How long before you could drink normally?

I think it will vary...my doctor always remind me that it's different for every patient, you just have to see what our body is capable of....

It took me 6 months or so

Well it got a heck of a lot easier with time...at 3 weeks out, I had good improvement, and I know around 3 months out, everything started to be easier and fall into place...

But, I still don't drink like pre-surgery....I desire to guzzle down water while working out, but can't....still need to take moderate sized sips. In about an hour workout, I will sip my way through about 18 oz.

Like others said, I can drink other fluids quicker than water...I can drink 8 oz milk in about 5 minutes time.

But thick drinks like a protein shake take the longest...and it takes me 30 minutes to drink 4 oz.

Probably at about a month I could take normal size swallows...without hearing it cascade in my stomach!  I can't quite chug at pre-op rate now, but I drink normally.  I can finish a 20oz container of water during my 25 minute commute in the morning.