Carbonated Drinks

[Champ715 207]

I drank at least three diet cokes per day prior to my surgery. I was really worried about not being able to have them anymore because I got severe headaches every time I had tried to quit them in the past. I'm a month post op and really have not missed them at all. There have been maybe three times where I thought "a Diet Coke would be good right now" but it was a passing thought and not strong enough to act on. I even still have diet cokes in my fridge and haven't been tempted to touch them.

I have really been surprised by how well my new tummy is working for me. I accidentally skipped Breakfast this morning and forgot to make anything to bring for lunch. I ended up getting a baked sweet potato from a local restaurant just for the sake of having something to eat. I cut it in half and thought for sure I would devour the one half because I felt like i was starving. I'm only about 6 bites in and I already feel full.

I'm saying all this to say, have a little faith in yourself and what your new stomach will be able to help you accomplish. I know it is scary to think of a new life without your favorite things but I promise it won't be as hard as you think. Take it from someone who had a real addiction to food. I haven't had any of those bad foods in over a month and I do not miss them. I enjoy being able to eat some lean meat and feel full after a few bites.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

It's not the carbonation in sodas that's the problem, but their acidity.

About 10 months post-op I had "one of those days" (stuck for 10 hours on a road trip with relatives who stopped only at McDonalds, Sonic and Dairy Queen for food). That day / night I wound up drinking about 32 ounces of fountain diet coke. And being a good WLS patient, I let the carbonation bubble away for the most part.

Didn't help. For the next week I was really f**ked up with horrific GERD. I had to go back to my proton pump inhibitor (Protonix), and even that didn't work well. Within 10-12 days I was back to feeling normal. But boy, I won't ever do that again!

One woman's anecdotal report there.

(Others' mileage may vary, but don't bet on it.)

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

Yeah my surgeon said never again... and I'm alright with that. While my love for Pepsi was tremendous, my love for myself and the reason's I had the surgery to begin with are far more important to me... So I can go without soda.

I had such a bad Pepsi and coffee addiction that I drank innumerable quantities of both. My Pepsi addiction was so great I was able to trade in for Pepsi memorabilia. ( I have no idea if they still have those online) However I earned enough that I *still* have a really nice Pepsi picnic blanket and 2 CDs full of pop music (Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Ricky Martin, etc...). The straw that broke the camel's back for me was when I had my hysterectomy years ago. I was in the hospital in pain and got that afternoon caffeine withdrawal headache. I vowed never again. That was the end of my soda drinking days and I cut back on coffee to no more than 1 a day. As I worked on my health I decreased that. When I needed to switch to Decaf for my sleeve I had no ill effects. Now I can take it or leave it as far as coffee is concerned and I have rediscovered my love of Water.

[Awjones28 320]

I tried a few sips about a month or so out and it felt like my stomach would explode! Way too much gas for me. When the notion hits now, I just get a small Coke slurpee from 7/11. A few sips satisfies me for a few weeks or so.

[newmebithebypass 713]

I was told never again for anything carbonated as it would stretch the sleeve and no soda because empty calories