Question:
Is there such a thing as drinking too much water?

How much do you all drink at 1 yr postop in a warm climate? I'm doing a 32 oz cup 5 times a day since the weather started getting warmer. I can easily gulp down 16 oz right off the bat on an empty pouch then I sip on the rest over an hour's time. I feel good, it keeps me regular, no swelling, lots of peeing, pee is mostly clear, no diabetes. I drink a little less water during the fall, winter and spring.    — mary ann T. (posted on July 30, 2004)

July 29, 2004
Hiya! Great Job on the water. I drink over 2 gallons a day you are at a few ounces over 1 gallon. I think you are doing great! My pee has not been yellow in over a year! I am almost 2 years opst op and i can surely slam some water too!
   — Sabrina H_NC

July 29, 2004
Although by about 1 year out, fluids pretty much pass right through the pouch, there is always the chance that gulping down that much water that quickly could cause a little problem if your pouch is not empty. Also, for me, at least, I've found that I need to control the sipping to help in the general control of the other food demons-- which probably sounds silly to the many people who don't feel that they had addict-like behavior with food prior to surgery. But, I needed to learn controlled eating and drinking immediately after surgery and have stuck to those lessons as I approach my two-year anniversary.
   — SteveColarossi

July 30, 2004
As with all things, too much of anything can be bad, including too much water. 160 ounces a day seems like a lot to me. It is not just the water that gets eliminated in your urine (which may be overworking your kidneys and bladder), but also electrolytes (including potassium and sodium) and other important chemicals that are needed for day-to-day bodily functions. For example, potassium is a critical element to making your heart beat correctly. To help keep your electrolytes in balance, you might consider drinking a sports drink (such as Gatorade) as some of your daily liquid. Check the label for nutrition information (including sugar) and information about what elements the drink is designed to replace. If I were you, I would ask a good doc, and would consider cutting back on the amount of liquids per day.
   — Vespa R.

July 30, 2004
I've wondered the same thing. I recently got back on the water wagon and upped my water to 3-4 liters a day or close to a gallon. My problem seems to be though, that I'm swelling more than before as if I'm retaining too much. I take Lasix every morning, but my ankles and hands are horrendous by the end of the day...anyone got any suggestions?
   — Teri D.

July 31, 2004
I have to agree with Vespa. You can flush out the potassium and sodium in your system, which is SO vital. Esp the person taking Lasix, hopefully you're on a supp of potassium from your DR. I still think too much of ANYTHING is not good, moderation is still the key.
   — ZZ S.