Question:
How do you get in all your water and not drink before/after meals after RNY surgery?
Good answers and helpful tips for those of us having the surgery or just had it. I am having mine 629/2009 and have a hard time drinking all the PRErequired water daily. If we are sipping all day, how will we not drink with our meal or not 30mins before and after and be successful in not getting ill or vomiting? thanks for all the help! — Cindy W. (posted on June 18, 2009)
June 18, 2009
Cindy, the 2nd will be my one year anniversary. I don't drink a lot of
water per say, but bottled water sure taste a lot better since I had the
RNY. I'm a bad example because I have never yet been able to avoid drinking
or rather tiny sipping during meals. I have a restricted esophagus, and
simply cannot swallow if I don't. The idea is to keep the food in the
pouch longer so that more nutrients are absorbed. I also drink V-8, the
water from canned veggies, eat soup and broth, and love tea, kool-aid,
strong coffee, etc. Yes I do enjoy Diet Coke or Pepsi, Diet Mountain Dew,
and the like, just have to pour it into a glass for a few seconds to allow
some of the carbonation to leave.
You should follow your doctor's advice as closely as p o s s i b l e , but
be aware that it is YOUR surgery, and YOUR path to YOUR new life, and only
YOU can live it. They advise, and trust me, not everyone can follow the
same advice. We are all individuals and all different. Milk is a good
beverage, but you might find yourself somewhat lactose intolerant after
this surgery. BUT it's all good and you are going to have a new life.
Going in, you will probably wonder what in the heck made you think you want
this surgery, and you might even start to think you've made one serious
mistake but have faith...there really is a rainbow. :) Good luck. Dusty
@};-
— Dusty Ray Vaughn
June 18, 2009
Cindy, the 2nd will be my one year anniversary. I don't drink a lot of
water per say, but bottled water sure taste a lot better since I had the
RNY. I'm a bad example because I have never yet been able to avoid drinking
or rather tiny sipping during meals. I have a restricted esophagus, and
simply cannot swallow if I don't. The idea is to keep the food in the
pouch longer so that more nutrients are absorbed. I also drink V-8, the
water from canned veggies, eat soup and broth, and love tea, kool-aid,
strong coffee, etc. Yes I do enjoy Diet Coke or Pepsi, Diet Mountain Dew,
and the like, just have to pour it into a glass for a few seconds to allow
some of the carbonation to leave.
You should follow your doctor's advice as closely as p o s s i b l e , but
be aware that it is YOUR surgery, and YOUR path to YOUR new life, and only
YOU can live it. They advise, and trust me, not everyone can follow the
same advice. We are all individuals and all different. Milk is a good
beverage, but you might find yourself somewhat lactose intolerant after
this surgery. BUT it's all good and you are going to have a new life.
Going in, you will probably wonder what in the heck made you think you want
this surgery, and you might even start to think you've made one serious
mistake but have faith...there really is a rainbow. :) Good luck. Dusty
@};-
— Dusty Ray Vaughn
June 18, 2009
I am kind of like the other poster. I don't experience hunger even after 1
and a half years. I have to take tiny sips to get the food out of my
mouth. I just don't guzzle it. I don't drink carbonated sodas tho. They
just don't taste good to me anymore. I'm more of a unsweetened iced tea
girl, with a little sweet n low.
— lesleigh07
June 18, 2009
In the very beginning I used the bathroom/kitchen paper cups that held like
3 oz. and it was easier to gauge I just numbered them. When I returned to
work I set the alarm on my cell phone and had it snooze every 5 minutes so
I would remember to sip and sip. You can set a second alarm on your phone
to start 30 minutes after your lunch time. I also used a regular kitchen
timer when I ate lunch to pace myself. (I also got in my full 30 minutes
for lunch that way as I had a habit of working and not taking my full lunch
time). The key is just small sips all day I know it sounds impossible but
you will get the hang of it. Hope this helps!! Toni
— ToniLee
June 18, 2009
I am one year out and I like the others sip a little during meals just to
clear my mouth. I also hav found G2 by the Gatorade people. It is lower
in calories than regular Gatorade and the grape is great. It is my
lifeblood now that Diet Pepsi is out of the question for me. I drink it
all the time. good luck and stay strong. Just be mindful that it is
summer and sweating and hydration become even bigger issues for us WLS
folks if you are in a hot hot climate area. Good luck
— ceecee127
June 18, 2009
Hi Cindy! I am 1 year out today...yay!! and I don't drink until atleast
30 minutes after I eat. It takes a lil getting used to, but you can do it.
I used to drink a huge glass of milk with my dinner..pre surgery, once I
had the surgery, I mastered it. A lot of people who regain their weight or
don't get to goal drink with or right after eating. Perhaps the other
psters are lucky, but why risk it? I was told to master this one thing if
none of the others, before surgery. After surgery, its almost impossible
not wait the minutes and not to chew well, etc...I kept a timer with me and
clicked off the 5 minutes, and kept a watch on the clock for 30 minutes..or
an hour to pass. I was suppose to wait an hour, but sometimes i could only
wait 30. But I didn't wait the 30 prior to eating..I would about 15. I
would drink a lot then be ok. I hope this helps! Congrats on all and good
luck on the 29th! hugs,kim
— gpcmist
June 19, 2009
I'm only 3 months out from VSG, but I'm noticing that I have glasses all
over the house. I don't work at a desk, per se, so I keep water by my
'puter, bed, tv chair, kitchen sink, even in the bathroom. I try to not
ever leave the house without my sippy bottle of water. Just having it
handy will help you remember to drink. All the glasses makes it hard to
keep up with the amount consumed, but I can look at the skin on my hands
and arms to see if I'm drinking enough. If you pinch the skin on the back
of your hand and it stays in a ridge, DRINK! The only place I don't keep
water is at the table when I'm eating. It drives waitresses batty, but oh
well!
— jtoothman
June 19, 2009
Cindy,
With being early in the game, right after surgery you can pretty much count
on not getting a "meal" per se. Your meal actually will or
should be the liquids. Until your doctor moves you to the next phase.
There are four phases in the process. first phase: liquids, (that is what
you will be sipping all day) second phase: thick liquids, third phase:
pureed food, fourth phase: solid food. At least that is what my doctor had
me on. I didn't reach solid food until about 3 months post op. That gave
my stomach a chance to completely heal. Rushing food isn't a good idea. I
have never had any problems with my pouch or my stoma, after almost 4
years. A lot of post op's aren't even hungry the first 3-4 months. So
right now, just take one step at a time and just focus on sipping, sipping,
sipping, it really is quite a task, you may be a little shy in getting all
64 oz of liquid. Just keep sipping so you don't end up in the hospital
with an IV drip. Let me know if I can help further.
— Kristy
June 19, 2009
In the first few months after WLS, it's hard to get in all your water...But
even some moist foods, protein drinks and milk count as liquids!
SO...drinking exactly 64 oz of water might not be all that important as
long as you just work on keeping your urine clear ...Vitamins are going to
turn it all kinds of neon...But you should be able to clear that out with a
glass or two of water...So as long as you go for clear urine, you will be
just fine...You really have to work on drinking when ever you are not
eating or waiting 30/30 before and after! That fat and stuff has to go
somewhere and washing it out with fresh water thoroughly is the best way to
flush it out of out of your body and system! Good riddance! :) I cleaned
out a 2 liter juice jug/or a pitcher is fine and filled it daily with fresh
water...It was my goal to try to drink one every day! I could not drink
cold water the first year...It had to be room temp or even warm... (cold
water gave me stomach spasms) So I would carry that jug of water all over
the place...In the yard, even on walks! I would alternate arms or take
two jugs, carrying them as weights and something to sip on too! It a good
arm work out(if the got too heavy to carry, just water someone's flowers!!
Sip sip sip...Just do the best you can...You will work your way up to
drinking if not right away!
— .Anita R.
June 19, 2009
Cindy,
I'm having my RNY on June 29th also. Thanks for asking this question. I'm
not having a hard time getting the water in. I'm having a hard time
chewing. I guess I will have to learn the hard way. I hate to say that, but
I'm being honest. We both have just 10 days to go , and our lives will
change for the better. Good luck to you, and see you on the losers bench..
Theresa L
— treeeza
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