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Liquids

M

Maryw1964

Member
Hi All. I am new here as well and was wondering if anyone had any tips to getting liquids down. I am 2 1/2 weeks after surgery and have a hard time with water. I can only take a few sips, and then I get a lot of pressure. I used to be able to chug 8 oz without a problem before surgery. Will that ever return?
 
I had a very hard time with liquids after my surgery. I felt so much painful pressure on my tummy the second I swallowed. Because of this I spent a week in the hospital when I had my surgery on an IV and having blood transfusions to increase my strength. I also could chug water or soda in huge amounts before surgery. The surgeon told me that big gulps of water could blow open the stomach for 3 weeks and I should only sip, sip, sip. Any food in the first 3 week timeframe can also rip open the new tummy.
Now 4 1/2 months later I still can't swallow much at a time or it comes back up in my throat but it's kind of foamy water. Yuk.. so I still take it slow. Good luck and sip, sip, sip. :cool:
 
Is it just water, or can you consume other liquids without problems? You might try warm liquids, or cold liquids-- just fool around with the temperature. Before the surgery, water was the only thing that gave me heartburn. After surgery, I don't know how anyone consumes water when you're so busy getting things with protein down. I also have problems with low carb intake, so they told me to drink G2 instead of water.
 
I am pre surgery, my date is 11/26/2013. I am practicing tiny baby sips... As in no more than a 1/6 of a sip from a straw..
 
Hi Maryw1964,

I had the sleeve 6 months ago and I can drink more now. The dietician said I would never gulp again, but I do. You won't drink a cup at a time though, but it is definitely more than right after surgery. I keep a 34 oz. mug at my desk or at home and drink on it throughout the day and refill it once. I do better some days than others. I was a Dr Pepper holic and I have not had any soda since before the two week diet before surgery. I didn't think there was any way I could give it up, but I did and I don't miss it. Thank goodness. Oh yes...I don't drink with a straw either. They warn you of bubbles in the stomach.

Best Wishes!

Okieatheart
 
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I had problems in the beginning. I used a teaspoon and took three sips per teaspoon... timely but it helped in learning how to truly sip. I worked up to taking three sips from a 1 oz cup. It took training but it made things stay down and no loosing lunch... you know what I mean?
 
I am so worried about changing my drinking habits (gosh that sounded horrible) I am a chugger. My brain makes me feel like im choking if I don't have a drink when I eat. I am a straw person. I hate ice touching me and getting liquids on my mouth. I know im a strange ducky.
 
I had a hard time keeping water down at first, but after a few weeks, it was no problem as long as I sipped slowly. I also tried Vitamin waters and found that I could keep those down much better and they taste good. My favorite is Vitamin Water Zero - Fruit Punch. All the taste without the sugar (it is made with stevia). After 6 months, I have begun using straws again occasionally. The trick is to not swallow right away but let the air escape into your mouth before you swallow. I know that sounds weird but it works. If I get in a hurry and swallow the excess air, then I feel sick because of the pressure that the air causes.
 
Drinking is sip sip sip. This has been my biggest challenge too. The guide I came home with was once once of non-caloric liquid every 15 minutes. Go back to a guide like this and you get the idea of just how slowly you should consume your liquids. Forget straws! Too much air. I am having problems as well drinking and getting too much air. I have been to a few group meetings and many folks have big sippy cups with a spout on them. It is supposed to reduce the amount of air you take in as you drink. Again, the slower sipping makes it easier to deal with the air as well (burping is reduced).

A couple of times when I consumed liquids too quickly I ended up with a full stomach, discomfort and lots of burping. Drink slowly. Once ounce per 15 minutes or 4 ounces per hour or one cup of liquid every two hours. Yes you are sipping all day.

Do it. Don't dehydrate. That is dangerous.

Ralph
 
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