weight loss for over a year now.

If someone chooses to avoid carbonated beverages that is their choice. Personally I can't say I will NEVER drink this or eat that... It's just not my style especially when I have no reason not to!

Truly, it won't stretch your stomach, because most of the stretchy parts have been removed. You'd have to drink a lot at one time for it to really do significant damange to the sleeve. A lot of RNY patients are told this because the carbonation doesn't really have a lot of area to expand into and can really cause and uncomfortable feeling. My ex had RNY and she could not ever drink a soda, it would just come back up on her. That said many Drs. still float that out there about stretching. To me, soda is just something that I can put aside and not drink, It is full of sugar and empty calories, and diet sodas are full of chemicals and can in some cases lead to additional cravings. I think most Drs. give it a big no, because of these reasons, but tell you that it will stretch out the stomach. I don't plan to try it again, but others have said it isn't a big deal. There are just way to many better things to eat and drink than sodas. (I was a BIG soda drinker pre-op and had no problems giving it up).

My Nut explained to me that since our stomachs are so small there is no where for the bubbles to go but up and out. She said some people seem to foam at the mouth as the bubbles try to escape. When I was sick and craved 7-Up she suggested I stir the carbonation out of it. I did and it didn't bother me. Not sure if I'm ready to try it without the stirring. lol

its not about stretching the stomach, the ACID itself is bad for the lining of our stomachs

According to my surgeon soda is fine. He just suggested everything in moderation since there are a lot of empty calories in soda.

I am really not a fan of soda...never have been....but I do like the occasional beer..I have noticed it takes me about twice as long to drink a beer as before the surgery, and I burp a lot from it. No problems with stretching out my sleeve though. Still can only eat about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food depending on what I'm eating, that is more then 1.5 years out.

I don't drink carbonation because I'm a firm believer it robs the skin of moisture and nutrients. That is why I look 40 and not 50 something.

I can't offer any advise on drinking soda or carbonated bevreages.

I can say that I decided not to bring them back into my diet at all, period. I have been without any carbonated beverages for almost 16 months, and can say that I think it has a termendous amount to do with my controlling my cravings.