Anybody out there still drinking coffee post sleeve surgery? I am a coffee drinker - one cup of hot coffee in the morning and one cup of iced coffee mid-morning.

Doc says I need to give up caffeine post surgery (surgery not scheduled yet). Anybody still drinking caffeine with bad side effects? Or do you drink caffeine without issues?

Edited December 26, 2025Dec 26 by Diane72

Hey Diane,

I’m only two months post-op, but I haven’t had any coffee since pre-op. It’s actually the thing I miss the most, but my surgeon advised me to stay away from caffeine for at least six months post-op.

Good luck on your journey!!

I drink it without issues post sleeve and post revision but it’s not just about the caffeine it’s something in the coffee is acidic that can cause issues. I gave it up for well over a year with the sleeve and a good 8 months with the SADI. My surgeon didn't say I couldn’t have it post surgery just to cut it to one a day, but I am a Coke zero addict and I was afraid if I’m back on caffeine I would find myself in a predicament where that’s the only option and I will be right back to drinking a 12 pack of Coke Zero a day which isn’t good for anyone. I would talk to your surgeon about why he/she has that rule post op and ask if it’s okay to try it and at what point it would be safe to do so. You could always do decaf. It’s not bad once you have kicked the habit. I have iced decaf occasionally now because I bought a bunch of the cold brew packets in decaf by mistake (darn Walmart online in the phone pics are so tiny). I have it with a caramel protein shake and it’s quite delicious actually.

Edited December 29, 2025Dec 29 by ShoppGirl

I have one cup of black coffee daily. Sip on it - don't chug it. If it was easy to change my habits, I wouldn't be having surgery😏 I also sip on my iced coffee, which is once daily. I can quit/cutback if needed but I enjoy the hot coffee in the AM. I have cut but from a continuous coffee drinker to my one hot cup daily. I am also cutting back on the size of my iced coffee.

I do want to change my lifestyle and increase my mobility - but I'm 72, single, live alone, have lots of alone time. My morning coffee is substitute for morning interaction. I don't know. Guess this journey is as emotional as it physical.

Caffeine is notorious for stirring up reflux which I believe is why surgeons say no caffeine especially in the first weeks/months after surgery when your body is still producing the amount of stomach acid you needed pre surgery. Plus many people add a lot of syrups, creamers, etc. to their coffees which up the calories.

However I do know some sleevers who were given coffee in hospital after their surgery so ….

Best advice is to follow your doctor’s recommendations and then slowly reintroduce it after a couple of months & see how you go. It will just depend on how your body reacts. And one thing you will discover after surgery is all because someone can dorsn’t mean you will be able to as well & vice versa.

I was lucky, my surgeon recommended green and herbal tea as an alternative and I had been a long time green tea drinker. I’d given up coffee/caffeine years prior as part of the dietary changes I’d made to manage my occasional reflux & poor sleep.

Edited January 1Jan 1 by Arabesque

Approaching 10 years post op. Was not given any such warnings after my surgery. I take at least 2 cups of coffee on most week days and one on the weekends. The only negative is perhaps that coffee inhibits iron absorption. Something I discovered 6 years late! I now space my coffee intake well away from my iron supplementation.

I went to decaf with my 2 week liquid only diet before my surgery (Bypass) and returned to one serving of caffeine per day about 8 months post op. Currently, 2 years post op, I still have one serving of caffeinated coffee, in the morning, black coffee, small cup. I enjoy it tremendously and I find it helps with my blood pressure issues. Some days I allow myself a coke zero if I need some focus but otherwise I drink decaf and herbal teas for warm drinks after my one cup of regular coffee. The only blip is that I do have to watch the amount of acids I take in, take a break for a day or two if I'm feeling a bit of stomach acid.

Also soda addict here, coke zero makes caffeine free as well.

Edited January 5Jan 5 by Lily2024

I stayed off the recommended time from my dr. I am back on coffee and diet coke every day and do not have any issues.