Question:
WHY AREN'T YOU SUPPOSE TO DRINK WATER WITH YOUR MEALS? WILL IT DAMAGE ANYTHING? PLUSK

   — CYNTHIA W. (posted on April 2, 2003)

April 2, 2003
It will stretch your pouch...or damage your staple line if your newer post op....
   — Snowflake48342

April 2, 2003
From what I was told, you aren't supposed to drink liquids 1/2 hour (some say 1 hour - it varies) before or after a meal, because the liquids cause you to feel fuller and you get less protein in your system and could cause mal-nutrition. I am not sure if it would damage anything internally, but I think the best thing to do to insure success is to follow the rule because mal-nutrition is pretty serious in it's own right. Good luck!!
   — Jaimie L.

April 2, 2003
I think it may be because there just isn't enough room in your pouch for liquids and food. I have tried it a few times, and it usually causes me to throw up. Best of luck.
   — GPoynor

April 2, 2003
I hit an awful 6-week long plateau that kept my weight loss from continuing until I started water-loading 15 minutes before my meal. That means (in my case - I'm 6 1/2 months post-op) drinking 8 to 12 oz of water in 15 to 30 seconds! Then, when I eat my meal, I stay full longer. I had been drinking some with meals, and found that I'd get very hungry toward evening. I think the water was flushing the food down into my intestines prematurely. An occasional swallow of water may not hurt much, but I'm not going to chance it anymore. Water loading works for me! (down 68 lbs, 8 of which have been in the last 2 weeks, FINALLY...)
   — Kathy B.

April 2, 2003
Early on it prevents you from getting enough protein in. Theres just not enough room for water and food. Later on the problem is that liquids flush the food thru your pouch faster so you get hungry sooner. Pouch stretching according to my doc is overated, and actually pretty rare. Drinking does NOT interfere with vitamin or food absorbtion.
   — bob-haller

April 2, 2003
Let me tell you, for me it gives me the feeling of what I assume a severe heart attack feels like. A few days ago I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing and was eating some sliced ham for lunch. Not thinking I grabed my drink and took a fairly small drink and the pain came quickly. Most times when I have this sort of pain the only way I can get rid of it is to throw up but I hung in there and it did eventually pass, but from now on I need to pay closer attention when I am eating. I have only drank accidently twice since surgery and will try not to do it again. <p>I also believes it forces you to chew more thoroughly as you don't have something to wash the food down. If it's not chewed well it just sits in your pouch because there are no acids to break it down. It will probably eventually move through but you may be miserable in the meantime. It's really not that difficult to get used to not drinking with eating, especially if it makes you sick. If I ate something that doesn't sit well I have actually drank water to force myself to throw up but I am in a lot of pain till it occurs.
   — zoedogcbr

April 2, 2003
My doctor told me that if you drink with your meals, it will cause the food to wash through your pouch too soon and into your intestine. Thus, causing your intestine to become your stomach, then it will stretch and stay stretched. It will then become your stomach and you would be able to eat more than you are suppose to. Also, your intestine will hurt because it was not meant for undigested food.
   — Cindy D.

April 2, 2003
I'm five months out, and I try to water load before a meal. I can drink pretty much on an empty stomach. There have been times, though, when I had to have a few sips of water during a meal. No problems with that.
   — koogy