Dehydration

well hush my mouth and call me stupid. I don't understand why after WLS we are more likely to become dehydrated than before surgery. Why so much more water than before surgery?

Pauline

Hi Pauline,

I could be wrong here, but I don't think the emphasis is on getting "so much more water" than before. I think it's about drinking "all the time" to prevent dehydration (although if you weren't a water drinker before, it may be a lot more... I'm drinking less than before cause I just can't get it in yet, but I drank loads and chugged!). Because our pouch has such a limited amount it holds, and because we don't eat and drink together, unless we sip sip sip, it can be very difficult to get the amount of water we need in a day to stay hydrated. Plus, chugging water (or any liquid) is just painful!

Most experts say to get the amount we're told to drink anyway... we just have to space it out. And if you're exercising, you'll need more!

I agree, the amount of water we are supposed to drink is not any higher than someone who has not gone through surgery. There is just more of an emphasis on getting it in and being mindful of it. I am sure if that if most people totaled up all of the liquids that they drank before they are probably actually consuming less fluids daily.

One thing to note is that in the early stages the 2L includes all of your water PLUS any liquid protein.

Just remember tha****er is your friend. It helps with digestion, keeps your skin looking nice, keeps away brain fog from dehydration and actually provides nutrients (mostly elemental) that your brain and body actually need.

Pre op we awe were able to get more volume in. Liquids were in more in the foods we ate. Think of it in the volume we ate than we drank. As you wont get the volume in as pre op it is necessary to be conscious of what fluid we drink

Thanks so much, all. I don't know why I didn't think of that. I drink about a litre and a half of water a day now. I'm working on getting it up to 2 litres.

Pauline