Preparing To Sip? Advice Needed From Post Opers

[smtaarrie 16]

I'm having my vsg in august and I'm trying to get ready for what to somewhat plan for. During my classes I've attended they've said we won't be able to drink more than one forth teaspoon at a time. So how will I be able to get all my fluids in?? Plus break for "eating" times. I've calculated 68oz over twelve hrs and that's 68 half teaspoons per hour. Which is more than one a minute. I'm so confused how how the Fluid is portioned out. I don't see this possible unless I can have more than half a teaspoon at a time. Also. The liquid Vitamin and Calcium I have are one ounce servings. Can I take that all at once? Or need to break up even that ounce? Ahhh

[CaliKat 153]

I'm betting it was 1/4 of a cup- 2oz. Not 1/4 of a teaspoon.

Don't sweat it.... You will work your way up to your 64 ounces/day. You may only be able to get a few oz down at a time... But with each day it will become easier and easier.

I can drink 12oz in just 30 minutes now- at 2 months out.

[SKCUNNINGHAM 298]

As soon as I woke up in the hospital room after surgery, the nurse brought me Water and a clear Protein drink and some of those little cups they usually give you your pills in (smaller than a shot glass). She told me to fill the cup about 2/3 full (so I wouldn't spill it) and start sipping from it. She told me to start with about half of the liquid from the cup in my mouth at once. Sip, swallow - check to see if everything feels right, repeat. So it was maybe a teaspoon or so in my mouth at once. I took some of those little cups with me when I went home the next day and used them to gauge how much to put in my mouth at once. I sipped continuously throughout the day to make sure I was getting in as much Fluid as possible. As your stomach heals, you will be able to take in more at once. But you will need to focus on getting your fluids in, dehydration is something that is a very real issue if you don't get in a sufficient amount,

No way I got in 64 ounces a day the first few days. I focused on drinking the clear (not milky) Protein drinks. My favorites were the Isopure PLUS brand (ordered from Amazon) in grape and punch. Each of those bottles is 8 ounces and 15 grams of Protein.< /p>

Good luck with your journey.

Sharon

[vanb0052 40]

smtaarrie...I am 6 days post op and sipping my way through the day I'm easily reaching my outlined goals of 24 oz between 6 am and noon, 24 oz between noon and 6, and 16 oz between 6 and midnight (they give me a break so i can go to bed and hopefully not be up all night peeing *smiles*). It turns out to be 4 oz an hour, which really isn't hard and I'm not drinking constantly. I can take half an hour breaks and catch up. I have multiple bottles filled with something, that I can quickly grab if I need to leave so I always have Fluid with me.

My first few days in the hospital, there was NO way I was getting 4 oz in 8 hours down. But, I was on IV fluids, and they were confidant once we figured out the right nausea meds I would drinking up a storm. I hope this helps! You will do great in August

[IlyssaDel 42]

I'm 11 days post And it gets easier everyday..I'm now sipping about 3 16.9 oz of Water plus juice and broth ..it will happen ...I wouldn't be concerned..they also pumped you up with I'VE liquids before you leave to help...focus on the mental aspect of not being able to grab anything you want !

[DuranFan1969 119]

Definitely get your hands on the teeny tiny measuring cups they have at the hospital (the kind that you measure medicine in). They mark ounces on the side and they gave me several while I was in the hospital - they've been a huge help, especially when trying to drink my Protein Shakes. When you are sipping from those, the task doesn't seem as daunting either.

[karenb4729 309]

I agree with the others on those hospital oz size cups. My Doctor wanted me to get in 32oz a day and slowly work up to the 64oz so it didn't seem as big of a task. Also, any of your liquids used for you Protein counts too.

It was the one part of the surgery that I was concerned about as I'm not a big liquid drinker - in fact, I drink more liquid now than pre-surgery.

[MinaT 669]

I am 13 days out and I still use the med cups. Each med cup was 3 sips for me. In actuality, I can get one cup down in a swallow, but that's painful and I brought it too much gas. I'm pretty much getting 2 sips out of each. There is no way you will be doing 64 ounces in the hospital. You will be getting your fluids from the IV and you will be learning your sips while there. Some people seemed to like warmer better than cold. I was one of those, but I I remember how refreshing it was the first time I could handle a a sip of cold Water as it laid in my mouth. It doesn't just have to be water you are drinking, you can try peppermint decaff tea, etc. I was surprised that while I was in the hospital I was given white grape juice cut with water, and I was able to handle that, but was told when I went home I should avoid real fruit juice even cut with water because the high carb factor.

[legal loser 77]

I never used the little medicine cups. I just kept (and still do) something by my side at all times.....plain Water, Water mixed with Protein drinks, Powerade zero, water mixed with Crystal Light, and Special K20 Protein water mix. I just keep myself sipping sipping sipping. You will know when you sip too fast, or at least I did....I would feel it slowly gurgle, and then you just slow down. It took me about 4 weeks to get up to 64 oz regularly. Before surgery I easily drank 64 oz before lunch. Now, it takes me all day to get it in, but I do. Its a slow process to get there, but you will!

I found it easier after surgery to not drink super cold water, but more room temp.

[Chimera 644]

At first it is pretty tough to swallow much of anything but like Legal Loser above me - it has taken just about 4 weeks to get up to 64 oz. Just do your best and try hard to get in as much as possible at first. Your tastes may change drastically with surgery so it is good to have a variety of things on hand to consume after surgery - Protein Drinks I loved prior to surgery made me wretch post, so the Protein chicken Soup is what saved me the first couple of weeks.

I used to like everything room temperature - now drinks have to be ice cold. I think because it helps with the aspartame after taste for me.

[smtaarrie 16]

Thanks everyone! I'm sure its hard to really understand until you get there. I just about freaked when she told me one quater teaspoon at a time. I work in healthcare so ill be sure to "stock" up on the pill despencer cups.