I've gone without soda for about 5 months, but the last couple days the only thing i had available to drink was soda & now i'm feeling bloated along with having more gas. is that to be expected after having soda for the first time in a long time?

The bloating that occurs with most sodas reflects the release of the carbonation in most such drinks. The release of this gas (CO2) combines with air you swallow during feeds & gas released by germs in the gut to produce bloating. I find it an expected outcome whenever the combination of these factors occur, not just because you skipped sodas for a while.