Question:
6 days postop: water okay to drink with cream of wheat/cream of chicken soup?

I know that the rule is not to drink water with meals but am I there yet? Is it okay to sip a bit of water when having cream of wheat or cream of chicken soup? I find the soup really salty and the cream of wheat seems stuck in my throat even when made watery. I don't want to break a rule this early on but am wondering if it matters at this stage and if not, when does it matter?    — susanje (posted on January 13, 2003)

January 13, 2003
Your right, it doesn't matter much at this stage as just getting in any nutrition/food is going to be a challenge early on. The purpose of the "no drinking with meals" rule and getting you started early on it is so that you will develop good pouch habits early so that it will serve you better down the road. Along with the no snacking, low carbs, lots of protein and lots of water rules, they are all designed to give you the best chance of maximizing your "window of opportunity" and to develop a lifetime of good habits. You probably already know all this if you have been coming here for a while. I think you are doing just fine and sipping with salty, clumpy foods will not hurt you.
   — Cindy R.

January 13, 2003
I would say it also depends highly on what kind of eater you are...and you have to look at this realistically. If you are the type who eats whenever their stomach rumbles then drinking will mean your stomach will rumble sooner. If you are the type who eats only at a regular scheduled time but eats to capacity then sipping shouldn't be a problem. If you are the type who eats constantly in little nibble bursts then you again should avoid drinking...a full stomach is adverse to accepting more food for longer periods. I am a bulk eater at regular scheduled periods. Or I should say I WAS a bulk eater. Now I eat my regularly scheduled meals until I'm full and then I'm done. It really just depends. There's no cookie-cutter answer for everyeone.
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 15, 2003
when I was at the full liquid stage, ie. cream soups etc, the dietician with my Dr. said that it was ok to drink liquids with meals on the liquid diet, think about it, you are taking in liquids, not solids. the cram soups flow on through just like your water will. the no drinking with meals is when you go on to solid foods. If in doubt call your Dr.
   — **willow**