what's the deal with caffeine?

Why would centres use a scare tactic on their patients?

IMO, the centres that say things like caffeine is like sandpaper on your stomach are very old school in their thinking.  There is no proof that caffeine causes ulcers yet they scare their patients by saying stupid things exactly like the sandpaper comment. If caffeine was like sandpaper then I guess my stomach should be worn raw by now considering I have been a coffee addict my whole life and guess what, I've never had an ulcer ever.

Twinings makes a really nice decaf chai tea can be found in some grocery stores.

  *agrees that centres not allowing caffeine are being overly cautious*  maybe even a little ridiculous, lol.  I personally usually use half calf just because I drink a lot of coffee and tend to get a little jittery if I drink too much.

I drink coffee every day. Maybe I shouldn't? I'm going for an ultrasound on my abdomen tomorrow. I'll let you know.

I lasted 1 week after surgery without caffeine - 20 months all is still good. - I too believe that a few items they suggest you stay away from is part of a scare tactic.  Old habits can come back so easy.

I didnt drink caffeinated beverages for the first two years.....

I did this because it was on my sheet from St Joes....and I wanted to follow everything they indicated..

I guess I am dense...( dont chime in on this...lol)....because I just thought I am going to follow everything they say.....I am not going to question much...( other then carbonate VS citrate which they first recommended...but remember I was one of the first thru St Joes and they were learning also)

My concern with this type of thing is once you begin veering off the course they set for you - it can be tough to stop....I realize this is a small thing....however I just decided I was going to follow to the tee...

NOW - I drink regular coffee with abandon until noon....and then decaf so I can sleep at night....but I also find I have a little indigestion with caffeine if I drink too much.....so who knows eh? I am not a scientist....and honestly I wish I had kept my habit of drinking decaf all the time....

(Note - south beach diet also recommends decaf)

Caffiene can dehydrate you (it's a diaretic) which is definitely not a good thing, especially if you have any BM issues. It can also cause stomach irritation (from experience). Ulcers, don't know.  We were also told no alcohol ever (I know this isn't something followed by everyone here ).

Personally, I'd skip caffiene until your pouch heals, as you don't need anything extra irritating it while you are learning what you can and can't eat.  Then you don't get false results.  After that, If you want a cup of real coffee once in a while why not?  But that's just IMHO.

Cathy

Caffeine has a few downsides
- dehydrates, well, at 3-4 years out it's not an issue, so fresh postops' restrictions are not the same as long terms.
 - can irritate stomach  - true, might or might not - a lot depends on our "natural acidity". Also a lot depends on the chemicals used in the coffee/tea production. The more pure and natural/organic the stuff is - the better it is on stomach. (And they do use a lot of chemicals to "improve" taste/aroma/appearance. hubby worked years ago at the "Elite" coffee production, told some horror stories, lololol.)
-caffeine affects liver. And our livers get some tough jobs during the first phase of rapid weight loss - to process all this fat... 

Anyways, as time goes by, most of these reasons lose their importance, hence there are so many veterans - coffee addicts, *****port drinking gallons of it without any issues. Including myself.
And centers.. yeah, they are just evil

 No hard and fast rule across the clinics
Hubby's work health info says caffeine stays in your system for 11 hours. So I don't drink it after lunch  and I sleep ok