Question:
Trouble with fluids??

I'm 8 weeks post op, have lost 64 lbs, I can eat almost anything but in very small portions, my problem is liquids, I cant stand water, it makes me throw up, I'm drinking alot of Sunny Delight (watered down) and tea. My taste buds are very hard to please and I cant find anything that quenches my thirst. Anyone else had this problem? solutions? Thank you.    — Debi T. (posted on January 28, 2004)

January 28, 2004
Debi, Im only a little bit in front of you in terms of weeks out and wanted you to know that YES, i too, have the same problem with finding something to quench my thirst. I feel so thirsty sometimes then the minute i try to drink water I feel so sick and it hurts going down. Same thing with almost everything I drink. I love orange juice though (before surgery OJ gave me such indigestion and now it doesnt) and watered down crystal light. Just wanted you to know your not alone. Jennifer -45
   — JennA

January 28, 2004
I always found that cold liquids did not sit on my stomach well at all, almost making my stomach feel as if it were tighting up. The opposite holds true with hot liquids. I drink tons of hot fruity herbal tea and it feels as if it relaxes my stomach and sits very well. My surgeon says that many of her patients say that they do much better with hot drinks vs. cold. Couldn't hurt to try.
   — firelace

January 28, 2004
I have trouble with most liquids as I'm also very picky. I tend to stick with hot tea or any of the many flavors of Crystal Light. I find that it adds some good taste to my otherwise bland menu these days (I'm still on pureed foods. Diet jello and chicken or beef broth also counts as liquids, so sometimes I use those for a change. Hope this helps!
   — Jennifer K.

January 29, 2004
YES, this can be a real problem. I am 3 months out and this problem was a real surprise for me. I have always been able to drink plenty of water so I thought that after surgery it would be a piece of cake. WRONG!! It's totally changed. It also makes me sick. I have found that the no calorie bottled water that is flavored works well, sugar-free Kool-Aid and sugar-free Tang go down great. Also I make tea and add splenda. Hot tea, sugar-free cocoa, and coffee also work well. For those on those first few weeks of clear liquids: They get very tiring. My sister dropped by with some chicken stew for my husband since I wasn't cooking at first. I drained the broth from it for me and it was so much better than canned broth. The next week I made potato soup and a broccoli cheddar. Homemade soups will get you through those times when you can't stand another sip of canned. Everyone hang in there, life gets better all the time!
   — Delores M.

January 29, 2004
Hi. I'm 3 weeks out and have the same problem. Pureed food is going down well but the water hurts. Sugar-free Tang, Propel water and Fruit 2-0 water are going down much better as is herbal tea. I dilute the Tang and Propel. Just keep trying a variety of things and you'll find something that works. Best wishes, Susan
   — Susan F.

January 29, 2004
I'm 60 days Post-Ops - I sip water all day except when I have to stop for 30-40 before meals (liquidy meals) - a sip at a time does not hurt me. Water is very important - herbal teas are good too - but it is just flavored water right? - I have to sip that too. If I drink the water it causes a pain in my upper chest - I add a few dashes of lemon or cranberry juice to my water bottles - which I have in various rooms at home. Fortunately, I love water and use to drink 6 liters a day - now I'm lucky if I get 1 liter. Those frozen ice pops Edy's Fruit Pop sugerless are good too - but I'm beginning to hate them now.
   — Anna M.

January 29, 2004
I had trouble with water as a new post op also. It just plain hurt. But had to choke it down. Yes, drinking it warm was easier, but still not great. Butit was just somethin I had to get through. I am now almost 15 months postop. Water stopped hurting sometime around, 2 months out or so, maybe leaa. Everyone is different. Still not sure why it did hurt. Perhaps the chemicals added to purify?? *shrug*
   — Jenny_B