??Diet Coke??

My plan says 2 months. But it also said 2 months for a straw and my NUT said if I try it and can tolerate the straw then I can drink out of a straw at one month post op. What is the consensus on diet sodas? Is it a tolerate issue or a risk?

My surgeon and NUT said NEVER.  Pop, or carbonation, expands your sleeve.  You just had surgery to make your tummy smaller, why stretch it out?
Best wishes,
Jen

I am 8 mo out, I sit a sugar free, caffeine free soda opened in the frig for a couple of days, and I sip on it all day, I do this once a month for a treat. It is completely flat when I sip on it.................... would not even attempted this early out, need to let your tummy completely heal.

I don't believe stretching is as much the risk as pain due to the gas released. There was a mythbusters episode where they did a test on a pigs stomach of diet coke and a mentos, obviously not the same as drinking diet coke alone but you can see how much the gas can stretch a normal stomach. Your new stomach can't due that at all and it can be extremely painful and potentially dangerous if the suture line isn't fully healed. I would suggest starting very slow and be careful if you are taking any medicines at the same time as it is possible that they could set off the release of the carbon dioxide disolved in the soda as they disolve n your stomach, just like the mentos do.

I bought a liter bottle of caffeine free diet Coke, opened it, put it in the refrigerator and let the stuff go flat when I was about 6 months out. Was soooooo nice to have the taste in the first glass, but I lost interest in it soon after. Haven't bought another one since. I'm so happy with plain water now! I look at my addiction to diet Coke as being something I had to work through getting unhooked from. And I did it! Yippee!!

I have used a straw since I came home from the hospital, but I was used to using them before and I'm better able to drink smaller amounts slowly with a straw than without. I don't swallow any air when I use a straw, either, so it works best for me. I honestly think it depends on the person ...remember, we're all unique and need to find our own comfy zone in some areas.

Hugs!

I was pretty much told never, too. It is the carbonation, I think. I talked to someone and they let a can of pop go flat and drink it for the taste. I have not even tried that. I'm OK for now, but I might try that if I "have" to have a Dr. Pepper!!

I was told no soda. He nurse did go on to say it would be safe to try in 2years. But you just went through a lot to have this done, why jeprodize it for a soda? The surgery was onl a tool, the change has to come from you. ...Change your mind and you'll change your body.

I don't do soda at all.  I did have a SIP of champagne at a wedding 6 weeks post op and let me tell you - THAT WAS THE MOST MISERABLE WEEK!!!  I had gas, acid reflux, bloating, indigestion, and pain for a whole week.  I didn't have a glass, I only had a sip.  And for that, no carbonation for me.

My surgeons said no soda ever.  But everyone has a different set of instructions. 

I haven't had any carbonation since the day before my pre-op diet.  I was told I should never have it again, that it can stretch your sleeve and/or be very painful.  I don't like anything that is sugar free anyway, the artificial sweetener is just disgusting to me.  And flat soda is just yucky.