I am curious to know who drinks soda. I have discovered that the answer to this question depends on who you ask. I had lap band surgery on Spet 27th, 2006, and have not had soda since Sept. 26th, 2006. Personally I am doing well, but i still have cravings of a nice ice cold Diet Dr. Pepper. My surgeon told me not to drink pop, but my followup Dr. here in the states told me that there have not been any conclusive studies done that say drinking a diet pop will cause any negative effects on lap band patients. Does anyone have any advice to offer? Do you drink soda? If you do, how much? Or did your Dr. tell you not to drink soda? I look forward to reading the replys!

I stopped drinking Dr. Pepper cold turkey. And I too was a die-hard. My surgeon strongly advises against soda. He says the carbonation will cause your stomach to stretch. Plus who needs all those empty calories and sugar!

My DD is a nurse for a local physician, she was saying they have been prescribing a lot of the Chantix. She said that the first week or so goes by fairly easily for the people, but then side effects pop up, or something---she said long term at least in their office, is not looking too good. Their office manager is a smoker, and I cannot remember what she said happen with her, but it wasn't successful.

I don't tell you this to dampen your spirit or desire. I know first hand exactly how hard it is to quit---I did it 16 years ago!!!

Good Luck guys!!!

Kat

i'm having some pretty hard core temptations... there's always diet coke in the fridge and i found my self wanting just a little taste today. but i didn't. im just saying it was pretty tempting. i may need a little encouragement here. i don't want it really do i? but it's just SOOOOOOOOOO good...help!

My DD is a nurse for a local physician, she was saying they have been prescribing a lot of the Chantix. She said that the first week or so goes by fairly easily for the people, but then side effects pop up, or something---she said long term at least in their office, is not looking too good. Their office manager is a smoker, and I cannot remember what she said happen with her, but it wasn't successful.

I don't tell you this to dampen your spirit or desire. I know first hand exactly how hard it is to quit---I did it 16 years ago!!!

Good Luck guys!!!

Kat

Last time I was in Mexico Dr. Campos gave me an Rx for Chantix but I couldn't find it at any pharmacy. Well, there are only two I'll go to in Mexicali but both of them didn't carry it. I'll try Nogales. I just want to try, it might or might not work. Welbutrin works for me but I can't swallow the tablets and they cannot be broken or crushed.

i'm having some pretty hard core temptations... there's always diet coke in the fridge and i found my self wanting just a little taste today. but i didn't. im just saying it was pretty tempting. i may need a little encouragement here. i don't want it really do i? but it's just SOOOOOOOOOO good...help!

Best thing to do is to get it out of the house and keep it out. That's what I do with food too. LOL

I was told by my surgeon not to drink soda ever again after surgery. He told me it is not a matter of what kind you drink ie: diet/caffiene free/regular it is not the sugar or lack thereof. It is the carbonation that is the bad thing. Every doctor is different. But when I hear just ONE doctor say the carbonation may possibly stretch my pouch. I'm not gonna drink it. I had surgery August 1, 2006. The last soda I drank was three weeks earlier on the 4th of July. I figured I would try to see if I could go three weeks before surgery without it. If I couldn't make the three weeks, then I thought there might possibly be no point in having surgery. It was fine and I never looked back. I did however have a sip of my daughter's diet dr.pepper about 7 months post-op. It was such a horrible feeling I have never craved it since. It made my chest hurt so bad. It took like ten minutres for the feeling to go away.

I gave up soda a couple of years ago because itis just so bad for you. There is not just nothing in there thata is healthy. EVERY ingredient is harmful. The acid alone is so bad for your insides. Now with our stomas in a delicate condition, I would be afraid even more. Funny, though, a few months ago i tried some diet pepsi (a sip of my daughters at a party) and it was terrible. really is like cigarettes. I never for a million years thought i would NOT LOVE the smell of a cigarette, but now it really bothers me. Same with the soda. They are just addicitions. You are addicted to the sugar combos in there but once you clean you body of it, the body sort of rejects it later.

how are you foodstampchamp?

I'm doing good, how about yourself? Just resting up today, i'm working some O.T. tomorrow. I am still saving for my plastic surgery. It is so expensive. I have over half of it already though, hoping to have the rest in the next two months.

I was banded in Oct 06 and have not had soda since. I was a Diet Coke ADDICT! I craved it! I thought it would be the hardest thing to give up, but it hasn't been hard at all. I haven't even had a craving for it. I now drink diet Lipton green tea with citrus. I didn't like it at first, but now I love it. I have trouble with bloating, so i don't EVEN want to drink soda. It's not worth the risk of being in pain. Good luck!

Two things I have found to be a very tasty substitute for soda is certain flavors of the walmart brand of crystal light.

Half cranberry and half grape

and half cranberry and half apple.

They are EXCELLENT. And no calories. yummmy

I view soda as sugar, syrups, artificials chemicals, and/or carcinogens...not to mention the carbination thing. Nothing of value in ANY soft drink.. Been off the juice since 1/1/2007.

Hi! I'm Becky and I'm a sodaholic. (altogether now) HI BECKY!!!

I wanted to post my 2 cents on the topic. I too, like many of you was addicted to Diet Coke. "My kingdom for a Diet Coke" and "Diet Coke is like my oxygen," were often used when expressing my love for the stuff. I haven't had a diet coke since 3-21-07!!! I have never even thought about it until I read this thread. I know my skin has cleared up, I am sleeping like a baby, and I feel better, really better. I never thought I would say that either.

Smoking was my other vice. I LOVED TO SMOKE. LOVED IT, NEVER WANTED TO QUIT. I watched my mother gasp for her last breath and went out and had ciggies...was hooked. My doctor said, "I will not do the surgery on a smoker, it is harder to heal." So, on Feb. 14 I quit. I used the patch...and I guess I was really ready. Be careful w/ Zyban (Wellbutrin). It is an anti depressant. It works well for some, and not for others. I've heard great things about Chantix, but Kat is right, the long term evidence is still blurred. The good thing is that Chantix is designed to be taken for only 3 months. For my smoking friends I suggest the patch, Nicoderm CQ (clear). It is cheapest and freshest at Walmart, plus they always have a $5.00 coupon in each box. I know it is expensive, but so are ciggies. But what is really expensive is the long term effects of smoking (getting down off my soap box now), believe me I know it is tough.

Good luck everyone on your journey!

I haven't been banded yet - but in my case I am not a big soda drinker at all. Hoever, I have been drinking lots of diet soda now before my surgery. I am on a pre op diet and I find it helps to fill me up. (must be the gas)!

Suan