chronically dehydrated

It's actually NOT a lot of fluids, but the fact you think it is explains part of the problem.

I get that you don't like drinking, but Tracy is right. You need to pull on your big girl panties and do it anyway. There is no physical reason you can't drink. You just don't like it. And you know you feel so much better when you do. I don't know what your solution is. Hot? Cold? Flavored? But you need to find something you like, get a routine, and learn a good habit.

Honestly, in what universe would inserting an IV into your own arm be an easier solution than drinking a bottle of something?

Yes, I know it's behavioral but I find it very challenging and I didn't realize I was actually supposed to be consuming so much more! I didn't start to consider that my fatigue, sluggishness and headaches might be from dehydration until very recently when I told my doctor "I feel like I have a hangover but I haven't been drinking alcohol" and that's when she said it could be dehydration. 

There is no reason that we need to drink more after surgery than we did before. The reminder to drink is really for just after surgery, when we are healing and having trouble swallowing. 

Did you always dislike drinking, or is it a new development? If it's not new, you must have had the same problems all along.

I wonder if we do need to drink more post-op because, unlike people with normal stomachs and eating habits, we aren't able to get so many liquids from foods?  I was pondering this the other day.  A person who is eating 32 ounces of food a day is going to be able to get more liquid from food sources than I am, who eats about 10 ounces of food a day.  

Just a ponder I was pondering.  

I guess it can vary a little, depending on what you eat. Lots of soup or dairy would be major sources.

We actually do need a little more water, especially very early on when most of our calories are from protein. Protein can either go to muscle, hair, etc, or be used for energy. With little or no carbs, we need extra water to convert protein to use as energy. Here is a nice post on the topic:

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/rny/4655072/Interesting-pi ece-of-info-I-learned-in-this-week-in-regards/

But after a couple of years, unless you are on a nearly zero carb die****er requirements between us and them are pretty insignificant.

 

Thanks!  Interesting information.  

Most surgeons say 64 ounces per day.  Just because others get more doesn't necessarily mean that you NEED more.  If you are not getting the minimum 64, though, it is probably a problem.

I, too, am surprised that at 2+ years out this is a problem.  Liquids go through into your intestine quite quickly, so there is no physical reason that you cannot drink enough.  Even if you "chug", within just a few minutes you should have room to drink more again.

I do understand, though, the aversion to too much plain water.  Unless I am very thirsty, too much plain water at one time makes me physically nauseous (and, on a couple of occasions during my first year post op, it actually brought me close to throwing it back up). Alternating plain water with flavored water, tea, coffee, SF hot chocolate,  protein water, or even milk can make it much easier.

It is like the vitamins... You just have to do it.  I actually get a fair amount of my daily liquid in WHEN I take my vitamins.  The B complex can make me queasy, so I take my main dose of vitamins with quite a bit of water to wash them well into the intestine to avoid that.  So by the time I add four doses of calcium per day and the water I drink with those, it adds up.

Lora

I'm with you, Tracy. It's a habit.

I will not allow myself to eat until I have had 16 ounces of water. And I love to eat, so this works for me.

What is the difficulty with getting in your fluids? If water doesn't work for you, try hot decaf tea. I easily drink between 80-100 ounces of water a day IN ADDITION to hot tea and coffee. I do this, like Tracy, by having water with me at all times. You might be taking too big of drinks. Take small sips on a more frequent basis. Maybe the water is too cold. If you dislike plain water, throw in some Crystal Light or Mio. The point is tha****er is a priority, and you can't fudge it off.

There is no reason for you to have hydration on a regular basis unless you have a problem you haven't disclosed.

I travel during the day for work. I carry a camelbak with a 100-ounce bladder. I fill it up in the morning and I empty it by 8:00pm. Love my water.

I was addicted to Dr Pepper prior to surgery. Now I crave water just I use to crave Dr Pepper.

I second the idea of learning to drink water. Swallowing disorders should be the only reason that one needs secondary hydration.

Good luck.