Question:
I am three months post-op and I know I should not drink before, during and after I

eat, but I can't help it, I don't drink alot but I would like to know if that could cause any damage. Please let me know if anyone knows what could happen.    — angelswings711 (posted on October 3, 2006)

October 3, 2006
Yes, drinking before could cause you an issue. The water takes up space which will make you full, then you will not be able to eat all your proteins etc. With you being out for just a short time you should not have an issue of being thirsty. I would consult your dietican.
   — Steve Cohen

October 3, 2006
This is one of those "lifestyle" changes that was hardest for me but you HAVE to do it to be successful in the long term. Think of your pouch as a funnel, with a small outlet Short term out of surgery - you'll feel too full to get your food in if there's alot of fluid still working it's way through the pouch, and you may vomit if you try to cram food on top of liquids. Long term out of surgery, the fluid will push the food through your pouch too soon and you will not get a nice feeling of satiety for a long period - which is what you want. You want to feel full on a small amount of food - and not have it washed through too soon. Then, about 30 minutes to 1 hour after your meal, you should be able to drink again. I'm almost 6 years out - and if I drink too soon (and I can) - I'm hungry too soon and that's a bad thing. I know it's hard to breeak old habits - but you have to replace them with new GOOD habits for your success. Best wishes!
   — Terri S.

October 3, 2006
Also, I was told that the food being pushed through can stretch your stoma.
   — seanna

October 3, 2006
Back in the olden days, we were taught to drink up to just before eating. Then not during eating and not for 30 minutes. Drinking WHILE eating just about quadruples the amount of food you can eat comfortably. I don't know about your circumstances, but I paid good money (twice!) for this small pouch, so even at 12 years, I do my best to NOT out eat it. Do your drinking all during the non-meal times and you should not be parched by food time.
   — vitalady

October 4, 2006
Phyllis, you posted a number of questions regarding whether or not going against your doctors (i assume its your doctor or surgeon or nutritionist who told you these things) will be harmful. I'm inclined to believe that your doctor would not tell you these things if they did not pose risks either to the integrity of your surgery or would hinder your weightloss. While it is always your choice of what/when you decide to eat or drink, it might be helpful to talk to your doctor or nutrtionist about these things you feel you cannot stop doing. It's important for your doctor to know whats going on with you and he or she may be able to advise on ways to do what you feel you need to do without or with the least risk of harm to yourself. It might also be helpful for you to talk to someone, a therapist/counselor, your doctor or even nutritionist about why you are engaging in behaviors that are self-sabotaging. If you've been on the board for awile, you must have heard, over and over again, that weight loss surgery is not a magic cure. It is a tool. If you chose to use the tool appropriately, you'll be rewarded with weight loss and a healthy body. But if you choose not to use the tool or to only use it selectiely, it is very likely that you will not reach or maintain your goal weight and not have as healthy of a body as you could have. I hope this didn't come across as too harsh. I don't mean it that way.... I was just really surpised to see your series of posts and want to let you know that it is likely that you are putting both your surgery and health at risk. Goodluck to you..
   — mrsidknee

October 5, 2006
There are several reasons for not drinking before, during and after eating. One is that you need to be able to get in all the nutrition (especially protein). You don't have allot of room right now and you need to use what you have for nutrition, Second, it washes the food that you have eaten through and could stretch the stoma by over working it. when you begin to feel hunger again, you won't make it from meal time to meal time, so you will start snacking and POOF, there goes the weight loss. There are several lifestyle changes that we have to make and this is one of them. If you want to be successfull, you need to follow you doctors nutrition plan.
   — jk_harris