Question:
Drinking water with a meal

Exactly what is the real reason we are not supposed to drink water with a meal? Is it that the food will pass through our stomach too fast and we won't get the nutritional value we should? Plus will get hungry faster?    — Brenda H. (posted on December 7, 2007)


December 7, 2007
You risk the chance at stretching out your pouch when you drink with a meal.
   — MCraig3

December 7, 2007
mostly the water will cause food to pass too fast, making you hungry sooner. having attended meals and eating events over the years, most post ops drink at least some.
   — bob-haller

December 7, 2007
That is the real reason yes. I can honestly say most surgeon's nutritionists won't lie to you about anything! It's also what the previous posters stated. Remember, we WANT to be successful so follow your surgeon's/nutritionist's instructions to a T. Good luck and God bless.
   — crystalsno

December 7, 2007
Drinking a substantial amount of liquid at a meal will not allow the food content to remain in your pouch for absorbtion. Surgeons normally suggest you stop drinking 30 minutes prior to a meal, try not to drink with your meal, and wait 30 minutes past your meal to drink. To do this, you may have to "lubricate" some of your foods, to make them swallow easier. Low cal or no cal dressings or sauces can help. My surgeon said if you needed to take a small sip of water with a meal to rinse your mouth, there was nothing wrong with that. Just don't drink a glass of any fluid with the meal.
   — Dave Chambers

December 7, 2007
My doctor told me it could cause you to get fuller faster then you dont get enought nutrients you need. Then you can stretch your stomach.
   — barfiep01

December 7, 2007
My doctor assured me that I could not stretch my stomach by drinking water. I would really love to hear an expert's opinion on this. ?????????????? Pat
   — pjennjr

December 7, 2007
While I think my doctor is an expert. I didnt say just drinking water will streach your stomach but if you eat a meal and drink water along with it, yes it could streach your stomach.
   — barfiep01

December 7, 2007
That is exactly why I was asking the question - some people say it will stretch your pouch and others say it won't - just will push food through faster. I would like to hear an "expert's opinion too - because it seems to me the water would come up your throat before it would stretch your stomach.
   — Brenda H.

December 7, 2007
Hi Brebda, Bob said "...having attended meals and eating events over the years, most post ops drink at least some." I'm surprised - the most successful postops in the 3 different support groups I've attended monthly since July have all said they do not drink for 2 reasons also supported by my nutritionist: you fill up faster (remember how we used water as a filler on previous diets?) and therefore it cuts down the amount of food you can eat at that sitting; it causes the food to pass faster through your stomach and upper intestine; and it cuts down on the amount of nutrients absorbed because of these. You want to get as much as possible from the food as you can because (as my nutritionist says) no supplement can replace what is naturally available in food. We're told to have unsweetened applesauce, watermelon, grapes, or some other "wet" food with our meal to use in place of water - I can tell you this works because I've been practicing it as a preop!
   — obeseforever

December 7, 2007
Sorry I misspelled your name in my post, Brenda - brain working faster than my fingers!
   — obeseforever

December 7, 2007
Kathleen my observation of drinking liquids with food is based on a lot of events, some very large with 50 or more people attemnding and persons out years sometimes many years. How most look at post op issues change as you get futher out. My surgeon dr philip schauer head of the ASBS says pouch stretching isnt very common, but my wifes has stretched. Had dinner last week with old friend she must be out 5 years. Recently pretty ill and didnt eat much of anything for 11 or 12 days. She says firmly her pouched got smaller while not eating, and she had lost 15 pounds. Post ops who follow the rules closest tend to do the best.
   — bob-haller

December 7, 2007
HEY PATRICIA right on gurl.. seen my surgeon 2-day and i told him how i was feeling about drinkn with my meal, he laughed at me, and said i was doing just fine. i am 11 dayz post-op and 17 lbs down. i feel better knowing that this came directly from him-however only take SIPS i think for ALL OF US, as we all dont have the same physician, so we all cant be the same. i know for me, ive never been through this-so how was i to know? there is never a dumb question and i would say if your really worried about anything let your doc. know. hopefully he can give you the answers you need. good luck to you, sips if you must and put your thoughts to rest. Kim Crain
   — kimcrain

December 7, 2007
all the ones that posted that it makes you full faster and passes through you faster I agree with I m over 4yrs out I do have a glass of tea or soda when I eat but I take small sips best of luck to you Huggss Beth
   — Beth67Mathis

December 27, 2007
My understanding is that drinking while eating does not stretch out the pouch (after the rny) but widens the stoma opening. It is about the size of a dime after surgery. It is part of the restriction. If you drink while you eat it "forces" food through the stoma and widens it until there is little or no restriction. This question was very important to me as I like to drink while I eat, so my doctor and nutritionist showed me diagrams and pictures.
   — Dee Kay




Click Here to Return
×