Okay i have had soda about 6 times since banded in July. i havent talked to my doctor about drinking soda, i have just seen on here that you shouldnt do it. I have had about 6 week spots where I have drank soda and i feel find after doing so, no problems. do you think i have caused damage or is if only possible to cause damage if you drink it on a daily basic. I just dont understand its liquid which goes right down,is it the carbonation they worry about? What is the damage from drinking soda?

hi. it's been a while since i've been here. just glad to be back and wishing everyone well...

I consider myself a sucess story as i have lost 92lbs in a year and drink soda at least 3-4 times a week. Not everyone got the band to eat healthier. Some get it to eat less.

Follow your own Dr.s advise and no one else's

I consider myself a sucess story as i have lost 92lbs in a year and drink soda at least 3-4 times a week. Not everyone got the band to eat healthier. Some get it to eat less.

Follow your own Dr.s advise and no one else's

Considering you've lost 92 pounds I'm assuming you drink diet sodas correct?

Diet soda has been linked to many health problems. To name a few: kidney failure, cancer and yes, obesity.

I guess my assumption that people who get banded are wanting to live healthier lives is completely incorrect.

Edited November 12, 200916 yr by happy2lose

92 pounds! That's fantastic! Congratulations! You should be really proud of yourself.

You've lost nearly one-hundred pounds, so clearly you are doing something right! I don't think the sodas are hurting you one bit!

I think the doctors give us a lot of rules at the time of the surgery. And for the most part, these rules are very helpful and provide a great guideline of how to alter your lifestyle for the band. However, I also think these rules can be flexible.

Originally I wanted to get gastric bypass surgery. But because I am still young, my doctor recommended the band. With the band, he made a point to say, I can still eat the occasional brownie, drink the occasional soda, and have the occasional beer. liquids funnel right through the band, so he told me the carbonation wouldn't cause any damage - as long as you take small sips, just like you do with Water.

Obviously our doctors have told us different things. So why don't we just stop the name-calling, the judgements, and the promises of others failures. Not only is that inappropriate, but its mean. We come to this website for support, not to be judged.

Considering you've lost 92 pounds I'm assuming you drink diet sodas correct?

Diet soda has been linked to many health problems. To name a few: kidney failure, cancer and yes, obesity.

I guess my assumption that people who get banded are wanting to live healthier lives is completely incorrect.

Geez hun give it up!! seriously get off your high horse.. You are so negative its not even funny. Your snarky remaks are unecessary. Clearly we all got or are getting a lapband because we have an off relationship with food. Why is it any of your buisness if someone wants to drink a soda? Seriously i doubt that success here is measured by the amount of weight you have lost. You know what they say about assumptions they make an a$$ out of you lolz!!

I guess now we know why the success rate for lapbanders is low. Because they have doctors giving them bad advice and some of their patients don't follow the rules of the band anyway. The no carbonation rule is stated all over the place in LAP-BAND® literature. It is no surprise or late breaking news that bandsters can't have carbonation.

I just don't get it! The first several months on this site I encountered some really rude and obnoxious people and couldn't understand why they were this way. I now understand! They just got fed up with all the dummies who wont follow the rules.

Not looking for an argument here; I just need to point out to the OP also that every doc has somewhat different rules, just like they all have different diets to follow (and a little harsh to call others 'dummies' IMO). By all means, do whatever your doc says. My doc is one of the best docs in our city (known for being a leading medical city) and he says the 'carbonation stretching your pouch is a bunch of bunk; no possible way'. He told me once you're banded burping can become uncomfortable for some as there's a stoma that the belch has to now go through to come out, but if the burps don't bother you then carbonation is fine. I'm not a soda drinker, but I've had beer and tonic many times since banding with no problems. If I'd ever seen any evidence that carbonation might hurt anything then I'd be the first one to show others here...I've been on here an other sites for well over a year and I've never run across any evidence...anyone has any I'd honestly love to see it...let's be supportive of following different rules.

Edited November 13, 200916 yr by Band_Groupie

Well I drink diet soft drink when I want to. I have maybe 2 or 3 a week if/when I'm out at a bbq or with friends. All three of my surgeons/fill doctors have no problem with it and have never said that I can't have it. I say, if you really want one and it doesn't cause any problems, then have one.

Edited November 13, 200916 yr by TeganRheana

Yah...Check out all the passion on the LBT... I love it! Let's talk about politics and religion now and see how that goes!

Yah...Check out all the passion on the LBT... I love it! Let's talk about politics and religion now and see how that goes!

You know us fat folk, we're all passionate about something lolz!!!!

Honestly no one here can give you the best answer, the first person that replied is the one to go with - See your doc and discuss it with them, overall the thing that is the main issue is stretching of the pouch from carbonation which can lead to weight gain so why risk that? For me I have it in my mind that if I take one sip I'm going to have it all foam up in my throat and I'll be in severe pain, that's probably not true but for me it's good to think that way lol.

Listen this is what my doc said. The lapband is a lifestyle CHANGE. You don't have to give up living just because you have the lap band. You have to be sensible about your eating and drinking. What works for some might not work for others. Use your own common judgment.

My doc also said no carbonation what so ever. So I am choosing NOT to have it. Your choices may be different and I'm not going to judge you. We are all in this together no matter what size we are, no matter what color we are, no matter where we live, no matter what doctor we have.

I have been judged all my life because of my weight and because of this I refuse to judge people for what they do. It's hurtful and frankly that's what got us, or at least that's what got me here in the first place.

Good luck to everyone of you. I wish you peace and lots of happiness on your journeys.

My surgeon discourages me from drinking carbonation. He said if I did, I would probably regret it anyway. Also, I read every piece of literature from lap band themselves and they say NO carbonated beverages. I figured they made the thing, they might know what they are talking about.

Trust me, this was my biggest vice. Diet Coke....my dear sweet friend. I miss her LOL

To answer the first posters question. I really doubt you would have caused any damage to your band. I was a major Coca- Cola drinker. Regular not diet. Probably 2 liters per day pre band. Haven't touched it since. My doctors opinion is more breaking the habit of carbonated drinks because he wants you to drink water. He feels the scientific evidence that it actually causes damage. Unlike some who are pretty much perfect with our band most of us have moments of weakness. I love an occasional resee's cup. I am fairly new to the game and have lost around 32 to 34 pounds since september (depending on the day I weigh). My personal opinion. Stay away from Soda's. Will your band blow up into a million pieces? doubtful.

I don't want to inflame anything further. The rules from my surgeon is no carbonated drinks. The nurse there who has had the surgery said I wouldn't like it anyway. So I haven't broken that rule. I know my burping is very different now, and I don't want to risk stretching my new small pouch.

I was a heavy diet pepsi drinker before and I have given it up - replaced it with Crystal Light although I drink less than before. It can be done.

If you haven't had issues with it you may not have done any damage. Go ahead and ask your doctor. If you're not honest with your doctor he can't help you.

I guess now we know why the success rate for lapbanders is low. Because they have doctors giving them bad advice and some of their patients don't follow the rules of the band anyway. The no carbonation rule is stated all over the place in LAP-BAND®® literature. It is no surprise or late breaking news that bandsters can't have carbonation.

I just don't get it! The first several months on this site I encountered some really rude and obnoxious people and couldn't understand why they were this way. I now understand! They just got fed up with all the dummies who wont follow the rules.

Wow, you really need to calm down. There are no hard and fast "rules", every doctor is different. I drink carbonated beverages, caffeine, I didn't have to lose any weight prior to surgery, etc.

I eat and drink anything I want, whenever I want. I pay attention to what I eat and try to make smart decisions, but I have zero stress, never count calories, never feel like I'm missing out on anything and don't even think about my band anymore. I've never had any issues, pain, or other problems. I just simply eat less than I used to. I have lost 100% of my excess weight in a year. Have you?

You are right about one thing though, there are plenty of bad doctors out there, and IMO they try to cover their butts by making up all kinds of ridiculous rules.