Question:
I have a question about ice chips, post-op and back home?

Now I know that you are not supposed to drink water before, during and after meals, and I think that is going to be a tough one for me to get used to. I drink all the time. I've looked in the library here, and could not find an answer, so I was wondering,does eating ice chips/crushed ice slowly and intermittently with meals cause any harm. It's not like there will be enough water to flush through your new pouch? We're talking literally a spoon or so during the time before-during-and after your meals. Bad habit? Not good to even contemplate? I will have no problem taking in water throughout the rest of the day, but I was in the Sahara for 8 years, and ice is right up there with air as a neccessity for me!    — track (posted on October 31, 2003)

October 30, 2003
A few ice chips will be fine. You will be surprised that you probably won't be as thirsty as you are now.
   — MARSHA D.

October 30, 2003
<font color="007000" face="tahoma">I am 6 months post-op and I have used ice a couple of times after a meal because I needed to "rince" my mouth or remove a taste. What I noticed what that if I had to many, my pouch would get over-ful and I would be very uncomfortable. Then I would have a foam or froth come back up. <P>I would say, just be careful and try not to make it a habbit. Good Luck on your Journey!<br><I>~~Wendy D, RNY 4/23/03, -114lbs~~</I></Font>
   — Wendy D P.

October 30, 2003
I am a year post op, and I try not to drink with (or after) meals, but sometimes I eat something that feels dry or "stuck" and a sip or two of water is a necessity. I don't think it will hurt, but as another poster said, it can make you feel full faster and flush the food through if you drink too much.
   — koogy

October 30, 2003
I was like you as a pre-op - always drinking something, and usually drank a lot with meals as well. But, I've not really had a problem adapting to this rule as a post-op. Believe me, there really isn't room in your pouch for the food you'll be eating and a drink too. Give yourself a chance to adapt, and I think you won't find it that difficult, really. I stop drinking a half-hour before meals, and resume a half-hour after (per doctor's instructions). I guess some people go longer than that, so you should follow what your doctor says, of course. Good luck!
   — Carlita

October 31, 2003
Track - it does sound a little unnerving, doesn't it? I too had been a water hound prior to surgery. 2 quarts a day?? No big deal for me! Then to think of not being able to drink with my meals? I really couldn't even contemplate it! I would go nuts driving in my car for an hour without something to drink! Well, after surgery, I couldn't even stand the taste of water. That surprised me greatly. I could drink juice and milk, but not water. It felt like a lump going down and tasted wrong to me. I started adding lemon slices and then it got better. However, I do not drink or take ice chips (same thing) with my meals. My surgeon has us stop drinking 1/2 hour before and 1/2 hour after. Now that I am almost 6 months out, I am starting to incorporate the 'Pouch Rules for Dummies'. I now drink some water 15 min before I eat and wait for 1 1/2 hrs after and then start drinking again. Keeps my pouch feeling better and without any 'hunger' pains. Do your best. You know that if you create a 'soup' of your food in your pouch, it will empty faster. This can make you feel hungry too soon. Now, in the beginning, you probably won't feel any hunger, but what we do throughout this journey, builds upon itself. Good habits need to be established in the beginning to help us throughtout our lifetime. I remind myself that we will always have a pouch, not a stomach. The pouch is a tool and we are doing ourselves a favor by fully understanding how to use this tool. I highly recommend reading Pouch Rules - it helps explain the mechanics. There used to be a link to it from this website or just do a search. Best of luck!
   — Jodie P.

October 31, 2003
I am in the same boat as you. I love to drink with my meals, or that is, I did!!! You just have to set your mind to it and it will not be so hard. I spent 6 mos in Viet Nam in the 1960's and have not been with out my water bottle since. I am also a diabetic and we crave water!! Just wait until you go eat at a restaurant. They push the liquids. Good luck, I know you can do it!! From: OLD RODEO CLOWN PANTS.
   — OLD RODEO C.

October 31, 2003
Hi Track, I can totally relate - I'm a major water drinker! When I was pregnant with my son (high risk pregnancy) I had to drink 1.5 gallons of water a day on doctor's orders. I got hooked - and have been ever since! I guess one of the reasons I felt so relieved to find the DS was that there weren't the drinking restrictions associated with the RNY or Lap Band. Honestly, I'm not as disciplined a person as so many of my WLS brothers and sisters are, and so the DS is the perfect answer for me. I still love drinking with my meals - and do. I probably get in close to a gallon a day - whether it's water, pop, iced tea, whatever. I'll be 16 months post-op on Sunday, I've lost 183 lbs and loving life. I had no idea how much fun life as a post-op could be! Blessings, dina
   — Dina McBride

November 1, 2003
I had a diet center give me one good piece of advice 12 years ago: a 32 oz. cup of ice water with a squeeze of lemon juice and you sweetner, equal spena, adjust to your taste. Will taste like a weak lemonade but works great at helping flushing the body. Patricia 9-30-03 314/276/190
   — pateblkbrn