Sipping...

I am really troubled about this whole sipping thing...I have no clue how to do this.  I know it is imperative for the surgery, but I am practicing and it isn't working for me.  Any explainations of how much liquid should be in one sip?  Trying hard to grasp this concept... I know   --  It is the little things that we get caught up on. Candice

Hi Candice, It's hard for you to swallow (small pun) the concept of sipping now, before surgery.  After surgery, your esophagus is swollen, and your stomach is swollen and stapled and stitched!  You will only be able to sip at first until the swelling goes down and the healing begins.  Try not to obsess over the simple things.  Dream about that nice slim body and all those new clothes!!!!  It'll get you through the rough spots! Blessings, Diane

My one tip would be.  Let all your air out before the liquid goes down.  If you dont you accidentally swallow a lot of air. Youll get used to it and it will be second nature to you.  Do anything you can to avoid gas.  It is a pain, literally. 

If you take in too much with a 'sip' try using a teaspoon.  A teaspoonful of liquid should be about a sip and you can't over do if it is measured out that way.  Just give it some time between sips.  Good luck.  E

I see your surgery date is in July... I honestly wouldnt worry about practicing sipping... one you have surgery you will find you have no choice but to sip... I would work on getting your fluids in thou... I was a huge water drinker pre-op which helped me post-op because I already had the habit of drinking water all day long.

Hi Candice!  I went to the nutrition class last night and they stressed sipping alot.  I too have been thinking how much is a sip.  I don't want to get too much or not enough.  My guess is a small amount, maybe a teaspoon as mentioned by Ethel would be close enough.  But, I think we need to learn.  We will look really silly sipping out of a spoon all day.  I wish you luck and if I discover the secret to the sip, I will let you know!   Stacy

The hospital will help you with this post op.  They gave me a tiny 2 ounce medicine cup and I Sipped from there for over an hour.  THe gaged and directed how to do it and how much. Worse case, you can spit out what you put in your mouth but cannot swallow.  It will make more sense when you have your surgery.  Your body will know not to Gulp.  THis is where the difficulty comes in.

Candice, I just  came home today at 400 from the hospital, oh i feel bad, if you can find a medicine cup with 30cc or ml on it try taking about 10cc at a time, that is all i have been able to do, before i was a big gulper. The first nite post op i was so nauseated(they gave me Zofran, Reglan and finally phenergan, the phenergan finally knocked me out thank god for that, i could not get comfortable, had 2 iv's infiltrate(swollen tissue from the IV cathetar leaking into my peripheral tissue(top tissue) it looks like was beaten.  On the way home my idiot husband stopped by the store and bought himself chille cheese doriotos( i about barffed by the smell alone), After telling him twice to wait til we got home he finally put it up.  Had a sugar free popsicle today in the hospital and it was really sweat, never thought that would be a case for me.  I have been walking around the houseas much as possible, i have to medicate up before I go for the adventure.  Boy  i hope things get better

Dear Patty,  So glad you are home and doing well. Please keep me updated on your recovery, I am having surgery Monday 5-28 and would like to know more about the first week or so. Good luck and do one day at a time. Michelle (Charlotte NC)

Hi SHell, Well the IV fluids have now left me went from 217 on thursday to 209.5 today, It is so hard for me to get the fluids down, I am going to freeze me a water bottle with water in it, it seems to go down better when cold.  At least then as it melts i can drink it slowing, there is no other way. The Zofan the doctor gave me insurance did not cover(BCBS) it cost me for generic 148.00 i about fainted, if i would  have known it was that much i would have left it but my husband picked it up with my crdit card, took my bandages off and showered today. felt better, sounds terrible but I slept about all day today, id not exercise like my dischrge paper said"25 minutes twice daily VIGOURSLY"  they only way that i would be abdo that is to take a pai pill, SO i will have to start tomorrow doing better.  I will keep in touch