I started the liquid diet and will have surgery on Friday the 7th. I'm dealing pretty well with it. I expected to starve. My only concern is eliminating caffeine. The pre-op diet doesn't say and I'd like to kow before tomorrow morning whether or not drinking coffee would be a bad thing. I'll call the Dr. tomorrow but ususally drink before going to work around 6:00. Anyone know whether this is a no no??

DPerez01, I had my surgery on Oct 30, 08. My doc let me have caffeine up to my NPO time on the night before surgery. Instead of coffee, I was a Diet M.D. addict. I am now 3 days post-op, and it's hard to believe, but I have been okay without it. The morning after surgery one of the things that I was served in the hospital was coffee. It is a clear liquid, so you can have it. Hope this helps, JLCoppett

my doctor said it was okay to have diet drinks or non caloric caffeine drinks up until my surgery. I think I can still have coffee and I had the surgery 10 days ago... hope it helps...

My doctor never said dont have caffeine, but I read it here and made my coffee half and half. Once I was past surgery a few day went back to regular coffee.

I think the caffeine is supposed to stimulate your appetite and make you hungrier.

My nutritionist said NO CAFFEINE!!! but I'm a quizzical sort so when i pinned her down, she told me it was because "It can be an appetite stimulant to some!" well, pffft! I am not giving it up forever because it stimulates some people's appetites! IT doesn't mine. In fact, for some people, it is an appetite suppressant.

I will say post op I make VERY sure I get my required Water in FIRST...then I allow myself the caffeine. Well, I have 1 cup coffee, then no more caffeine until I have had at least 64 oz of water.

Caffeine can be a diuretic so it's important to get the hydration in. As long as you're doing that, I don't think caffeine will hurt you, unless you're one of those people whose appetite it stimulates.

I gave up coffee and soft drinks as part of my pre-op diet and don't miss either one. I believe I am not hungry as much because of eliminating it. Also I used to take anti-inflamatories for my knees and I think eliminating the two drinks helped with the inflamation in my knees and I have not gone back on the meds. It's been 3 months since I gave it up. I tried a cup of decaf the other day and confirmed I can leave it - no desires at all for either one. Crystal Light Lemonade is my staple drink.