How long does it take consume water post open?

[DesertGal]

Post op (not open!! Autocorrect at it again!)

I'm trying to imagine how long it's going to take to drink 48-64 oz. of water a day, post op, when I read that it can take 30 minutes to drink an 8 oz protein shake. Everything says to sip or drink slow. How have you all managed this?

[sraebaer]

I thought it was easy, I just sipped pretty continually when i was awake. Had my drink by my chair. (Spent that first week in a recliner.) And my protein drinks counted toward my fluid too. So a 20 ounce bottle of Isopure counted for my protein (can't remember the number of grams) and 20 ounces of liquids.

So you basically sip all day!

[Christie13]

It takes a while. And most likely you will be counting other liquids not just water. But you'll get there. I guess it is different for each person. I know it took me a long time to be able to get all my liquids in. I still have to be cognizant of it during the work week because I work on the phone so I don't drink nearly as much as I should while I am sitting there. Weekends are easier. My throat was sore that first week and I had a hard time drinking. But within a few weeks I was able to get it in....even if it took all day. LOL.

[DesertGal]

I don't know how you do it, while at work (the drinking water, etc...) I'm still guzzling my gallon of water a day and can't plan much because of ALL the bathroom trips, which is every 10 minutes (not to mention the 'other' reason for the frequent trips). I 've been purposely drinking 112 oz the first hour and a half in the morning, so I am free by late morning to go out to the store, etc. Then I drink the rest by dinner. I don't like the taste anymore.

[Bagawk!]

Sadly, it takes me pretty much all day because I have to sip and wait a bit for the next sip. However, I am only 3 weeks post-op and still finding my flow.

My body can only take one sip at a time but I stay pretty busy at work and work long hours so most of my day I am distracted and don't think to take another sip in 5 minutes so its not just stomach limitations, for me. Most days I don't get in 64 oz of water because of this,... to be honest.

[RehabNurse]

To be totally honest, I have never managed to drink the required 64 ounces of water per day. Ever. I am nearly two years out and have never been able to do it. Each time I come close, I am in the bathroom every 20 minutes.

I know the lack of hydration probably turned me into a slower loser than most. However, I simply could not drink that much water without feeling awful and peeing constantly. I just pay attention to my thirst cues and go from there.

To answer the question, it now takes me about 15 to 30 minutes to drink a 16-ounce bottle of water. In the first few weeks after surgery, it took me all day to drink a 16-ounce bottle of water due to my swollen stomach.

[Luna354]

In order to be discharged from the hospital I had to have 24 ounces. That took more than 4 hours and I'm not going to lie, I poured at least 8 ounces out.

It takes me a couple of hours to have a protein shake. Today was the first time I had 2. The second one I had sipped for an hour.

I can only sip at this point. I'm sure it will get easier, but right now it's challenging. My Dr told me today, I'm doing just fine and just to keep putting in the effort I am now. I told him I also have an easier time with warm or even hot drinks. I've been having hot water with lemon. He said that's very uncommon and cold water is uncomfortable for most post op. He also reminded me that there is no rush to consume anything quickly.

[Christie13]

It takes me all day and I have to consciously drink. I count all my fluids. If I counted only water I'd be screwed. It takes me about 3 hours to drink my 12 oz latte. (7-10 am). I eat a few nuts or some cheese around 10 or 1015. Try to drink some between 11 and 12ish. Have lunch around 1230. Try to drink between 130 and 3 with snack at 330ish. Usually don't have a snack but that's my break time. Get off anywhere from 430-530. Try to drink water on my 35 minute commute home. I also try to drink at night. It's not always easy. But it is getting better.

[Christie13]

Side note- I have an easier time drinking my latte than water. I also bring a 12 oz green tea that I brew and cool. The tea is also easier than the water.

[DesertGal]

Thank you for all your input on this. It's been on my mind and I just couldn't imagine HOW it's all supposed to go in, in one day. I wondered if protein shakes or decaf coffee or tea counted towards that water intake number.

[Sandra3]

Any liquid will count in your "water consumption".
I was pretty much like RehabNurse. Took me one hour to drink a protein shake, and I had to wait until month 3 to be able to drink "enough", which for me is around half a gallon per day. Plus at first I couldn't stand water, it had to be mixed with juice (surgeon orders) then only iced water for months) .I do drink more when I'm in AZ or when the weather become really hot (I currently live in Asia) but when I go back to Europe or stay inside I usually don't drink more than half a gallon.

[Sandra3]

To be totally honest, I have never managed to drink the required 64 ounces of water per day.

I would only drink that amount or more if outside is crazy out and/or I'm exercising a lot. Usually I'm around 50 OZ...my doc said it was really my minimum. I try to make sure I don't go lower..
BTW I love your before/after picture! I wanted to post something on your wall to say it but couldn't find it...

[TarotAces]

In order to be discharged from the hospital I had to have 24 ounces. That took more than 4 hours and I'm not going to lie, I poured at least 8 ounces out.

It takes me a couple of hours to have a protein shake. Today was the first time I had 2. The second one I had sipped for an hour.

I can only sip at this point. I'm sure it will get easier, but right now it's challenging. My Dr told me today, I'm doing just fine and just to keep putting in the effort I am now. I told him I also have an easier time with warm or even hot drinks. I've been having hot water with lemon. He said that's very uncommon and cold water is uncomfortable for most post op. He also reminded me that there is no rush to consume anything quickly.

I had surgery the same day you did Luna354 I am able to get all my fluids in each day so long as I keep a glass of something next to me at all times and count things like popsicles, jello and broth (since they're liquids). If I'm really diligent I can get 90+ ounces in a day, and if not (like today, where I was really tired and slept a couple hours midday) I get about 60 oz. in.

So far as the hot things goes... MEE TOOOO!!!!!! Cold stuff seems to cause discomfort when it hits the end of the esophagus, but warm and hot things are MUCH nicer to get down. I'm thoroughly enjoying the fact that it's winter and I have the excuse for a constant mug of tea or bowl of broth in front of me.

[Ann2]

Post op (not open!! Autocorrect at it again!)

I'm trying to imagine how long it's going to take to drink 48-64 oz. of water a day, post op, when I read that it can take 30 minutes to drink an 8 oz protein shake. Everything says to sip or drink slow. How have you all managed this?

That's actually a more complicated question than it sounds.

Immediately post-op you'll have a hard time doing more than sipping. That's because your esophagus will be swollen immediately post-op from that damn tube they put down your throat to slip the bougie down through it into your stomach to guide the shaping of your new stomach.

And if the surgeon takes any stitches in your lower esophagus to fix a hiatal hernia your swallowing mechanisms be even more restricted post-op.

HOWEVER, that's only temporary. Over a matter of weeks IF YOU FOLLOW YOUR SURGEON'S POST-OP EATING, DRINKING AND OTHER ORDERS your body will have healed a lot and you can drink more easily. In my case, by the end of Month One post-op I was drinking pretty normally. Six months out I was definitely drinking normally. Two and a half years later, I can guzzle water to my heart's content just as I could pre-op.

One of the greatest confusions for new WLS patients (which I see on message boards a lot) is to imagine that all the posts they see by newly sleeved patients about how they feel immediately post-op is what the rest of post-op life will be like. If there's one constant for all WLS patients, it's this: Post-op WLS life changes constantly.

So just take each day's challenges one day at a time. Tomorrow's and next week's and next month's and next year's challenges will surely be different ones.

[Pam G]

took me months before I even came close to 64 ozs of ANY kind of liquid....fuhgettabout actual H2O.

Once I discovered hot tea, everything changed. I could drink a 16 oz cup of tea in a half hour