Question:
How does one judge how soon you can drink after eating?

Okay, I know on the surface this probably seems pretty silly. Yes, I know the one hour rule ... once you eat a meal, don't drink for an hour. But what I'm trying to figure out is how to judge the rule for times when you've only snacked. Let me add I'm about 11 weeks post-op and having some problems with wretching some, with the foamy salive. I'm staying off meats, poultry, and fish for a while having had some problems with all of those. That being said, here's the issue. I might sit down to have a meal, say supper. Perhaps a can of cream soup of some sort, or some refried beans with cheese. Both of those work good for me. I know not to drink anything with them, or for at least one hour afterwards. Now where I'm fuzzy is ... let's say in between lunch and supper, I have a SnackWell Cookie, or something light. I'm thinking that I shouldn't have to wait an hour after that to drink some liquid. But I'm not sure. I asked my surgeon how long it takes food to go through the pouch (I'm a Roux patient). He said he really has no idea. "Thanks, doc." So, any ideas out there? Also, as long as you've made it down this far, I'll ask for input from anyone who is about 11 weeks post-op or so, and I'd like to know how your diet is coming along. I seem to be okay on liquids and most soft foods, but there are days of wretching, dry heaves, and that stuck feeling at the bottom of your throat when you just know that the foamy saliva is going to come back up. Normal this far out? Does it get better? I don't think I'm plugged, because sometimes I can eat a few chips, or a cheese-filled cracker or two. If I was partially plugged, I feel that all those things would give me fits. But it's only a few times a week when the foamy stuff comes up ... sometimes with little bits of food, usually not. Just wondered how many others are still going through that, and if it gets better the farther out you get? Thanks for any input you have.    — Robert Neff (posted on June 30, 2003)

June 30, 2003
My doc only has us wait 30 minutes after eating - and that includes snacks, but then we are supposed to eat to fullness or near fullness each time we eat...not just a cookie, as that encourages grazing :>) As for the foamies, the show up usually around 4 to 6 weeks and last anywhere from 2 to 5 weeks normally. Sounds like what you're going thru. It does get better. Hang tough :>)
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 30, 2003
My doc says half an hour to an hour after eating is how long to wait before starting up liquids. I usually wait the hour so that I'm sure I'm not washing out my food. And, Ruth is right. Your snacks should be more substantial, and should be built around protein. The snacks provide more opportunities to get your protein quota in for the day. Instead of using snacks as simply an opportunity to eat, use them to help train yourself to make better food choices than sweets. Not lecturing here, just passing on advice that was given to me. As for "the foamies": I get that (three months out) when I eat too much. That one bite too many seems to throw my pouch into overload. It doesn't much matter what I've eaten, it happens when I've eaten too much. I'm sorry that you're still having trouble eating some kinds of foods. It sounds like your pouch still prefers soft foods. It should get easier with time.
   — Vespa R.

June 30, 2003
I'm 12 weeks post-op and am able to tolerate everything I've tried so far except Chinese. Most recently I've tried bread (wheat 35 cal.) and salads. When it comes to drinking around meals, I only consider the rule to pertain to water or non-nutrient liquids. For example, for breakfast I have a scrambled egg and 1/2 cup milk. As for other meal/snack times I was told not to drink within 15 minutes. Sometimes, though, I do need a sip to wash something down or to tame something spicy. I wish you the best.
   — Sarahlicious

July 1, 2003
First off, to Sarah's comment that she is not including her milk as a liquid, that is wrong. A liquid, whether water or something else, still washes the food out of the tummy, and the primary goal of learning not to drink with meals is to stay full longer and not wash the food out too quickly. As to how much time after you eat,it basically applies to meals and not so much to a little snack like a cookie, since a single cookie is not going to fill you up. Remembr the goal is to stay full longer by not drinking/washing out the pouch. And the time after you eat-it varies from 30 minutes to an hour, so I usually try for 40-45 minutes. The foamies? Some get it and some don't. It does get better as time goes along, but can't put an absolute time frame on it as everyone is different. Hang in there.
   — Cindy R.

July 2, 2003
I am 12 wks out and I have been advised by some who are farther along than myself and they say it is okay to sip a bit of water while you are eating to help things go down better. It sounds like you may be eating too fast for the foamies. I try to imagine my food being mush in my stomach, whether I chew it thoroughly or mis it with a bit of water to make it that way, depends on what it is I am eating, I have found that dry foods, like fish or chicken, needs ot be cut in very small pieces and eaten with a bit of water to make it mushy in my stomach otherwise I feel like I swallowed a rock and it hurts bad. Hope this helps. I try to focus on eating cheese, meat, milk or things with high protein like beans, etc. I have learned not to waste my eating on things that wont give me energy.
   — Jane C.