i used to drink kombucha pre op for probiotics not in a pill. i'm 5 months post sleeve today, and am eating a little fermented foods daily(sauerkraut, pickles). i am about to start making kefir. does anyone drink kombucha? it is VERY mildly alcoholic and effervescent. would that little bit of carbonation cause problems? i'm just trying to make some really smart/healthy choices.

I would definitely ask your NUT about something like this, especially because of the carbonation.

I was allowed alcohol at 3 months post-op, but advised to never drink carbonated beverages. That being said, I have had beer a couple of times and I know that there are several people on these forums who drink soda daily. You have to make some choices for yourself. Personally, carbonation scares me and I worry about how gassy and uncomfortable I might be if I tried to drink much of it. But you have to assess the potential risks verses rewards for yourself. Advise from your NUT and surgeon should be fully considered and understood, but ultimately, you are the one who has to live your life.

What if you just stirred the kombucha in an open-topped container (like a bowl) to let the effervescence escape before you ate it?

The alcohol content of it is very mild so I wouldn't worry about that. The fizziness might irritate your tummy so I would go slow with reintroducing it. You could also try letting it sit out before drinking although I don't know if it goes flat like soda does.

de-fizzing sounds like a good idea. thanks for the suggestions.