Question:
I am having a VERY hard time getting in all the liquids I need!

Does anyone have any suggestions. I sip nearly all day and I know I don't get nearly what I'm supposed to. I'm 4.5 weeks post op and If I drink too fast or even too much I feel like I have to bring it back up. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks    — SJP (posted on October 14, 2003)

October 14, 2003
You're still healing. Take your time and eventually you will be able to get in your liquids.
   — JoSyrNY

October 14, 2003
I am about 6 weeks post op and I am having the same problem. The one thing that I have figured out is that warm liguids go down easier and do not cause any discomfort but there are not many things that taste good warm, any suggestions from anyone?
   — Reeda

October 14, 2003
I am 2 1/2 months post op, and I can remember how hard it was to get all my water in everyday. I could not drink warm tea and hot stuff, it really hurt my new tummy, but I know some people can. I personally think that cool or cold is better to help keep the swelling down inside your new tummy, I think hot may irratate it, anyway, I started drinking diet snapple, it counts as water, no sugar, no carbonation, no caffene, and it sure was easier to get down than water. They have great flavors, peach, rasberry, canapple/rasberry, and lemon. That is what I drink even no most of the time. You could also use Crystal Lite, much better than water. Like another poster said, it takes time, do not be so hard on yourself, just try to get the most water or other in a day that you can, it does get much easier.
   — cindy

October 14, 2003
4 and half weeks is still pretty new. If you are eating soft foods or solids at this time, it could be that these foods are taking up all of your pouch space and taking a long time to digest therefore not leaving room for fluids. You could feel nauseated because of this. At 4.5 weeks, make sure some of your 'meals' are liquid-soup, yogurt, pudding, protein drinks, etc. Of course water is always the best thing to drink. If you are really down on your water consumption, spend the first 3 hours and the last 3 hours of your day getting in only water, when your pouch is empty. You can eat food and have other drinks in-between. Another thing could be that your system is slow, from eating to digestion to BM's. That is the way mine is. Everyday I drink 3 glasses(in about 2 hours) of water before I eat anything. It helps give me a good start on my water intake but doesn't help my slow bowel, for that I take stool softener.
   — mary ann T.

October 14, 2003
I got a "Hawaiian Ice Shaver" and ate the ice - much more pleasant than sipping water in my opinion. However, I wouldn't recommend crushed ice, its not the same thing. Look for an ICE SHAVER.
   — bethybb

October 14, 2003
I too have a hard time, i'm about the same post-op as you are. I try to eat sugar free popsicles A LOT!!! that way at least i'm getting some in without having to drink. good luck, try jello too!! :)
   — Lynne W.

October 14, 2003
I saw my surgeon on Friday for my 6 week appointment and told him that I consider it a good day if I get 30oz of water in, figuring he'd tell me that I needed to work on that, but he said that 30oz was pretty good for being only 6 weeks out. I used to drink all day long before the surgery, but like my hunger, my thirst is gone now too - so that's going to be hard, but don't push yourself too early.
   — Ryan M.

October 15, 2003
Do your best, and don't worry. I have had the same issue, and I decided to stop beating myself up about it. I have tried to decoy myself into sipping constantly by leaving bottled water all over the place and in my car, but there is a limit to what I can take in...and that's just the way it is. It can only improve, that's the way I look at it! :-) Deborah Open RNY 10-25-03
   — Deborah M.