I'm two years post-op. Initially I did not drink pop but probably six months after surgery I started to. I have found that everyone's surgeon has different answers to our many questions. I have decided to go with what works for me. I also came across Dr. Simpson's web page (Arizona clinic - not my doctor) and I found what he said about pop/soda interesting...check it out...I definitely agree when he says that sometimes pop will help unstick something which has worked for me.