Question:
Why can't you drink and eat at the same time?

I am pre-op RNY. I have to do a sleep study before surgery can be scheduled, though. It is scheduled for the 20th of March. Why can't you eat and drink together after the surgery ? How long is the proper time to wait after eating to drink something? Also, did anyone have to take Lovenox injections immediately following surgery? Were they painful?    — Regina_07 (posted on March 10, 2008)


March 10, 2008
To drink with your meals will flush all the food through your system without your body being able to absorb the needed and necessary protein! This is not a permanent situation though. I was told at about 10 months out that I could resume drinking with my meals (although I rarely drank with my meals before surgery) I did so and didn't feel well, so I went back to the normal waiting 30 mins after eating before I drink and I went right back to feeling better. As far as the proper time, some surgeon's say not to drink 30 mins prior to your meal and 30 mins after your meal. Other's say an hour for each. Check with your surgeon. I have no idea about the Lovenox injections, sorry. Good luck, God bless and see you on the losing side soon!
   — crystalsno

March 10, 2008
The reason you are not to drink with your food is that you will wash the food down and you will have an empty pouch and be hungry. You eat your food w/o liquid so that you stay full for the longest amount of time possible. Naturally, there will be times when you may want to drink a bit with a meal, but do it as little as possible or you will defeat the purpose of the pouch and the surgery. I try to wait between 45 min and an hour before drinking anything.
   — Kathy T.

March 10, 2008
The reason you are not to drink with your food is that you will wash the food down and you will have an empty pouch and be hungry. You eat your food w/o liquid so that you stay full for the longest amount of time possible. Naturally, there will be times when you may want to drink a bit with a meal, but do it as little as possible or you will defeat the purpose of the pouch and the surgery. I try to wait between 45 min and an hour before drinking anything.
   — Kathy T.

March 10, 2008
You already got the answer to the drinking with meals ..but I'll just add my two cents worth.. don't drink 30 minutes before..or after a meal...and definitely not during. It just flushes the food through...you don't retain your fullness or satisfied feeling of the meal then...and sometimes.. drinking with a meal might cause you discomfort... as it pushes things through too quickly.. or they can kind of work their way back up....anyway....that was the case for me...once when I was thinking drinking would get a large piece of food down easier... (when I realized I swallowed too big of a bite) instead it made everything push back up and I had to RUN to the restroom because I feared I would throw up right then and there. It can cause pain as well. Lovenox injections....yes...they do those usually after surgery...and sometimes right before you go in. I had heparin before going in...which did sting a bit....but the lovenox after...once a day while in the hospital...(I was in 2 additional days after surgery) and they weren't bad at all. If you're prone to clotting..they may have you doing them after you leave the hospital. I didn't have to though. Best of luck and WOW....just think of the new life you're going to have after March 20th! How exciting! Hugs...Cheryl
   — Cheryl K.

March 10, 2008
My doctor ask that I wait one hour, but some doctors say 1/2 hour so ask yours. The reason, as I understand it is the pouch is very small and drinking water washes the food into the gut. This empties the pouch and will allow you to feel hungury sooner. In an emergency, you can take some liquid. If you feel food is stuck in your throut try warm water rather than cold. Best policy is to follow the doctor doing your surgery's rules. Each does the surgery different, and they have different rules.
   — William (Bill) wmil

March 10, 2008
I had the DS and we are allowed to drink and eat at the same time. With the DS: there is no stoma, so no stoma strictures; there are no limitations (other than volume) against drinking before, during or after meals; 80% of ingested fat is malabsorbed, allowing liberal use of eggs, butter, mayonaisse, healthy oils, marbled meats, cheese, etc., in the diet; 98.9% of type II diabetics are CURED of this devastating disease, with data showing stable cure over 10 years out; there is the best average weight loss and most durable (average 76% excess weight loss going out 10 years) of all of the bariatric surgeries. Check out DuodenalSwitch.com Good luck!!
   — SameButDifferent

March 10, 2008
The Lovenox injections are not too bad. I had them a couple of times a day while in the hospital (4 days) and then had to give them to myself for a week after the hospital. I am prone to blood clots and they wanted to make sure I didn't have any post-op problems. The needle I used was very small and skinny so they didn't hurt too much, the injection was just under the skin. Hope that answers that part of your question.
   — Nee P

March 10, 2008
The purpose of the "pouch" is for it to fill up faster and you get the sensation of feeling full and stop eating before you over do it. Eating slider foods, crunchy foods or drinking with your meal helps to move the food out of the pouch quicker and the full sensation comes after consuming way too many calories and too much food. Use your tool to your advantage and let it be your guide not a road block between you and food.
   — bariatricdivalatina

March 10, 2008
If you eat something and drink something at the same time the liquid could cause the food to expand quickly and give you excruciating pains in your stomach. Also too much natural sugars found in foods and drinks is not good immediately postt-op. I am 7 years post-op, so if you have any other questions feel free to contact me at [email protected].
   — Kelly T.

March 10, 2008
Hi Regina, thanks for writing. To eat and drink at the same time not only fills you up faster, and you need room for what small amounts of food you eat, but is also can cause what you eat to swell, so something that could pass through at a tablespoon, can balloon up to two tablespoons, and cause grief for the person. At four years out I can eat and drink some, but I usually don't. It turns bread and crackers or oatmeal into a sponge, and it is not comfortable. You usually wait about 45 minutes to an hour for the desire to drink. Don't know what lovenox is, never had it. I really encourage you to buy a couple of books on the wls subject. I got one from a person who went through it, and one from a surgeons perspective. Know what you are getting into before March 20th. Take care. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

March 12, 2008
I gave myself the Lovenox shots and the needle was so small it felt like a very very tiny pinch.
   — losing4mylife




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