Question:
I'M ALMOST 3 WEEKS POST OP AND NOT ABLE TO DRINK WATER

BEFORE SURGURY I LOVED IT... I HAVE TRYED FLAVOR WATER AND H2O AND STILL FEELING NASUEA WHEN DRINKING.. I'M DRINKING LIPTON INSTANT DIET NOW, AND GETTING TIRED OF IT ALREADY, CYRSTAL LIGHT IS NOT WORKING EITHER.... PLEASE HELP, I HAVE READ SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE 7 MONTHS OUT AND STILL CAN'T TOLERATE WATER, AND IDEA'S.. THANKS IN ADVANCE..DEBBIE    — debbie S. (posted on August 8, 2002)

August 8, 2002
Debbie...I am 5 week out and had the same problem. I could drink water ok when I first came home from the hospital and them after being home a couple weeks I started to feel like when I was drinking it that someone had bent my esophogus(sp?) in half. I then started to worry that I was getting a stricture so I went to see my nutritionist(2 hr. drive ughh). She and I between ourself figured out that I was having a hard time tolerating water. She told me not to worry and to replace it with a different liquid...which was hard. Last week I decided to try water again and I do better now with it than ever. I did notice for some reason I have an easier time with tap water instead of bottled water....don't know why!! I can even drink much faster now too. So.....hang in there it might get better sooner than you think!!..GOOD LUCK! Open RNY(7-5-02) -38
   — DRutherford

August 8, 2002
First of all, evaluate the TEMPERATURE of what you are drinking against how well you tolerate it. My water bottle that has been sitting in the car for a few hours goes down much easier. Consider trying that tactic. Also, I have found that starting the day with orange juice has helped my weight loss, fluid consumption, dizziness, and jellyfish legs SIGNIFICANTLY. It has some natural sugars in it, a good deal of potassium, calcium if you buy it that way, Vitamin C, AND it tastes good. If you load it up with crushed ice, and sip slowly, you will end up drinking it somewhat diluted, and once I do this, I can drink fluids much more easily for the rest of the day. Finally, I dilute iced tea with water (1 part iced tea, 2 parts water) - a trick I learned while pregnant. Sometimes I dilute it so much it hardly has any color. I add 1/2 packet of pink stuff (I usually use splenda, but not in iced tea). I put this all in a 32 - 44 ounce fast-food cup and hold it in my hand against the steering wheel as I drive. Good luck. Hope some of these ideas help. (Oh, try Minute Maid LIGHT Lemonade -- made with real lemon juice, and not even in the same category as Crystal Light).
   — Karen F.

August 8, 2002
Debbie - You cannot imagine how many people say that they cannot stand nor tolerate water after the surgery. For me, it had a very metallic taste and I swore off it for a few weeks (don't follow my bad example!). This will definitely go away and soon. The metallic taste went away after 5 or 6 weeks for me. A problem that I found that lingered a bit longer was the intolerance for cold water. I'm 3 months out and it still bothers me, although I enjoy ice cold orange juice, milk and SF ice cream. I just drink cold water slower and if possible, let it stand until it gets to room temperature. Hang in there, it gets better! - Mike
   — Michael N.