Question for sleeve people :)

Hi guys, I had a question for the sleeve people..... Do you follow the same guidelines regarding eating and drinking? Wait 30 minutes before and after eating b4 you drink? Also, how much water can you drink at a time? 

For a long time I followed the exact same specifications, however, our sleeve doesn't react the same way as a pouch (for RNYers) so we have a touch more flexibility. Certainly early out, for maybe the first three months or so, I was steadfast in following the 30-minute rule for before/after drinking.

In the last month or so, I've relaxed the before requirement though. I can drink up to maybe 10 minutes or so before a meal without any problem at all. After I eat, I try to abstain from drinking for 1-2 hours to give my sleeve and pyloric valve time to digest my food and get it out of my sleeve and into my small intestine. Only then will I drink again. Essentially when the "full feeling" is gone, I permit myself a bit of liquids again.

How much water at a time? I certainly can't gulp liquids down anymore! I take maybe half a mouthful each time I raise my water bottle to my lips. And over the course of a day, I drink about 10 cups. I've go****er bottles at the office, water bottles in my car, water bottles in my house, water bottles when I travel, etc. I have those and Mio or Crystal Light flavourings all over the place! But I can't fill my sleeve with a great rush of liquids like normal people can. I take my time. If I'm really thirsty (e.g., after working outside in the sun, or exercising), I take a half a mouthful, and wait a bit... maybe 10-20 seconds, before taking another, and doing that repeatedly until my thirst is satiated.

I hope this helps you. If not, feel free to message me!

Thank you so much for your information!! I know we are not really the same in all aspects as the rny's so that's why I thought I should pose the question. You have had great success with your sleeve!! Hope you have a great vacation!! 

Hey Sassy,

I'm six weeks out, and I try my best to avoid water in the 30 mins before and after eating, but there are the occasional times I have the tiniest sip of water to wet my mouth. It's not even a swallow, really, it just keeps my mouth moist. My sleeve seems pretty forgiving, which is both good and bad. I can definitely drink more water than she can! Just not gulping down like I used to be able to. I would say I could glug a 1/4 cup when it's been a few hours since eating. I seem to have a pretty easy time of it, though when I had some regular ricotta instead of light (my fella bought the wrong stuff), I think my missing gallbladder came into effect and I was sick about an hour later, and it was bile-y. Gross. That's the first time I've noticed any outright rejection of food, and I think it was a consequence of having the gallbladder removed, not anything like dumping.

Thanks for the reply. I am worried about this as I have a problem gulping water  I need to slow it down and start to drink all day rather than large amounts at one time :) 

after 6 weeks do you feel "healed"?

Yes, at six weeks I felt healed, but I had no complications (yay!) and even so, it took me longer than most people to stop having soreness and tightness around my biggest incision, I think also because of the gallbladder removal. I didn't properly stop being sore there until week five. Now I don't feel any of that. I actually wish I could be cleared for more rigorous movement! I feel a lot more energetic in the last couple weeks.

Whoops, I said I was six weeks out but I'm at 8 tomorrow! LOL!

I'm just over a year out from VSG and I was super strict on the 30 mins before and after eating for about the first 6 months or so. Now...I actually prefer to drink right up until I eat. Not with...but while I am making dinner I make sure I get in a big glass of water as it helps me not to graze when I am cooking.

As for after...yes, keep waiting at least 1/2 an hour. Go longer if you can.

At about the 3 month mark I could drink an 8 oz glass of water in a few minutes. 8 or 9 months...I could chug back water after a workout with no problems. Not more than a glass...but certainly don't have to "sip" it.

I don't know if I've seen you before -so great to see a Sleever who has such a success story! I started at about the same weight, so it's wonderful to imagine I could be where you are in a year! Congratulations :) 

I am starting at the same as well (309) so we both have an inspiration now :) thanks for all your replies also, I appreciate it!!