Sugar VS Sugar Substitute

So, I'm just wondering about that subject.  Does sugar or the sugar substitutes give you worse gas?  Or is it the same?  I'm interested how it interacts with your bodies.  I know that everyone is individual, but there seems to be similarities between said individuals.

This question came to my mind while drinking my crystal light.  I will be very said if I can no longer tolerate crystal light.

Still keepin' on my pre-op diet.  I'm really glad I have this board to turn to.  It feels like soooo far away till I can have surgery.  This will be the longest summer ever.

Very individual, however I think most people can tolerate thinks like aspartame in drinks. I certainly can and I drink two 64 oz jugs of crystal light a day with no negative effects.

Sugar does not give me gas either, unless it's combined with something like a lot of white flour.

Sugar alcohols, now, those can give me gas in large enough quantities. And I can be sure I'll be pooping soon after eating them.

Thanks for the reply.  I keep hearing sugar alcohols a lot on the board.  I need to go research what they are.

4 days after surgery, I drank a 12oz water with a crystal light single pack in it and had almost immediate watery diarrhea. I don't think that necessarily means I will never tolerate it, though. I was still fresh postop. I'm going to try it again sometime coming up and see what happens. I think most DSers tolerate it well. Karen

Sugar and splenda do not give me gas.

What does give me gas:  sugar alcohols (itols), wheat gluten and lactose.

Early out any amount of sugar alchols gave me gas.  Now I can tolerate small amounts of them.  I have quit trying to eat anything with flour in it or anything with wheat gluten in it.  I can eat cheese, but not milk.  I can't eat SF pudding without getting gas and I don't know what ingredient is in that that bothers me.  I also can't eat gluten free cereal and almond milk and I don't know exactly what in that combo bothers me.

If you are good about writing down what you eat and being thoughtful and not trying a bunch of new things all at once you will be able to figure out what bothers you and what doesn't.  And what you can and can't tolerate may change over time.

I drink a gallon of Walmart brand crystal light every day.

Your taste WILL change post-op.  What you like now may taste like ass after surgery.  Tastes changing post op is pretty universal.

You are going to do fine.  I know the wait is horrible.  But you are spending your time so wisely and learning things that are going to be really helpful.

The one thing I wish I had started doing pre-op is starting my recipe box.  I try to add something to my recipe box as often as possible because I am the kind of person who needs to change up what I am eating every so often or I will start eating things that I don't want to be eating.

~Becky

Thanks Becky.   I need to go and research what sugar alcohols are, I feel a bit embarrassed, but I don't know.

That's also a great idea about the recipe box.  I think I'll take a trip to the dollar store and pick one up.  I really want to utilized that shake cake recipe.  It looks really good, but too much fat for my pre-op diet.  Won't need to worry about that soon though.

 Sugar alcohols are any of the "itols - "  mallitol, xylitol, etc.    Erythritol is an exception though, because it is naturally derived.   Mallitol is the devil.   That's what you find the most of in sugar free candies.    I can handle maybe one tiny sugar free candy (such as Russell Stovers) without getting gas.    As a long-term maintainer, I'd rather have a small quantity of good full sugar extra dark chocolate (which doesn't give me gas) than to have to deal with the painful chemical-smelling gas I get from too much mallitol.

BTW - super dark chocolate is quite low in carb, and because most things are too sweet for me nowadays, it works well for me.   Oddly though - the sweetest candy of all is still my very favorite - Jelly Bellys.  Talk about gas, though!!

Heidi,
I have trouble with the  sugar substitues that have 'itols" .. I have not had trouble with splenda since surgery, but did pre-op. Does not make sense, but my body changed. You will go thru a lot of changes at different times. Do not buy too much of anyone thing, as I learned as soon as you do , you find something better  ! LOL... It really is one heck of a ride ! 

Artificial sweeteners & plain sugar doesn't affect me.  Sugar alcohols give me gas.  SOBE must have some b/c it gives me gas - not too too much, but it does all the same.