diet pepsi or any other carbonated drinks

Has anyone tried drinking diet pepsi or an other carbonated drinks after surgery, I'm curiours to find out......how did it affect you? and woulld you recommend others taking a try at it.???? Linda

Hey Linda, I asked Doc Byrne the same question after my surgery and he answered in no uncertain terms no! That was enough to scare me off anyways... Mike

You should do what your doctor recommends. However, I will say that it is a general recommendatin that RNY patients stay away from Caffiene and carbonation for at least 6 months after surgery. Some say for life. I have had both just recently. The carbonation does bloat you and causes you to fill up faster. The gas can become painful and I am almost 8 months out. Though it is debateable, some believe the carbonation can stretch your pouch. I have become very sensitive to caffiene - it makes me jittery. It also dehydrates you, so anything caffienated does not count toward your fluid intake. Don't test the waters this early out. Your new tummy is still healing and pressure from carbonation is not going to help those staple lines heal. Don't worry though. Most people eventually have diet sodas again. Kathy

being that you just had surgery recently.. id say stay far far away for now! I am almost 5 mths post, and every now and then, NOT OFTEN i will take a drink of one of my old carbonated favorites, but it really makes me feel bad, and if you dont get that burp out then its torture.. so you really start to not want it anymore, and esp. not like it when u do have it! which is a good thing, since its not "healthy" anyways.. but yeah i would wait until at least 4-5 mths out if not 6 to try it. And even then, not a whole can of it.. i would never be able to take more than one drink of one.. itd kill me.. lol jen

Hi, Linda! My surgeon said no for the first year and then in limited quantities after. I allow myself 1 can of caffeine-free Diet Coke per day as a treat and have never had any problems. My surgeon said it is NOT true that the carbonation will stretch out your pouch - there's still a hole at the top and bottom to release the gas. Hope this helps you!! Good luck!!

Hi Linda, I tried a diet soda about 6 mths out and felt every bubble go down. It also tasted funny to me now to the point I dont even want it any more. I do remember Dr Byrne saying we could have soda but ONLY after it was completely flat. This soon out, I would not try it. I know I was having those cravings also for something carbonated. Hang in there it will pass. Julie

Hey Linda, My surgeon says no to carbonation for a year. I have also heard about it stretching your pouch, etc., too. And I have also heard others talk about feeling every bubble going down and how sick it made them. I was a big diet coke addict in the past and I just don't want to give in to even trying it. I just don't want to get back into that kind of habit. Now you won't catch me going anywhere without my crystal light!! Hugs, Dianne

Before I even read anyone else's answer......DON'T DO IT!!! They say it can stretch your pouch over time with repeated use, but the foamies coming up your throat and the caffeine, and hurtie pouch....I haven't had soda but 2x since surgery....in an emergency situation when we were out and they had no iced tea or water. You can drink it flat, did that a few times....bleh! Just do propel and crystal lite, and now 14mos post op I do Starbucks Venti-SF French Vanilla, Non Fat Latte! The baristas look at me everytime I order, but it is so yummy and I only add 8 splendas!!!! I am addicted now. Its my one sweet treat because I can't do SF ice cream anymore or SF cookies. I tried them and I get sick now on SF stuff, so I can do the Latte's if they are SF and Non Fat. You will get used to not having it, just add something to the water, cause to this day, plain still water hurts my pouchie, heavy like lead. Deb