Will We Have To Sip Forever?

[ann_franc 2]

I thought I'd happy to nickname myself "Sippy," but I'm glad to say that in time, I was able to drink normally again and so will you.

[Cheles 75]

It's funny, I have been getting in my fluids 64 or more oz a day. What I finally realized yesterday was the air I was getting in because of the manor in which I was drinking. I was drinking like I was pre-op. Today I'm taking it slower, and and sipping to avoid the air/gas which I was taking in. Hopefully the amount of gas will subside.

[Bcole 6]

me too!!

So can i! I am 4 days post op and can drink pretty normal.

[ProudGrammy 8,322]

Hi all - I'm 11 days post-op, and all of a sudden a little concerned. I always knew sip, sip, sip etc. after surgery. I told my NUT that i was able to drink my H20 at a quicker speed, not gulping and stuff, just drinking more at a normal rate. Once again, not gulping - but i just finished my Protein shake, and my stomach is "comfortably" full.

Its not good to be full right? Did I drink too much and fast? When I told my NUT a few days ago that i was able to drink more she said something like "good, some people just can't drink that much so early after surgery, but if your stomach can handle it - thats good"

I will call her wednesday when she returns to work, but i want to make sure i'm doing ok, and not "stretching my stomach" i know thats a terrible term and i really can't stretch it with what is going on.

If I were to drink slower I know i couldn't get my 64 oz in. So how am i doing?

[jasleeve 440]

im sure u r perfectly fine!

Hi all - I'm 11 days post-op, and all of a sudden a little concerned. I always knew sip, sip, sip etc. after surgery. I told my NUT that i was able to drink my H20 at a quicker speed, not gulping and stuff, just drinking more at a normal rate. Once again, not gulping - but i just finished my Protein shake, and my stomach is "comfortably" full.

Its not good to be full right? Did I drink too much and fast? When I told my NUT a few days ago that i was able to drink more she said something like "good, some people just can't drink that much so early after surgery, but if your stomach can handle it - thats good"

I will call her wednesday when she returns to work, but i want to make sure i'm doing ok, and not "stretching my stomach" i know thats a terrible term and i really can't stretch it with what is going on.

If I were to drink slower I know i couldn't get my 64 oz in. So how am i doing?

[rosiegirl 6]

I am 3 mod out and still cannot drink Water fast ... can sip, but not gulp. Everyone heals at different pace and everyone can do things differently ... so just take it slow, and relax ... you will learn what works for you best as you go along. And no drinking when you eat, unless, of course, you are choking or something like that .. and even then ... just tiny winy sips ... but basically, no drinking when eating ... you'll adjust to that perfectly fine ..we all do! :-) hang in there ...

[grannyk 58]

The not eating and drinking together for the rest of your life is partially a nutrient absorption issue. Drinking and eating together will cause your stomach to empty earlier and not absorb as many nutrients as possible. Also if you put Water in there with the food, you won't be able to eat as much Protein, etc. Also it helps to avoid dumping syndrome. (You can find other posts about that if you don't understand it.)

Pre-sleeve I would drink 3-4 glasses of Water with a meal, so I feel your pain. It has been very difficult. I don't know what it is I miss about it. But here is my solution, and it has done away with my longing. During a meal, I take the smallest of small sips...just enough to feel it in my mouth. Sometimes there isn't even enough to swallow. But that seems to take away my urge to drink with meals. After 3-4 months, give that a try. I am sure it is more psychological than physical.

Good luck on your journey...Kathe

[jasleeve 440]

makes sense.

another good question...

of course not right away but... what about drinking before & drinking after? like imagine going to a restaurant setting & u have a drink with a meal...will i eventually be able to sip before or sip after?

The not eating and drinking together for the rest of your life is partially a nutrient absorption issue. Drinking and eating together will cause your stomach to empty earlier and not absorb as many nutrients as possible. Also if you put Water in there with the food, you won't be able to eat as much Protein, etc. Also it helps to avoid dumping syndrome. (You can find other posts about that if you don't understand it.)

Pre-sleeve I would drink 3-4 glasses of Water with a meal, so I feel your pain. It has been very difficult. I don't know what it is I miss about it. But here is my solution, and it has done away with my longing. During a meal, I take the smallest of small sips...just enough to feel it in my mouth. Sometimes there isn't even enough to swallow. But that seems to take away my urge to drink with meals. After 3-4 months, give that a try. I am sure it is more psychological than physical.

Good luck on your journey...Kathe

[mnbsleeve 87]

I often will sip on some Water BEFORE my meal arrives, or at home while preparing meals. I stop about 8 to 10 minutes before. At a restaurant, I time it as best I can. Somehow you develop a system and it becomes the new normal. Also, I cannot fit much food in so somehow I don't really have a desire to drink. But I have taken on occasion, as the poster above mentioned, a teeny, tiny sip just wet my mouth when I've eaten something a bit spicy or I just need that moisture - not really a sip. A couple of weeks ago, I completely forgot and at the very end of my meal, we were just waiting for the check and it had been a while since I had finished eating, I took a sip of water. WOW! I got a big stomach pain and it lasted for about 15 minutes! I don't know that the hec that was. I wasn't feeling stuffed or anything prior. But perhaps it took me over the top. I just don't know. But I don't want that to happen again! :-)

[KeepPullinThatRipCord 0]

It'll take a while but after 6 months post-op, I can down two 1 liter bottles worth of Water in an hour and a half gym workout without hesitation. One during a 45 minute run on the treadmill and then refill it before hitting the floor for the weights portion of the workout. Definiately think about refraining from the mixing food and drink. It is a weird feeling when it gets "tangled". You just want someone to "burp" you it's that painful. I use my Blender Bottle all the time. It looks like it's surgically attached to my hand I have it with me always. It's 20 ounces and when the Protein is emptied into me, a quick rinse and then 20 ounces of Crystal Light takes it's place. 64 ounces is pretty freakin' easy. Good luck and keep on keeping on.

[mnbsleeve 87]

Hi all - I'm 11 days post-op, and all of a sudden a little concerned. I always knew sip, sip, sip etc. after surgery. I told my NUT that i was able to drink my H20 at a quicker speed, not gulping and stuff, just drinking more at a normal rate. Once again, not gulping - but i just finished my Protein shake, and my stomach is "comfortably" full.

Its not good to be full right? Did I drink too much and fast? When I told my NUT a few days ago that i was able to drink more she said something like "good, some people just can't drink that much so early after surgery, but if your stomach can handle it - thats good"

I will call her wednesday when she returns to work, but i want to make sure i'm doing ok, and not "stretching my stomach" i know thats a terrible term and i really can't stretch it with what is going on.

If I were to drink slower I know i couldn't get my 64 oz in. So how am i doing?

I'm not 100% sure, but I think the idea of just sipping (and I was told no more than 1 ounce every 8 to 10 minutes in the beginning) is more about the healing of the stomach than the stretching it per se. Obviously you don't want to overfill but it's because everything is swollen and raw.

[KeepPullinThatRipCord 0]

Also I believe the reason for the NO liquids at meals (before/after) is so that you don't "wash" the nutrients out and secondly you have room to except the food that you need.