Sodas/carbonation and stretching your stomach

I attended a support group meeting last night and there was an RNY patient that just had a revision done in December.  She had her original RNY surgery done 4 years ago(I think, drawing a blank here)  Anyway, she was talking about how all the carbonation(gas, belching) from drinking diet sodas had stretched her pouch which lead her to having the revision.  She kept saying, "If you want to stretch that pouch and go in for a revision, just keep drinking those diet sodas".  The bariatric coordinator said it didn't matter if you let them go flat, etc it was still the same.  I personally, gave up carbonation & caffeine 2 weeks pre op and although I long for a diet dr. pepper, I have not given in to one because of the caffeine withdrawal headache I had for 2 weeks afterwards and the fact that it's just not the best choice.  Ok, I was just thinking she was talking to RNY patients but now I'm wondering if this applies to sleeve patients as well( I wish I would have thought of it and asked).  I don't plan on going back to my old habits but I am curious to know.  Anyone have any input/knowledge when it comes to this??

DJ

I would like to know too. I am not a big diet soda drinking but I love sparkling water. I would be really sad if I could never have it again.

I was told that that was a  myth.  Carbonation doesn't really stretch the pouch or sleeve.  The only reason they tell us not to drink it is because it's just not a good choice.

I don't know girlie.  I really hope it is but I don't think the bariatric coordinator would agree that it was true, unless there really was some truth to it.  Heck, if that were the case they need to be telling me not to eat carbs/sweets cuz it will stretch my stomach(it would deter me-LOL) more than just saying "it's not a good choice".

Man you have really done well. I had my surgery on Octnd. Have you lost everything on your ticker since surgery? What is a daily routine of eatting for you? Just curious I am at 34 pounds. Tina   

No, I've lost about 48 pounds since surgery, 22 pounds was pre op.

I just dont see it and I have heard it both ways. I mean, our tummys are "full" on a few bites of food and that food stays in there for at least a little while. I admit to having a drink of soda and while it hurt my chest (bad) I didnt feel my stomach ,like, stretch and feel super full all of a sudden. I know for me, this is a dangerous path that I am trying to avoid as I was a REAL Coke addict. Not diet coke. It is now FORBIDDEN to come in my house. !!

There is a lot of controversy over whether drinking soda is okay or not with VSG.  Some folks do and say they have not had any problems or weight gain.  But the bottom line is that they have no nutritional value whatsoever, and even diet drinks have so much sodium that they do nothing at all to hydrate you (yet make you feel as if you are hydrated-- bad, bad bad combo for a VSGer).

Remember that this is your chance to make new, healthy habits!

Peace,
Rana

I'm with Rana on this one. I don't know if there is any validity to the statement, but why chance it. We have gone through so much to get to this point, why sababtoge yourself by drinking something that could, potentially, cause you to start up some bad habits again? First a diet Dr. Pepper and then a "real" Dr. Pepper, because, afterall, the diet didn't hurt and we are only going to have a little.

I feel like there are some foods that I need to stay far away from or the old habits want to start back up. I found this out over the holidays.
 
Good luck Deb! You are doing great!!! Don't mess with greatness!

Aloha All- Not sure of it's because of sleeve stretching per se, or increased gas in stomach leaving little room for anything else, or associations between diet soda and metaboilic syndrome, or whatever. All I know is EVERY  post op gastrectomy instructions I've seen say NO CARBONATION- do a google search and you'll see a list  from many hospitals, surgeons, even surgical texts on post gastrectomy for other reasons ( eg cancer of the stomach) stating carbonadtion should be avoided. XOLori