Trouble separating liquids from foods- advice?

I am having some trouble not drinking while I eat. I understand the importance of doing this, but I am struggling! I chew and chew and then feel the need to take a small sip of something to help it go down better. I have never been good at not drinking while I eat. I don't drink much, just a little and I am just curious if anyone else has this problem, has any advice for me, or can tell me if this will harm me in the long run. Thanks, Carla

I have the same problem! I get soooo thirsty when I eat. I really try not to, but will sip something every once and awhile. My doctor actually told me that as long as I don't "drink" it's ok to sip if I feel I have to. I don't know if it will harm you in the long run or not. But I'm going with my doctor's advice and sipping carefully only when needed. --Dana

Me too!!!!!! I have one of the little Rubbermaid juice box looking things that I keep with me and I take little sips. That's all I need. So far, it hasn't hurt me. Nancy H

Carla, I have the same problem. I read no a post from someone to try sucking an ice chip. I haven't tried that yet. I just try to not drin****il I can't stand it anymore, and then take a little sip. Tammy

Carla; This is my hardest struggle as well. The surgeons advise against drinking while eating since the pouch doesn't have a sphincter like a regular stomach does, you can wash out all of the food you've just eaten, therefore enabling yourself to "eat around your surgery." I am very careful to have just a tiny sip of something and I try to wait as long as I can into a meal before I succumb to it. I however, have had the opposite problem than what my surgeon advised me. I've never had the sensation that my pouch emptied out because I had a sip, I tend to get too full because of the sip and will end up vomiting just the last bit of liquid I had. That has been my incentive to not drink while eating, but probably once every two weeks or so, I do it anyway and get sick. What's the saying? "We didn't have brain surgery." Blessings, Jennifer 253 / 200 / ???

Count me in to... this is the one aspect from my surgery that I still have problems with so I sip also. I will tell you that I think I have probavbley threw up some foods I should have been able to keep down but the liquid... well you get the picture! Kim

Dear Carla, Have you tried making stews? I don't have a problem drinking with my meals, but I do have a problem with the food being dry--especially leftovers. And I live alone, so I have a lot of leftovers! I checked with my nutritionist and she thought it was a good solution. But the liquid needs to be thick--not soup. I've made a chicken and sausage gumbo as well as chili and even a lamb stew. I just have to get used to throwing away a lot of the vegetables I add in for flavor. (Eating the protein is enough of a meal for me at this point.) Sally