I have had my band for about 4 weeks, and I have had no problems. The first 3 weeks I only drank water and gatorade, but now that I am eating real food I am craving diet sodas. I have been drinking one or two diet sodas a day for the past week or so and I have had no probs with gas or anything. I was just wondering if diet drinks are okay. Can they in anyway harm the band? Do you drink diet soda post- lap band?

Ditto as to what most of you have said about not drinking sodas. Besides causing discomfort, and band stretching, they are just not good for you anyway. I am going to miss my sodas too, but only for a little while. I have been going through caffeine withdrawals and I just like the taste of carbonated drinks. I don't think I would like them flat.

Anyway, I read years ago in a fitness magazine that carbonated beverages slow your metabolism. Not only that but diet drinks have alot of sodium which is not good for weight loss either. Sodium causes Fluid retention and can make your blood pressure go up. We are trying to get a way from all those types of problems by having the band surgery in the first place.

Good luck at kicking the habit.

You can get ulcers and such easier after being banded. Plus it still has carbination but do whatever floats your boat. It's your health. :cursing: Like I said it's my opinion, and a lot of doctor's :biggrin: You posted it aswell so people are going to respond with how they feel.

Edited June 19, 200818 yr by Froggi

According to my surgeon.. the band is on the OUTSIDE of your stomach and there is absolutely nothing on the iINSIDE of the stomach--no stitches or anything. So, whatever you eat or drink--the content does not affect the pouch. I want to know, too...anyone here that can say their band slipped from drinking carbonated drinks? I really don't think so!

SherryL,

You are right about the band being on the outside, but have you ever drank a carbonated beverage and have your stomach bloat causing intense pain from the gas build up? I know I have had that happen to me and it was very painful. Maybe I took a drink too fast; I don't know, but anyway I know how much pain I was in. I could only imagine how that would feel if my stomach was smaller. It would be like forcing more air into a balloon that is already full.

You do have stitches on the outside of your stomach to secure the band to, hopefully, prevent slipping. So if you do things like drink carbonated beverages, eat lots of gas forming foods, eat too much, etc, you will end up causing problems, which unfortunately can be slipping of the band.

I haven't been banded yet so I don't speak from personal experience; just my opinion.

Good luck to all of us trying to kick those habits that can hinder our healing and progression towards our goals.

I have never hurt from drinking a diet coke. I DON'T let it go flat, I just let it sit for a few minutes till the fizz goes away. I think the key here is that I SIP it slowly, waiting a little between sips and then I burp after a few sips. Yep, I used to "guzzle" the drinks but I don't now, just sip.

That's even worse IMO.

I have one FLAT diet soda a day. However, I know I shouldn't. I haven't had a problem. The caffeine is not good either according to my doctor.