In the info session i went to, the surgeon stated that you have to be off caffeine...is that permanently or just before the surgery? Can i really never have a cup of coffee again?

Also...I understand why they say no more soda...but has anyone tried it post op...what were the consequences (sp?)...

Thanks in advance for the feedback!

coffee & tea were part of my post op liquids & that's great because i could never give up my 8/10oz's each morning. gave up my diet coke & dont' miss it one bit - coffee, i think i'd hurt someone if i couldn't have that in the AM.

i've read that many dr's say NO to caffeine due to dehydration & other variables - it's not affected my weightloss or diet to date.

Good Luck~

:huh2: I drink coffee and tea and have since surgery on 2/25/08. It has not affected my weight loss (20 lbs.) and I have very little restriction.

Caffeine is prohibited. However, the nutriionist told me that if I did drink caffeine then I would need to replace it with double the water. For example: if I have a 4 oz coffee for breakfast then I need to drink 8 oz water to replace it. caffeine is a diuretic and it makes you urinate, therofre, I think they just want to keep u hydarted. As for the sodas? I am on my 5 th week post-op and I haven't had any so I can't answer that question. Hope this helps

This is what I do, and I can't speak for anyone else. I avoid caffeine in general as it tends to bother my stomach. I have GERD and caffeine is an irritant (yes the band has helped my GERD). But I do have some caffeine now and then. I would be very careful about caffeine right around the surgery-- about a month before and a couple of months after as that is when your body is going to be the most sensitive. And don't have a ton of it. As far as caffeine and dehydration go, I'm not sure if that is really true. To be honest, I have read one or two recent studies disputing this. I feel that these days decaf coffee is pretty tasty. I have a little bean grinder and I grind my own and then I use my electric percolator. Its a nice cup of decaf.

Now, on to carbonation. I drink soda. Diet, caffeine free, generally speaking, but yes I do drink the stuff. I didn't drink anything carbonated until at least a couple of months post op. And then I took it slow and easy and let things get partially flat or more so in the fridge. For a while now I've been drinking regularly carbonated soda-- things like Fresca and diet caffeine free Pepsi. I also really like diet tonic Water for some reason but I prefer to let that defizz a bit. To be honest I am not a carbonation fan. I would prefer it if things were sold flat or with just a tiny bit of carbonation, but I find the drinks tasty and conveniant and I am not patient enough to wait for everything to go flat-- nor do I have the storage space to do so practically. My stomach has not exploded, but I do burp a lot. A burp a lot in general after the band. If you do try soda, let it be partially flat and take it very slow and easy.

One thing I do and like is carry around a sigg water bottle and use the little crystal lite to go packs. White grape is one of my current favorites. These are also good for after the gym when I want to get some extra hydration in, or in the winter.

There is a website (sodaclub.com) where you can buy just the syrup and add it to tap water and make your own flat soda... zero fizz. I haven't been able to drink carbonation for years due to a medicine I'm on so I've been making my own soda like this for a while now.

Soda can stretch your pouch and cause band errosion...BAD!!

I am five months out and I use to drink diet soda and coffee everyday. After my surgery, I only had four cups of coffee and I can honestly say that I don't miss soda or coffee. Generic crystal light and water has become my best friend.

I drink coffee most days...my nutritionist says it is ok.

In another thead someone posted that the doctor had originally thought soda caused band errosion, then upon studies, found out that it hadn't after all....so...maybe this is not the case...i guess ultimately, anything "overdone" is not a good thing.

I drink a couple cups of coffee a day. My doc doesn't have anything against it. Recent studies have show that it doesn't have any more of a diuretic effect than regular Water does. Notice how when you drink water you pee more?

Soda works for some people. For me, it HURTS. BADLY. OW. OW OW OW

Imagine the worst gas pains you've ever had. Yeah.

I'm glad. There's no nutritional value in most carbonated drinks, and Coke was a real calorie source for me back when I first started gaining. I'd drink like a 6-pack a day. Darn my workplace for having free soda.