Question:
I can't get in 48 oz a day for the life of me. Help!

Fout days post-op from gastric bypass, two days on clear liquid diet without an IV hydration. I can't get in me 48 oz of liquid a day for the life of me. Max yesterday was 22 oz. Today is no better. My Dr says I can only take 3 oz per hour. That means drinking 16 hours non stop. And all these liquids taste horrible - too sweet or too bland. Any one has some advice?    — kilidala (posted on March 20, 2009)

March 20, 2009
My surgeon has his patients take a sip, 2 oz in amount, every 15 minutes. Working around meals, this will allow you to get in enough fluids. Fluids go through your pouch relatively fast, so I don't really understand the 3 oz per hour advice from your DR. DAVE
   — Dave Chambers

March 20, 2009
It was really hard for me as well. I kept a strict log of my intake and just kept working at the goal. Chicken broth, sugar free popsicles, sugar free jello and yogurt were all interchanged with the protein drinks. You can do this!
   — kristina838

March 20, 2009
I had trouble as well...My only advice is "one day at a time"...You cannot expect to do it all at once...Don't push it too hard, but do try to increase it a little daily...You will get there eventually...I promise! By a few days PO anything SF was so much more than my taste buds could handle. Water even tasted weird...I learned the the only way I could really get in my water was to put a little SF sweetener in it (I use stevia now because it is natural and a non sugar sweetener) and a drop of lemon or No sugar addes (NSA) fruit juice for a tiny bit of flavor (don't need much at all with the SF sweetener) And drink it at room temp or even just a bit warm and that made ALL the difference! I sipped on clear Protein (Isopure-carb free) as well and that added towards my liquids AS WELL as my proteins! By three months I was doing much better! You will too.
   — .Anita R.

March 20, 2009
I too did the math--and if you drink the right amount at the right times, the numbers don't add up. If a protein shake is 8 oz, and you are to drink 1 oz every 20 minutes, then how could you finish this in less than 2.5 hours?
   — Raye306

March 21, 2009
Hi Danielle, first thing I would like to say is "Congrats" on your surgery! I had the same problem, even in the hospital, but I just made a pact with myself that I was going to sip liquids whenevr I can. I am 16 months post op and have lost 152llbs, but I always have a bottle of water with me at all times in my hand, even when I go shopping to the doctor, etc. When I am home, that's when I get my other fluids in such as my protein drink, milk, I do drink the crystal light, and the suger free kool-aid, gatorade. I am not sure what your restrictions are on your program of what you can or can't drink, but I was actually at the pureed food stage. Anyhow, just as you are sitting, have something right next to you, and take small sips, put don't push it, if you are feeling full, but still try to sip like every 10 minutes. I ran into problems were I wasn't urinating, and you want to avoid that. In any doubt, call your doctor or dietician that your are working with your concern. Take care! Good luck! keep us posted on how you are doing! Lisa
   — lisa3959