Ok my doc says no caffeine. I thought I could do it but three weeks post op and I finding this very difficult. Most mornings I am ok but occasionally I would fall asleep driving without my cup of coffee.

Doc says it dilates my espohagus, any suggestions or thoughts on this.

I certainly don't want it to lead to pouch stretching!

I'm sure my nutritionist might still frown upon this, but I think we're meeting in the middle.

The nutritionist probably would frown, but hey, it is our own program, we have to find what works for us in the long run, it will not work.

With all the opinions of doctors shown on this thread, it seems to be much more opinion than science about coffee/caffeine and the lap-band.

Denise

I've never heard any medical professional suggest caffeine dilates the esophagus. That doesn't make any sense to me, but I Googled it and it turns out coffee itself increases lower esophageal sphincter pressure (makes your esophagus tighter at the opening to the stomach) but caffeine itself DECREASES the pressure. They recommend not drinking coffee for people with reflux for this reason, but it seems the coffee and the caffeine in the coffee might cancel each other out, which is why so few doctors make this recommendation to bandsters. I don't know the whole story (but Google says so, so it must be true! LOL :tt2:)

I learn something new every day.

That said, my doc didn't tell me to stop drinking coffee. I did eliminate the Starbucks, though, except for very occasionally. I don't need the calories.

Good to know...if coffee is off so would Iced tea??? I do not like crystal light and drink plenty of water but....a bit of either is still going to be in my plan until I am told differently!

I was told coffee was fine as long as it was not a pot or 2 a day. I drink about 1.5 cups in the morning with sweet and low. My once a week treat, though, is a skinny latte from Starbucks. Yum!!

I work 3 nights a week and my treat on those nights is either a double tall sugar free cinnamon dolce soy latte or a tall cinnamon dolce light extra shot of espresso and no whipped frappachino, both are less than 200 cals and I find a way to fit them in on those days, since this is all about choices, I choose my fancy coffee's 3 nights a week but don't have something other nights to compensate for it, also my nights are 12hrs and I am on my feet working in the ICU so I'm not sitting at a desk all shift long burning minimal cal's either. We all make our choices about what we MUST have.

My morning coffee helps clear me out in the a.m. if you know what I mean. Natures broom. I'm not giving it up and I am down 155 pounds since banding.

I put the coffee in my shake and drink it that way....no cream and no sugar and no headaches......

Ok I gave up the idea of never having sodas...but COFFEE..heck, no! I am a Starbucks freak....I am going into my 5th week postop & I have several lattes (w/ sugar free syrup) a week....It is a must! LOL

It's interesting how each doctor gives different instructions to their patients.

The nutritionist told me no carbonated sodas, which is going to be hard cause I'm a Diet Coke drinker for the caffine. When I said I would switch to Iced Tea she told me that caffine isn't good either because it irritates the area around the band and cause an ulcer type effect.

I recently gave up coffee as part of a "plateau busting" liver detox program. I avoided the headaches by substituting green tea. Although the green tea contains some caffiene, it was recommended by my Doctor of Naturopathy. After the initial 21 day period I decided to make it my Lent Sacrifice, so Easter sunday will be my first cuppa Java

OK, I found out I have to go caffine free...not just decaf...until a month after the band...I'm trying

My doc says coffee is absolutely fine. He also says that caffeine is an appetite suppressant so even better.

i have kept my coffee, my dr said it was okay, (just avoid sugar).

i feel fine. no ill effects.

if I had to give up coffee, the withdrawls would suck..!

I gave up coffee (caffeine) cold turkey on doctors advice. Not easy at all, but did not want to chance it. Fact is, now I do not miss it and after nearly two months, feel better without it. Enough doctors say to avoid it for various reasons (dilates, increases hunger, damage to stomach, etc..) and now that we all have this little pouch, why chance it ? Don't agree with those who say "I drink it and I'm ok". Tell me in 10 years it was not a problem.

My doctor says coffee is absolutely fine. I have one or two small cups each day. I would perish without it!!!