At what point did you feel you could take a pretty decent sized drink?

I'm only 5 days post-op and I'm sure my new tummy is still somewhat swollen. I'm able to get in at least 60 oz. of fluid but it seriously is a full time job. I am scheduled to go back to work at 3 weeks post-op and my surgeon's rule is no fluids 30 minutes before or 60 minutes after eating. Right now I am only on clear liquids so that rule does not apply. I'm getting concerned that I won't be able to get the fluid in once I return to work! Right now it takes about 15 minutes to drink 2 oz. but I am sipping way more often than I will be able to do on my job (healthcare).

Slow and steady, don't worry about how big the drink is you can drink.  If you average out what you can drink over 12 hours, its 5 oz per hour. You will have no problems with that.

It is different for everyone.  Probably a year out or more before I was able to nearly chug water. Really, though, at over 18 months out I still cannot endlessly chug water. I can take a few good glugs, though, then need to stop and let it "settle" before drinking more.

I get that it kind of stinks not being to drink. I felt so thirsty for days, and just wanted to be able to chug water. Learn to drink slow and often, and it will get better.

I am 6 days post op and can easily drink a normal mouthful of room temperature or hot liquid at a time. Cold liquid I have to sip, and even then I get a bit crampy. I also have a very busy job, and what I've been practicing is taking a good sized mouthful of water and letting it trickle down a bit at a time. So far so good, although I am concerned about being able to set aside the alloted time for my meals during work. 

I too am finding warm beverages go down easier.  Thanks for the advice everyone. 

I noticed a big difference in how much I could drink at one time right around 3-4 weeks post-op.  It became a LOT easier after that. 

I learned that I could pretty much drink right up until 5 minutes before a meal/snack with no negative consequences.  But I have stuck strictly to the rule of not drinking for 60 minutes after a meal and 30 minutes after a snack.  

Good luck on your return to work!