Question:
Is it normal to be able to drink water like I did pre-op?

Everybody on this site talks about SIPPING water, but at 7 days post-op, I'm able to pretty much drink it like I did pre-op. Not quite as much or I'll get gas but nearly as much. Is this normal? I supposedly have a 1 oz. pouch, and I have a huge incision to prove that I had surgery of some kind--I just wonder if my surgeon performed the surgery properly! I'm kidding, but I have noticed that I haven't yet felt fullness. I'm still on the clear liquid stage, so maybe that's why I haven't felt full. But my surgeon told us not to drink more than 1/2 a cup of liquid in one sitting and that we might feel fullness before we've consumed even that amount. I can already drink more than 1/2 a cup of liquid in one sitting. Last night, I drank 1 cup of chicken broth and still didn't feel full. Is this normal? Thanks!    — Kristie B. (posted on May 14, 2002)

May 14, 2002
My surgeon had me sip liquids too. His definition of sipping was to have a glass of liquid by me at all times and take small sips constantly. By doing this, I was able to drink about 50 ounces of liquid a day the first week out of the hospital. I didn't have "sittings" - just a big glass of V8 or Crystal Light that was always nearby. Hope this helps.
   — Patty_Butler

May 14, 2002
Liquids go right through you so they never really make you feel full. You may feel full for a minute or so, but then it just keeps flowing through. I am 6 months and can only drink and ounce at a time. I have to wait until that goes down to take another drink. If I drink more than an ounce, it gets backed up until it goes down. I can drink much faster than in the beginning, but still not as fast as pre-op.
   — Cheri M.

May 14, 2002
I had wondered about this myself. I can literally chug water with no problem (I could since 10 days post-op). I am glad, because it makes it easier to get in all of my liquids, but it seems strange that so many can only take sips all day long. It makes it seem like I haven't even had surgery.
   — Kelly M.

May 14, 2002
I am 6 days post-op from Lap RNY and I have no problem drinking water normally - no sipping here; although I have not even wanted to try chugging. I just drink at a normal pace and yesterday I did reach my goal of 64 oz of water in addition to my liquid meals. Today is the first day I have felt a little bit of hunger, but thankfully it has only happened about 10 minutes before I was due to eat. Best wishes to you!!!
   — Heather H.

May 14, 2002
I have always been able to drink the same as i did pre-op. Well, not soda, too painful. But water... chug chug chug. It just goes on through. 7 mos post-op down 97lbs!!!
   — RebeccaP

May 14, 2002
I have been pretty well able to drink a lot of water too, as long as it is on an empty stomach. If there is any solid food (even well chewed) in there, drinking much can get really painful. But liquid can flow very easily even through a small stoma if there is nothing to block it. At your stage, I would stick to the 1/2 cup at a time. It actually takes several weeks to really understand fullness. So hang in there and good luck.
   — Dell H.