Question:
Do you have to sip forever post op?

I was told last week at my consultation I will have to sip for the rest of my life...This is bothering me quite abit. I am one that when I am thirsty I "Guzzle" =) I LOVE Milk and when I am very thirsty I LOVE to down a glass of ice cold milk. The therapist told me I would have to sip for now on, I said "Sip as in a couple two three swallows?" she said "no, sip one swallow" Wow that seems like it will be soooo hard to get use to, also she said I can't drink until thirty minutes after eating surgery on... is this forever? I love to drink milk with my meals :) Thanks for listening... Renee    — Renee D. (posted on February 25, 2001)

February 25, 2001
Renee, You sound like me 8 months ago. I LOVED milk I would come home from work and guzzle a glass or two while fixing dinner. By myself I went through a couple of gallons a week. I think that was one of the hardest things I had to get used to. I don't drink milk now. I can. It doesn't make me sick like it does some people but because I cannot guzzle it it no longer tastes good. I once in a while will have a small glass ( like 1/2 cup ) but it just isn't good and I would rather be a size 10 (and dropping) than guzzle a glass of milk every night. Good luck and don't let milk be your determining factor.
   — Paula G.

February 25, 2001
I LOVE milk and was able to drink if after surgery. I am 10 months post-op and as of 2 weeks ago can not drink milk anymore. It NOW really upsets my tummy and gives me very painful gas. Why it just now started bothering me I have no idea. As far as drinking with meals, I can drink a little tea with my meal. I do not have to sip anymore and can drink as I did before surgery.
   — Betty H.

February 25, 2001
WoW! what a small price to pay for so much benefit. I'm 5 weeks post-op down 49# and I lost count of sizes I'm down. I did'nt think there would be life without ICE CREAM. Who cares.
   — Mike H.

February 25, 2001
I am 2 months post op and my FIRST & only experience with dumping was caused by GUZZLING the last 4 oz. of water in my cup. I can guarantee I will never do it again! Sipping sounds hard and trust me I guzzled everything pre-op. You just need to constantly sip on something. I can take pretty big sips but don't guzzle. It's not as hard to get used to as it sounds.
   — Lisa B.

February 25, 2001
Immediately post-op I had to sip for about 3 weeks. After that I started "gulping" again - as in taking 3- 4 big swallows. I may sip some water with a meal, but don't think I ever drink anything significant. It takes up too much room that I want to allot to food! My surgery was the DS, so my experience may be quite different from the RNY. - Kate -
   — kateseidel

February 26, 2001
I am almost 11 months post op RNY. I have always been able to drink normally (not guzzling, just drinking). I never just sip. I can drink a whole Diet Snapple in 10 or 15 minutes, does this info help you? And I agree with Mike, what a small price to pay in exchange for the benefits? Remember this wise saying: "If we keep doing what we've always done, we'll keep getting what we've always gotten." Yes, you do need to wait 30 minutes after your meal to drink with RNY surgery. Why? Because if you don't, you will either vomit, have major pain, or else push the food through and get hungry sooner than you should -- thereby eating more calories and slowing your weight loss. Is that what you want? No? Then don't drink right away or with your meal. I've found that nutritionists or dieticians don't usually know too much about our surgery. By the way, I used to love milk (especially with cookies -- yummy!). And, right after surgery, I had milk in everything -- creamed soups, sugar-free pudding, hot cereals, etc. However, I am now unable to drink it without getting sick. You should expect your tastes to change too. I don't know why, it just happens. And, if we aren't willing to make some changes, then we shouldn't have the surgery. That's my advice. Best wishes.
   — Cindy H.

February 26, 2001
Hi, I also love to 'guzzle' water in particular when I'm parched... I can gulp liquids at 4 weeks post-op (BPD/Ds, not RNY) and this isn't an issue with me (our stomachs are larger than an RNY pouch, so I think we can take in more solid and liquids). I don't just down glasses at a time, but if I'm really thirsty, I have quite a bit. This was an issue for me when deciding which surgery was best in my case, but it wasn't the only factor. All the best, [email protected],
   — Teresa N.

February 26, 2001
I am 14 months post op Fobi. I have always been able to drink normally from about the 3 month post-op (not guzzling, just drinking). I never just sip no way.. I think I pretty much drink as normal as I did before surgery, I really don't think about it I just drink... I don't guzzel or chug it down of course I never did.. but I do drink very normal. I just don't drink and eat at the same time :-) However, that is what I wanted in a WLS... a pouch that controlled me and controlled the old ways I used to eat and drink, which is what ballooned me up to almost 400 pounds. Now that I am 159 pounds I smile everyday and thank my lucky starts for my new tool.
   — Victoria B.