How long has it been since you have had a soda?

I prefer studies as a source as opposed to random internet articles. I will assume, though, without going to each link, that some of them maybe at least cite actual studies? The first one in particular amuses me since she mentions the stoma of those who have had gastric bypass or biliopancreatic diversion - today, almost NO ONE has a biliopancreatic diversion without a duodenal switch, and that duodenal switch preserves the pylorus, which means DSers have no stoma.

I also hate this "holier than thou" attitude of *gasp* I just can't understand why anyone would POSSIBLY chance it! That is no better than the attitude of those who don't understand why anyone would chance surgery instead of losing weight via diet and exercise. We all do things our own way, and if you don't want to drink soda, then don't - no one is trying to convince anyone here that they SHOULD. But don't turn your noses up at those of us who do in the same manner that noses have been turned up at us fatties our whole lives.

Very eloquently said!  I have only recently allowed myself to indulge in a beer now and then....but as you said that is MY choice....period.  Everyone has to do what they need to do for their own lives...have a great day.

Kim 

Nobody is turning up their noses. I just feel its important that people who are trying to decide realize that someone who has 25 years experience doing these surgeries, and was a President of the ASBMS recently, feels there is a risk. If you want to drink soda, you have every right to. But there is no need to be defensive if someone is putting out information that might say it's a risk. If very reputable physicians are saying that there is risk, and many of them do (if you go on site after site where they have post-bariatric guidelines at many hospitals, including Centers of Excellence such as the one I am speaking of), then people have a right to know so that they can make an informed decision as to what risks they may want to take. Sometimes I think that the shear level of defensiveness to the even putting out there of information, is a mere trying in their own minds to justify their own decisions to go ahead. That's fine, as long as other people do hear both sides of the story. In less than 10 minutes, I found at least 30 different medical practices who mentioned not to drink carbonated drinks, not because of nutritional reasons, but because of the possibility of increased stoma and pouch size as a result. If that many practices are mentioning this as a possible risk, they clearly are protecting their practices against possible legal action in the future should someone damage the efficacy of their surgery and then try to seek legal action. As a paralegal, whenever I see that many practices mentioning something, it clearly raises a red flag to me that there likely has a "smoke, where there's fire" type of scenario. If you want to drink soda, great. I won't tell you what to do. I do think on a public forum like this though, that knowledge is power. When that many people are putting warnings in with their bariatric diet guidelines on this particular issue, there likely are reasons why they would do so. Those reasons are the risk, which clearly they feel is real enough to warn their patients about. That's enough for me.

No need to be defensive. If you have chosen a different course for yourself, that's fine. Everyone after Gastric Bypass decides their own course, their own level of compliance, and the level to which they want to push the envelope and take risks. That's reflected on how various patients do long-term. I sincerely hope the literature and guidelines listed all over the place are wrong for you and that you'll never have a problem.

I just don't think there is anything wrong with letting people be aware as they make their own choices, that there are many many practices who do feel it is a risk. Penn State Hospital, MU, and most of the Centers of Excellence are going along with the ASBMS guidelines and mentioning it.

What's so frightening about letting people who are reading this thread be aware of that? These are the kinds of things I think are really important.

I wouldn't presume to tell someone what they can do, nor am I "holier than thou." As a surgeon's daughter and someone that had severe complications with a prior surgery though, I do think people have a right to know so that they can do their own research and make their own decisions what level of risk they are comfortable with.

How you get that that is someone turning their "now at those of us who do in the same manner that noses have been turned up at us fatties our whole lives," is kind of silly. Makes no sense. I'm simply trying to put the information out there so people realize a lot of physicians, practices and the President of the ASBMS feel that there is a risk.

You are welcome to feel that there is not based on your own opinions. No need though to blast someone for putting the information out there as a warning that many well-qualified, competent and highly placed physicians disagree.

The first one seems to presume that you would be drinking carbonated sodas on a full pouch and that the carbonation could force food through the pouch would make some sense.  But RNY's are not supposed to have any liquid with a full tummy, so the food obstruction wouldn't exist.

If you read the article, the issue isn't necessarily just obstruction. It's a little more complex. Most of the guidelines out there say not to have carbonated drinks at all. It's not qualified that its fine without a meal and not fine with. It's not to have them at all due to risk to stoma size and pouch dilation.

Again, everyone has to make their own decisions. It's just important to know all the information.

Thanks for your post as well.  There is much information about the risks....again, it is like smoking....everyone is gonna do what they want...I appreciate everyone putting the information on these boards.

Kim