A Sip isn't just a Sip

[DesertGal]

Well, 3 weeks out from surgery and I figured out something about 'sipping' water. Not all perceptions of sipping are the same, my friends. I have read repeatedly for over 3 months about "sip, sip, sip" after surgery, etc. I practiced before surgery and thought "Eh, no problem." Ha! Since surgery, I can barely get 16 oz. of water in to speak of, even though I urinate, so I am getting fluids. The sipping (which were small, idiotic sips I had forcing myself to do) have been frustrating because I hardly get anything down my throat and the taste isn't all that much to be happy about either anymore. Yesterday, I filled my cup with about 16 oz. of cold water with some ice cubes, sat down and drank a little more than a sip and a little less than a mouthful. Not the chugging I did pre-surgery, but I swallowed a mouthful. It went down well. Did another, and another and before I knew it, my cup was empty. I have been doing this since yesterday and I am getting in more water.
So the definition of sipping (to drink in small quantities; to take a sip of something repeatedly) can be interpreted differently I suppose. For now, I am getting in more water and it's staying in with no bad side effects. Maybe I am on my way now with my water intake?

[bigdogluver]

ATTA GIRL, LORI! Good for you for working on it. You're right, sipping can be handled differently by each person and the as time goes on, you can get in bigger sips/amounts of water. I'm so glad for you that this is going better. Keeping hydrated wards off so many evils. Congratulations and pat yourself on the back for working at it. In another 3 weeks, it probably won't be an issue any more. (At least I hope so for both of us.)

[ShelbyMoore]

I'm so new to all of this as I was just approved for the surgery but I keep reading about drinking water after the surgery. Can I ask what makes it so difficult? I'm generally a water drinker only, so I'm thinking it won't be a problem... but there is obviously something I don't know

[Donald G]

No real secret, after surgery your stomach is swollen therefore they suggest taking small sip. I had to do this for about 2 maybe 3 weeks post op. Now at just about 3 months post op I can take a pretty good sip I can not chug down water as I did before surgery as if I do it does cause discomfort but drinking for me is very easy on average I drink about 120 ounces of water a day.

[Christie13]

Yeah. I think when people say sip, sip, sip they generally mean that you have to do it frequently because you can't sit there and drink a full cup like you normally would. I was taking mouthfuls. I can take several swallows now. Like 2 or 3.

[Notoriousbig]

I'm so new to all of this as I was just approved for the surgery but I keep reading about drinking water after the surgery. Can I ask what makes it so difficult? I'm generally a water drinker only, so I'm thinking it won't be a problem... but there is obviously something I don't know

Hi Shelby, what's weird is that you feel everything that you ingest. For instance, when I gulp too much water...it sits there and slowly drains into my stomach. If I eat too big a bite of food, it backs up into my throat and slowly drains into my sleeve. It's a really weird sensation that isn't talked about a lot. Hmmm...maybe others don't share my experiences but it happens to me all the time. Now, it's a bit easier...the other night though, I ended up with a mouth full of crystal light because I was really thirsty, spaced out and gulped too much. It burped back into my mouth, then slowly drained into the sleeve. Weird...

[Shirl]

I'm so new to all of this as I was just approved for the surgery but I keep reading about drinking water after the surgery. Can I ask what makes it so difficult? I'm generally a water drinker only, so I'm thinking it won't be a problem... but there is obviously something I don't know

The way it was explained to me is to imagine (y)our new sleeved stomach like an upside down Corona beer bottle, after surgery the bottle neck becomes our stomach, whereas our throat will still be able to hold/take/swallow the same amount of liquid or food, our stomach won't. Therefore, we must eat slower in smaller bites, and drink slower in smaller quantities. I'm going on 11-months post op and still have occasional slip-up where I drink too much too fast, and I get pressure in the GE Junction, where the esophagus becomes the stomach.

[ShelbyMoore]

Oh wow ... that's interesting. That explains better why everyone says sip, sip, sip and to eat small bites.

Love the Corona bottle visual!! That's helps


Thanks to you both Notoriousbig and Shirl!

[ShelbyMoore]

Thanks DsrtGal! It looks like you are doing great!

[Luna354]

Try drinking warm liquids, water with lemon, broth, etc. They seem to be easier. Avoid cold!

[DesertGal]

Notoriousbig is right. I feel EVERYTHING. I loved water before and that's all I ever drink. Big, ice cold cups of water. The water does not taste the same to me at all... I don't know why. I hope the old tastes come back because this is kind of pathetic. I still have to drink it cold. Room temperature or warm makes me gag. In fact anything warm makes me ill feeling (tea.) Whatever I drink or eat (which isn't a whole lot yet) just seems to slowly slide on into my sleeve and I can feel it there, no matter how SMALL it is.
My drinking bigger drinks of water is working, but this morning I wasn't paying attention and took a chug and Oh good gravy did it hurt! I need to be more mindful, but when you live in my household and all that goes on in here, it's not hard for me to slip like that.
This is my NEW NORMAL and I am learning each day!

[Bagawk!]

,.. when I gulp too much water...it sits there and slowly drains into my stomach. If I eat too big a bite of food, it backs up into my throat and slowly drains into my sleeve.

True that. ^

It is an adjustment figuring out how much you can eat and/or drink at a time,... and how fast. Your body will definitely rebel if you ingest too much or too fast.

[HappyGiiirl]

Day 8, and I am sipping water between the thicker protein shakes with no problem. I say a double sip is good, warm tea, an ice pop..I can see it will be fine. Seriously the 1st days of sipping out of a hospital 1 Oz plastic shot cup kinda freaked me out. I thought is this my life?? What a difference a week makes. Hydration however you can get it it is key.

[ktal68]

Good for you. I haven't been having any issues with "sips". Although I'm not chugging by any means, my swallows are good size and I'm happy about that. Mainly, because I have no problems taking pills. But I'm thankful for that for sure. I'm not having any issues with strange tastes or anything. I was able to add sugar free pudding this week and that also was no problem. So happy! I look forward to next Sunday when I get to begin soft protein foods! SO excited.

[HannahG]

Notoriousbig is right. I feel EVERYTHING. I loved water before and that's all I ever drink. Big, ice cold cups of water. The water does not taste the same to me at all... I don't know why. I hope the old tastes come back because this is kind of pathetic. I still have to drink it cold. Room temperature or warm makes me gag. In fact anything warm makes me ill feeling (tea.) Whatever I drink or eat (which isn't a whole lot yet) just seems to slowly slide on into my sleeve and I can feel it there, no matter how SMALL it is.
My drinking bigger drinks of water is working, but this morning I wasn't paying attention and took a chug and Oh good gravy did it hurt! I need to be more mindful, but when you live in my household and all that goes on in here, it's not hard for me to slip like that.
This is my NEW NORMAL and I am learning each day!

I'm less than 3 weeks post-op, and I noticed the same thing about water. I told my surgeon and his NP that it tastes different to me. I've also been battling severe nasal congestion and a cough that you would not believe (it started two days before my surgery, and I'm so over it). I keep telling myself that it's just my allergies and this Spring is worse than normal, but I am so congested that I literally cannot smell anything (my sense of smell used to be my superpower). It's so bad, that I can't taste anything now either, and that doesn't help when I'm trying to eat.

There is a definite learning curve to figuring out just how much you can take in at a time, and I too, feel every little thing that goes in.