I just find it so terrible that I can never again drink carbonated drinks. What is the reason behind it?

I am able to drink beer with no issue. just not a lot of it.

Also, I would not recommend using coffee as your clear liquid in the healing stages. Coffee is a diuretic and can hinder your bodies ability to retain fluids, they don't make a caffeine free coffee, like they do tea. I was told no caffeine until 3 months out, because caffeine does slow your body's ability to heal. Once again, nothing to do with stretching your pouch....

Absolutely!!

I’m slowly moving away from coffee [emoji477]️ [emoji173]️

Phosphoric acid is a major component in pop (Coke, Dr. Pepper, etc.)

Phosphorus itself is an important bone mineral. If we're getting a disproportionate amount of phosphorus compared to the amount of calcium we're getting, that could lead to bone loss.

Another possible culprit is caffeine, which experts have long known can interfere with calcium absorption. Both caffeinated and non-caffeinated colas were associated with lower bone density. Caffeinated drinks still appear to do more damage.

Because gastric bypass (and to a certain extent the gastric sleeve) already causes malabsorptive challenges with calcium, for example, drinking pop just makes it even harder to get the calcium required. By the way, CALCIUM CITRATE is the form of calcium best for bariatric patients. Other forms of calcium, particularly CALCIUM CARBONATE and TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, can no longer be absorbed readily because we now lack the stomach acid to break them down.

My feeling is that total deprivation creates a problem. An occasional can or small bottle should be enough to satisfy without creating unnecessary stress and tension. I have no plans to give up my Diet Dr. Pepper entirely, but I'll also take it slow and see how it feels first. It's too soon (only 2 weeks post-op) for me to return to some semblance of my old, wicked ways.

Edited June 28, 20188 yr by Missouri-Lee's Summit

On 6/27/2018 at 3:10 PM, YeahOkay31 said:

They say they stretch your sleeve/pouch and give you the killer gas. I don't plan to experiment anytime soon, though on these hot days I am missing my chilled prosecco. Maybe after I get close to goal.

Oh, how I am going to miss prosecco

My doctor says that carbonated non-sugary beverages, like fizzy water, are ok to drink in moderation once you’re healed. He said that the risk of stretching your pouch is unlikely unless you drink a carbonated beverages all the time. Your pouch/stomach is meant to expand and contract a little. You only get into trouble if you’re regularly overstuffing yourself.

Know for a fact carbonated drinks can be very painful. I was on the Airplane and order a Mimosa and I felt like I was going to die. Never again .

That may have as much to do with the cabin pressure.

I drink carbonated beverages (Zevia and LaCroix) sometimes 2 or 3 times a week and sometimes every few weeks. I have now for over a year after my Registered Dietition from my bariatric program suggested it. I also do Kombucha which she suggested and I drink from straws! Yes, call me a rebel! I just sip and don't chug. I do burp a lot, but that's it. After you're healed you can try it and see. But I definitely wouldn't chug it. You're pouch would definitely explode! Totally! And that would be unpleasant.

Six weeks post-op I'm allowed to have caffeine, use straws, and have carbonated drinks.

Thats crap... There is no way your stomach will expand from carbonated drinks. I had my surgery January 18th, 2018 and I drank 2 coronas for the 1st time since my surgery at my daughters baby shower July 8th. I was able to drink them..not chug them down but 3 good sips at a time. I also found that Pepsi and Fresca dont upset my stomach. I drink a lot of unsweetened tea, juice, and water. I drink maybe a quarter of a bottle of soda a month.. I waited until I was 12 weeks post op to try a carbonated drink. . You will be fine.

On 6/27/2018 at 2:51 PM, TropicalBeachDoll said:

Caffeine , carbonated drinks cause gas pockets and expand your stomach

NT said that caffeine simple dehydrates you....if you need caffeine....drink a bottle of water afterwards.....when she said that...lol....my a$$ didn't even want the coffee anymore....It's a mental thing.....we want what we aren't supposed to have....

FWIW - two years out next month. My team let me have regular coffee within weeks of surgery - as soon as my stomach could handle it. Carbonation - I have once or twice a week. Granted I'm almost 2 years out. I had surgery on August 23, 2016 and about a month after surgery was in a location where only carbonated beverages were my options and I felt like I was going to die. Now, I have 1 glass of diet coke with some ice cubes every week or so and I'm fine. I don't find them to be comfortable. Did they stretch my pouch - no. Have I had problems with caffeine - no. I drink about 32 ounces of coffee a day (down from my pre-surgery numbers) - straight up black coffee. It's like blood to me. I'm fine. Talk with your team. My team is ok with both so long as you feel ok.

Carbonation, like straws and other such bariatric urban legends fall into the category that they might cause some discomfort, particularly early on. If they do, skip it and maybe try it again in a few weeks. If it doesn't cause any discomfort, it isn't going to hurt anything. No, it isn't going to cause your stomach to stretch, particularly with an RNY which is an open system (no pyloric valve), but the gas pressure may cause some discomfort as it passes up or down on its way out.

The main thing that it could possibly do, with either procedure, is to stress the lower esophageal sphincter which is supposed to keep everything down in the stomach and not flow back up into the esophagus (reflux) making GERD a greater possibility (even with a bypass.)

My doctor told me no carbonated drinks for a year. But I've have a few sips of carbonated drinks such as soda or an icee when my stomach was empty and they just made me a burp a bit. I think everything is okay in moderation and if doesn't make you uncomfortable or feel sick.

I had no carbonation or caffeine until I was 3 Months post op. I now drink 2 cups of coffee every morning and probably one or two flavored carbonated waters a day. Still losing weight and have had no side effects.