what's the deal with caffeine?

I don't see anything wrong with a cup of coffee or tea a day. If it turns into drinking coffee all day then yeah it's going to be a problem just like anything else way over done. 

I myself like to have a cup of coffee once in a while.  

 I was at the nutrition class at TWH yesterday and asked about this specifically. Was told they have no issues with cafine except when your pouch is healing with the caveat that we need to be careful to make sure we don't replace food and water with coffee. 

Just so long as a coffee isn't a triple mocha latte, I suppose.

FYI - I have been to the orientation in Ottawa and the prep course at HRRH and they both said that decaf is better but as caffeinated drinks will dehydrate, if you drink one then you have to drink that volumn in water over and above your 2 litres, to make up for the extra water loss per day

I just had surgery at St. Joesph's, Hamilton and they now allow caffeine 3 months after surgery (1 cup per day).  I might either limit my caffeine consumption to one cup (I LOVE coffee and used to drink 3-4 cups/day) or stay with decaffeinated.  I don't mind it.

My booklet says to avoid or limit alcohol consumption 6 weeks and beyond after surgery.

I asked my surgeon about drinking wine, told  him our friends are winemakers and it is sometimes a key part of our socializing; i.e., tastings.  Surgeon said he would feel the same if it was him, it would be fine in moderation.  He told me that they are cautious re. alcohol because patients sometimes substitute alcohol addication for food addiction after surgery so they want people to err on the side of caution. 

During Optifast time, I had a close relative get married.  Surgeon told me to eat and drink at the wedding and have a great time, but to get back on Optifast the very next morning - and thanked me for asking.

The clinic has told me that they've changed and relaxed their program in the past years (my sister had surgery 3 years ago and told me the same).