I not a big drinker and never have been but did used to have an occasional beer with a meal. Where I used to be able to drink a bottle now the most I can drink now is about 6 oz, and that I have to nurse through out the meal. Yet, although I'm still a big guy, it hits me like a ton of bricks! I have to wait a little before I drive, even though at the most is only 6 oz of beer inside of me? Maybe because our tummies are 90% smaller, the alcohol is absorbs into our bloodstream faster? I don't know. Yet, also the beer appears to evaporate from me just as fast as well. So while admittedly I do not know how this works, I do know I cannot drink much alcohol and when I do-I FEEL IT!!

I was told that hydration is key after surgery. It takes time to build yourself up to consuming a certain number of calories or grams of protein. I track what I consume and some days I do great. Other days I would prefer not to track. But I also need to remember that when I burn more calories my intake level might be elevated.

It seems there is not a standard that must be followed after surgery. As patients provide more feedback, emphasis on what and how much we should eat is given. I don't like saying to be your own doctor but we can all do a little trial and error to see what works best for us. If something works, stick with it. If not try to change it up.

I try for 3 meals per day but I keep snacks in mind just in case. Low-fat string cheese is my go-to snack. I learn as I go, take advise that makes sense, then share what helps.

I have a hard time as well trying to figure out what I'm supposed to be doing? I was sleeved about six months ago and have followed the diet I was given from surgeon. Three meals and two snacks plus 4-6 bottles of water daily.

Last week I met with the dietician from my surgeons office and was told I'm not to go more than four hours between meals or snacks. Also was told I'm eating too much protein and not eating enough fruits and vegetables or grains! Apparently we're not supposed to diet anymore now that we've had surgery.

If I were to eat the way the dietician advised, I wouldn't lose any more weight. I'm just going to do my own thing with emphasis on protein to get to my goal.

Thanks for your reply! Hubby & I have been telling her even 3 small meals and a couple protein smoothies or something because she keeps saying the dietitian said 3 meals a day only but she can't get enough protein that way. I've told her about several of these forums for advice and support also but she hasn't looked into them.

I was talking pills 2 days post op. Pain pills. Some pills shape or surface roughness affect if I can comfortably take them, or not.

Some tables are more difficult forme t take than others. Size of the tablet, plus how quickly gets desolved in my gut... For new meds I try see how well quickly it starts disintegrating. I take one pill and place it in a little bit of water and watch that. Sometimes I have to break the pills in half.

Most of the times - warm water helps dissolving the pills.

In first few years, most really large pill got stuck, or felt like they got stuck. So many years post op, that doesn't happen very often, if any.

I still personally prefer capsules. It s easier for me to swallow them. I often can take a few capsules at one time, but most large pills I have to take one at a time.