Question:
Problem With Substituting IcedTea for Water?
I have had difficulties drinking water from the very beginning of my postop journey. At almost 6 mos it has not gotten any better and I have feared becoming dehydrated many days. I've tried all kinds of substitutes, flavored water, warm water, cold water, crystal light etc. Everything seems to go down very hard or not sit very well. I used to drink about 72oz of water a day and miss LIQUIDS. I try to get my water in all the time and wind up not drinking because it HURTS. Just this past month I started making homemade iced tea. I brew tea the old fashioned way and then add lemon juice and splenda. Very very yummy AND it goes down well. I can drink it all day with no problem. My bladder seems to be grateful as it's working again and no more strong smelling urine (from not getting in enough liquids). However, my husband said it might not be a good idea to be drinking all that much tea. Something about the tannic acid not being very good. I know people in their 90s who drink gallons of tea a day (hot and iced) and they don't seem to be having a problem. Any thoughts on this???? — susanje (posted on June 18, 2003)
June 18, 2003
I think you should be okay with drinking tea. It has antioxidants and I
also heard that tea can count for 1/2 of our water (if you need 60oz of
water, 60 oz of tea will only count for 30oz of water) Maybe you should try
the decaf, as it's the caffiene that works as a diuretic. Hope this
helped.
— Pambylah
June 18, 2003
As the previous poster said, because caffeine robs your body of water,
you'd have to drink 128oz. of tea to get in 64oz. of water. However, have
you considered herbal or green tea? Anything decaf would be suitable as a
regular water replacement. Best of luck!
— ladyphy
June 18, 2003
All that caffeine is working against your calcium absorption as well. As
the other posters said, best to find a nice decaf tea that you'll enjoy and
also keep an eye on your kidneys.
— [Deactivated Member]
June 18, 2003
— [Deactivated Member]
June 18, 2003
I just wanted to add that studies on calcium absorption in
"normies" really does not apply to us at all. We have a special
problem with calcium absorption in that the duodenum (which is bypassed in
the RNY gastric bypass) is the MAJOR site of absorption for calcium (and
other things as well, such as B12). I know the post about research looks
promising...but it doesn't apply to gastric bypass patients.
— [Deactivated Member]
June 18, 2003
Try diet snapple, it comes in peach ice tea, rasberry ice tea with no
carbs, caffine, or sugar and it is not carbonated, taste great.
— cindy
June 18, 2003
As you can see, too much tea does have the potential for some problems (my
dietitian won't let us count caffeinated drinks at all towards our liquid
intake). I, too, have a problem drinking straight water; it makes my tummy
ache. I have found that adding lemon and/or lime juice with Splenda
(amount of juice and Splenda to taste, but I make mine fairly strong with
juice, and just a little sweetener) to cold water makes it go down pretty well.
— Vespa R.
June 18, 2003
I use crystal lite decaffinated ice tea.......give it a try
— barbara A.
June 18, 2003
I'm a pre-op, so I can't speak for what will go down well post-op, but if
your main concern with drinking the tea is caffeine, try the decaf
versions. I find it right alongside the caffeinated tea in the store and it
tastes just the same to me! It seems most of the posters are expressing
concern with caffeine. Bottom line, if your surgeon says OK, and it helps
you get your liquids, AND you can drink tea without the caffeine, why not?
You certainly don't need dehydration. One thing I've noticed, though, even
decaffeinated, my tea still seems to be a bit of a diuretic.
— Chyrl W.
June 18, 2003
If you drink tea with food, the tannic acid prevents "proper"
iron absorption. I was anemic from drinking tea with my meals before
surgery! Now, when I indulge in tea, it's NOT when I'm eating and at home I
only make decaf.
— Mendi M.
June 18, 2003
Hi... I have problems with water, too. Tea doesn't like me either, and
caffine is an appitite stimulent. It also gives me headachs,especially if I
drink caffine one day and don't have it the next! SO... my nutritionist
asked if I liked skim or 1% milk and I love milk, so... I drink more of it.
It does add milk sugar to your diet, so you can't drink a gallon a day, but
I do drink a half-gallon a day!! Women and men need the calcium anyway,
especially after this surgery, and it adds a bit more protien to the diet,
which is good for the hair. I was told not to count this "extra"
milk as protien, but as liquid. It has helped me tremendously. I am 18
months post-op and down 220 lbs!! :~) Good luck!
— Sharon M. B.
June 18, 2003
This is to the previous poster (Sharon). If you are serious about
drinking 1/2 gallon of skim milk a day, you are taking in 684 calories a
day (67g of protein, 95g of carb, 4g of far) in those 64 oz of milk. My
nutritionist said that we should limit any caloric fluid intake (juices,
milk, etc) to a minimum. This may be fine for you as you are in
maintenance mode, but for the newer posties out there, they may read your
post and think that they can drink 64 oz of milk a day too...JR
— John Rushton
June 19, 2003
Weeeellll, there are many doctors and dieticians out there with just about
as many opinions to this question. So, here is my two cents from my
dietician - your body utilizes water differently than calorie free flavored
waters. You really need to talk to your doctor and or dietician and get
their advise to your specific problem with water. Maybe you are taking too
big of a glup of water and that is why it hurts after it goes down to your
pouch. Good Luck.
— ChristineB
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