Drinking: No, Not THAT Kind of Drinking

What do you drink?

Ignoring plain water - that's the obvious answer - what beverages are recommended pre-operation? Is diet soda okay? Zero-calorie Crystal Light? Carbonated water? Coffee? Iced Tea?

I genuinely don't understand if diet soda or Crystal Light are OK. I find some sites that say they're fine, and other sites that say they are the cause of all weight gain ever. The jury seems to be out on coffee as well. Atkins says coffee is fine, but I see a lot of people here saying not to touch it.

What should you drink, pre-operation?

pre and post op menu is ultimately up to what your doc says.  My doc and nut both say ANY non caloric beverage.  I should keep the soda to a minimum because of carbonation, but I can have ice tea, crystal light, diet drinks, all of it.  Even coffee, but if its not decaf I have to make up with it with the same size beverage on top of everything.

But that is my doctor.  

Carbohydrate drink will be one of the option for pre operative drinks.

I have to ask...

Pre-operation, is diet soda OK? Is it as awful as some sites make it out to be?

From what I understand, since the carbonation causes a lot of discomfort/pain post-surgery, you might as well chuck it beforehand.

What does your surgeon's plan recommend?  

I think it is a good idea to ween yourself off the caffeine before surgery,  you may not be able to tolarate it after surgery to cut down on the headaches and withdrawal .  I had a leak after surgery and got bad headaches for over a week cause I could not drink caffeine.  I know at first I was lucky to ge****er in.....  You will know what u can tolerate after surgery.  I think it was 4 years before I drank any soda or caffeine....  Just take sips of stuff and see if it makes u feel funny or sick at all before u drink a lot of it!