Question about fluids

[evajoesav 0]

I am 1 month post-op as of tomorrow. I am having trouble getting my fluids in, any suggestions? I keep Water with me at all times and sip, sip, sip like they have told me to but still am not getting in what I should be. My mouth is constantly dry no matter how much I drink.

I just feel like all I do is drink but I can barely get 24 oz down a day...and I know I need to be getting 64 oz. Any suggestions you have to help would be greatly appreciated.

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,282]

I would suggest setting a timer next to you for every 15 minutes. Take a sip of 2 oz.

That will get you 8 Oz per hour and after 8 hours you will have your 64 Oz. Good luck! That's tough for most of us post op.

[Rogofulm 2,440]

I bought two 24-oz Tervis Tumblers (and handles) at Bed, Bath & Beyond -- one for home and one for work. About 45 minutes minutes after drinking my morning Protein shake, I fill one with Crystal Light (or generic) sugar-free iced tea and sip it all morning, finishing it up about 30 minutes before lunch. About 45 minutes after lunch, I fill another tumbler of tea and sip it all afternoon, finishing well before dinner. About 45 minutes after dinner, I fill one more at home and sip that all evening. Voila! 72 ounces of Fluid, plus whatever coffee or hot tea I may drink during the day. I think the trick is to build it into a schedule. Weekends are a harder because the schedule is more squishy. But I really try to stick to 24oz after Breakfast, after lunch, and after dinner. If I'm running errands, I bring a tumbler with me in the car. If I go to a meetings or social event, I bring my big, gaudy tumbler with me. Good luck! If you tie it to a schedule, it's much easier...

[mbrinmn 105]

^{I know you said you keep a bottle with you at all times, but here's what I found helpful. I bought a bunch of refillable Water bottles and I leave them in every room of the house, including two bathrooms, and in two or three places in my cube at work. Every time I get near one, I take three sips. If I find I sit in one place for a long while, I tend to go with the timed method like Irene mentioned.}

^{If you haven't downed all the Water in 2-3 days, pour it out and refill each bottle. I think I have about 10 bottles total in the house and I'm looking at 4 now here at work.}

[Sharon Walls 24]

I would suggest setting a timer next to you for every 15 minutes. Take a sip of 2 oz.

That will get you 8 Oz per hour and after 8 hours you will have your 64 Oz. Good luck! That's tough for most of us post op.

Great suggestion - that is what I did the first few days until I got better about hydrating and it worked pretty well.

[evajoesav 0]

Thank you all for the suggestions. I carry either a Water bottle or a tumbler with me everywhere. I am going to try the 15 minute timer because maybe that can get things going right. I did the timer (every 5 minutes) at the beginning and was fine. I am just surprised that at a month I am having trouble with hydration, but from what I have been reading on here it is common.

Thank you again!!