Question:
What happens if you drink during and right after meals?

I do. I'm 9 months post-op, down 85 pounds and have been on a plateau for about 4 weeks now. Maybe this is the reason. I find it very difficult not to drink with my meals. Any help?    — Denise B. (posted on October 21, 2001)

October 20, 2001
Hi Denise: I am 10 weeks post op and still do not drink with my meals. My number one reason is when I do, I get a sick feeling like everything is going to come right back up. My surgeon also advised against it, says it gives a higher probability of stretching my new pouch. Either way, that's a chance I DO NOT want to take. My outlook on it is that I have been through too much and have come too far to have a "glass of something" sabotage it. Just don't pour anything to drink and eventually you will get used to it. Good luck !!! CONGRATS ON YOUR WEIGHT LOSS....YOU'RE DOING GREAT!!!!!!!!
   — Joi G.

October 20, 2001
You are not supposed to drink during or after meals because the fluid pushes the food on thru the pouch and you will not feel as satiated. It is better to have that satiation (full feeling) so your appetite will not return before it is time...also, it is best to "fluid load" prior to your meal. By that, you drink & drink until 10-15 minutes prior to your meal & you do not drink again until 90 min. after your meal. Good luck :-)
   — Barbara B.

October 21, 2001
Hi there. I'm about 3 months post op and had a hard time not drinking with my meals earlier on. As a pre-op I thought it would be a breeze to not drink with meals, however, I found it easier said than done. I was pouring myself little glass of something *just in case I needed it*...like if I were to choke on something. I would end up always sipping on it more out of habit than anything, through my meal. So,I did as the previous poster suggested and stopped having a drink available to me..I let go of my safety blanket so to speak. Now it is very easy for me to eat without drinking. I find that I chew my food better as we should, since I know I don't have a drink to help flush it down. Good luck! -Kim
   — KimBo36

October 21, 2001
I tried the fluid loading and not drinking before, during or after meals, and all that stuff. I was finding myself getting VERY dehydrated. So to heck with it. I've always drank ALOT during meals, and can't stand not drinking with meals. So I compromise and try to drink just as little with a meal as I can stand. I don't have any problems getting hungry quickly afterwards, or eating to much during a meal ether. So I think I'm doing fine. I'm not going to worry about it anymore, as it sure beats the dehydration I was getting doing it the "right way".
   — Danmark

October 21, 2001
I understand that we cannot drink fluids 30 minutes before or after meals for several reasons: 1) it will wash the food straight through the pouch and the nutrition in the food won't have time to get into our system 2) it will make us fuller faster if we drink with meals and won't get enough of the nutrition that we need. I keep ICE CHIPS with me at all meals.
   — Betty Todd