Questions one week post-op

Am at stage where eating blended real foods. Supposed to really up the water intake here, but having problems - and I am one who loves to drink water!! Supposed to take half hour to eat my 3 oz meal. Then can't drink water for a half hour. Stomach is size of egg. Only supposed to sip. Supposed to not drink anything for a half hour BEFORE a meal as well. Same with the snacks (the before and after thing). Can't gulp of course. When is all this water going to go in and how? I have shakes and liquid food, but I am only getting in about two 16.9 oz bottles of water in a day, on a good day, three. Any good suggestions for being successful with this? The math/time thing just isn't adding up for me. I keep water by me all the time, just can't take very big gulps. Just small mouthfuls. I should be getting four of those water bottles down a day. I have half-drunk water bottles in every room of my house haha! Am awake at night for hours sometimes (have severely painful arthritic knee and low back also) and even try to drink during these times. For instance, a half hour after my meal, how much water should I be able to get down over the following half hour? Thanks for any help and for allowing me to post. Ginnybark

I do better with this during the work week, but I start off drinking a bottle of water. I have breakfast, wait an hour, then another bottle of water, wait a half hour, have lunch, bottle of water. That cycle goes on all day, then at night I take a bottle of water and half of my protein drink (isopure) up to bed with me where I drink while I watch a little TV. I try my hardest to get 4 bottles in per day. Weekends are a bit more challenging as I?m not in routine mode. Hope this helps a little.

Liquids go right through, they don't sit in ur stomach taking up space. Also, by a week u should be able to drink regularly, but of course check with ur doctor. Good luck!

Keep your water bottle in your hand at all times, starting 30 minutes after a meal. Sip CONSTANTLY, as though your life depended on it-- because it kinda does. Your bottle should be more or less glued to your lips!

First off - all liquid counts as liquid. Shakes count. Yay!

second - the no drinking 30 minutes before eating rule is unnecessary. That liquid will empty before you start eating.

The rest of the time? Yes, attach a bottle to your hand. Set an alarm to remind yourself to drink. Experiment with different tasting things at different temperatures. If you get up in the middle of the night, drink a few ounces.

I remember feeling super overwhelmed by the timing issue too initially - compounded by also having a plan that said no drinking 30 minutes prior to meals. But I think I was just making it too complicated. It's not too hard!