Effect of drinking with meals?

All, I was told not to drink while eating meals. Actually, told not to drink for 30 min before or after eating. BUT, I couldn't stand it .... and so I drink with meals. What is the net effect of drinking with meals? Thanks, Julie

If I drink w/ my meals, it causes me to be hungry much faster as the food passes through the pouch much more quickly. I end up eating sooner, which means I end up eating more, which means it's harder to maintain my weight. They did a study on this and it's in the pouch rules for dummies article if you're interested. I usually wait at least an hour after, sometimes longer. The key though is to drink lots between meals so that you're not thirsty, otherwise it would be very difficult. That being said, if you're at goal and have no trouble at all maintaining your weight, then you may not need to concern yourself. I found though that the farther out I got, the more I needed every trick in the book to keep the hunger under control. Linda

Julie, The fluids with a meal cause the meal to wash thru the stomach. It needs to stay there awhile to help absorb the nutrients. Also I believe it can cause dumping to happen as the food enters the intestional tract too quickly when we drink with the meals. Since malabsorption is such an issue, you want the food to stay in our system longer. Also if you wash the food out, you will be hungry quicker. Sometimes I do sip a little if something was drier than I expected. But I really try to stick to no fluids 15 minutes before a meal and 30 minutes after. Mary

Actually, nutrients are absorbed in the colon, not the stomach/pouch. But you are right about feeling hungry sooner if you wa**** through quickly. Also, washing it through quickly gives you space to shove in more food too, which for me is certainly a danger point. So, more than 2.5 years later, I drink right up until meals, but not during or for at least 30 minutes after. Including some moister foods in the meal really helps. Ann

Nutrients are absobed by the small intestine, not the colon. Colon is responsible for water re-absorption. Sorry, small little nit-pick there.

The occassional moistening sip or bites of ice with meals were and are no issue for me and haven't been since shortly after surgery. However, DRINKING with meals resulted in a 10 pound gain. Ugh.

YIKES! That's frightening! I am definately feeling full longer not drinking before and after meals. .

One thing to add to all the good reasons mentioned. According to my surgeon, by forcing the food through quicker with liquid before it is fully digested your stoma can be stretched. We continually hear fears of the pouch stretching and gaining weight. My doc said that the pouch is not the real problem in regards to stretching. The larger the stoma the easier and quicker more food can pass through the pouch. End result- overeating and weight gain! Enough reason for me...

Thanks for responding .. Stretching my stomach is my primary fear (as I'm sure is a fear for all of us). BUT, I have a thought .... I had RNY .... I was told food no longer digests in my stomach (or I misunderstood). I *thought* the digestive enzymes came in at the bottom of my stomach (which is now completely severed and re-attached at the bottom of the 'Y') and so digestion doesn't actually start until the food reaches the part of my intestine where the Y connects ..... Did I misunderstand? Gosh I feel so stupid! Thanks! Julie

You understood right, but that point where everything comes into contact again is much further along the intestinal tract now. Some things only get absorbed by certain parts of the sm intestine (3 sections). We already have most of the duodenum bypassed, so thats out completely, but depending on your length of bypass, you may pass up portions of the jejunum too. So if you eat something that only gets absorbed by the jejunum, and your connection is farther along, the digestive enzymes are not hitting at the right place and you cannot absorb it. Does that help or confuse you farther?? I tried to make it as clear as I could, but that usually backfires on me!!