Question:
Any suggestions on how to get the water down?
I am almost 1 week post-op and for the life of me, I can't drink. I try... I keep a drink with me at all times. One sip hurts my pouch. I can handle popsicles, but I know they are nowhere near the amount of water I need to drink in one day. Any suggestions are welcome. I know how important this is... I am hardly even getting 6 ounces in! I am, however, doing great with the protein. — Janet C. (posted on November 22, 2001)
November 22, 2001
Protein is very important, but water is more so. Speaking from experience
with dehydration, you need to focus on your water first and protein 2nd.
May I suggest Decaf Iced Tea? What about ice chips around? Anything!
Dehydration sucks, but when they readmit you to the hospital and need to
start an IV, well, that sucks more. You need to get that water in. At a
week, I could get hardly anything down...at about 5, I started to be able
to take so much more in. Protein couldn't be an issue with me...water had
to come first. As your stomach capacity starts to grow, then add your
protein. Please, please, please drink that water first!!! Wishing you the
best and Happy Thanksgiving!
— Kristin R.
November 22, 2001
Try warm or tepid water. I found cold water really painful for the first
while, it made my pouch cramp up. At 9.5 weeks, that sensitivity is gone,
but I still drink a lot of room-temperature water because it's easier. I am
up to 3 liters a day and I feel so much better now, but it took time to get
there. Don't worry... relax. I have more pouch pain and sensitivity when
I'm stressed.
— Julia M.
November 22, 2001
The water is really the most important thing being so early post-op... so
much more so than the protein.... Please try everything.... warm water,
room temp water, ice cold water - till you find what will work for you...
and sports water sippy bottles help you take tiny sips all day long and
since they are usually 24 oz each its easier to keep track of your water
intake. I did become dehydrated at one point and it is awful.... it can
happen so fast with us WLS patients.. especially early post... You have to
force your new stomach to accept the water. Good luc, best wishes to you
and I assure you it does get better each day :o)
— darcieleigh
November 22, 2001
HI! I am with you. I am 6 mos postop and STILL can't drink plain water, It
makes me sick, crampy and yucky feeling. I used to be a big water drinker.
I have found that to get in my liquids I need to add 2 oz of juice to 16 oz
of water. I also make my protein drinks with 16 oz of water instead of 8,
this way I can get in my minimum 64 oz a day. I hope someday I can drink
plain water again, I really miss it! Good luck to you.
— potterylady
January 1, 2002
Janet, I am also having trouble getting the water in. I am 4 weeks post
op and try to sip all day long. I am hoping that when I go back to work
next week it will be easier. I'm a nurse and know water is the most
important thing. Good luck. I guess we need to just keep trying.
— Jackie P.
January 2, 2002
I also have trouble drinking water. I can only drink ice cold water through
a straw. I am still not getting in the 64 oz a day, so I started adding
about 1 oz grape juice to a 12 oz cup of ice water. It helps me sip at it
more frequently. I can also drink a good amount of sugar-free lemon-limeade
(juice a lemon and a lime in water and add ice and Splenda--it's great!). I
don't know what it is about the flavoring, but I find that much easier to
drink. And I had always loved water until surgery. It is very frustrating
but keep trying everything you can. It does eventually get easier.
— ctyst
April 28, 2002
I had a terrible time with water. Crystal lite tea with peach is
wonderful!!! I usually do not drink that kind of thing but I get all my
water in thanks to the peach tea crystal lite, try it.
— Dorothy G.
April 28, 2002
Janet, this is not an answer to your question, but I read your profile and
it looks like you had the surgery a while ago with Dr. Roll. (I'm also a
patient of Dr. Roll's.) What happened did you disrupt? You can email me.
— Lisa N M.
May 20, 2002
Hi there! I am 7 days post-op and had an open RNY. I can't get the water
down great either, but what I have found to work is this:
I mix 1/2 cranberryjuice (my fav. juice) and 1/2 water and put it in a
tupperware container. I freeze it and then take chucks of it in a cup.
(ice cube tray would work too). This is so much easier for me to get down
cuase it melts slow in my mouth. This is the only way I am really getting
liquids down, andthe jucie has nutritional value too! I hope this helps!
— blank first name B.
March 21, 2003
I have not had the surgery yet, but am learning a great deal from all of
you; Thank you all. BUT I do have a suggestion to the water problem. I have
never in my life been able to drink water (don't like it), until I had a
cucumber water at my hair salon. All you do is get a pitcher of cold water,
and put a few thin slices of cucumbers in it, pour into a glass and voila!
It is wonderfully refreshing, and since cucumbers aren't real sweet (like
fruit juices) it doesn't have that diluted taste. You'll be surprised; we
drink this all the time at the poolside in the summer now. It's the only
way I have been able to drink water. Good luck!
— Laura H.
September 9, 2003
Hi,
— Christine L.
September 9, 2003
Hi,
I got my water down at first by taking a bottle with me on my daily walk.
If I sipped it while I walked it stayed put and did not choke or hurt me.
Chris
— Christine L.
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