No water with meals ?

[Aussie Girl]

Many talk about not be able to drink 30 mins before and after each meal. Is that so your meal doesn’t easily slip through the sleeve which could cause overeating? Or is it because it could cause pain cause there is not enough room for both?

I learned that if I drank while eating with the lapland meant I could eat easier and didn’t need to throw up. But I have always enjoyed drinking while eating. Something I am keen to get a handle on after my revision 😊

[Ann2]

Yup -- HOW WLS patients eat really can make a difference in our success, both short-term and long-term.

I'm 3.5 years post-op, and in my observation food without any liquids diluting it sits in my sleeve longer and keeps me feeling satiated longer. With the RnY (gastric bypass), the surgery results in the removal of the duodenal valve (at the bottom of the stomach), so RnY patients who drink with their meals really do wash the food more quickly down into the intestine. However, we sleevers still have our duodenal valves, so the "rinsing out" effect isn't as strong. But, as I said in my experience, on those rare occasions when I've drunk a lot of liquids with meals I do feel my stomach emptying out faster.

Likewise, we are encouraged to "eat dense protein first." Those foods (chicken, fish, meat) take much longer for the stomach to break down and (again, in my experience, at least) seem to sit on the bottom of the sleeve above the duodenal valve and helps the stomach hold longer the rest of the foods I've eaten (veggies, fruits, whole grains, etc.).

Needless to say, I also eat a helluva lot slower than I did pre-op. Even pre-op I practiced eating with smaller utensils, taking smaller bites, pausing between bites, chewing longer -- anything that would slow me down. My husband had long noticed pre-op how fast I ate and occasionally commented on it. He certainly noticed the difference in my eating speed post-op and commented on that, too.

I also gotta tell you -- food tastes better and eating is more enjoyable when you're not shoveling it in, chewing it once or twice, slurping a big slug of whatever liquid you're drinking with the meal, and gulping it all down your gullet. Food can be enjoyed. Food now tastes amazing. Food is wonderful!

Having said all that, early on post-op your sleeve will be incredibly swollen and traumatized from surgery. And you really won't be able to put a lot in your sleeve in a relatively short period of time. So not drinking 15" before and 30" after a meal will help you get in the small amount of protein your body needs very early on to heal your sleeve and help your body recover from surgery. Eventually, your sleeve will become a "normal-sized" sleeve and you'll be able to eat more. That doesn't mean your sleeve is stretching. It just means it has healed.

Best wishes to you.

[sraebaer]

Simple answer, we don't drink with meals because it will wash your food out of your stomach much quicker and you won't feel full/satistfied for long. My nutritionist said our stomach is sort of like a funnel. You put food in it and it will stay put. Start putting water in the funnel and the food will come right out.

[GigiUSA]

Always love your responses Ann Miss being on the board.

[DHB]

Also, I can tell you that early on the couple of times I forgot and drank too soon after eating I felt terribly nauseated and it was somewhat painful. There was no "washing the food down" going on for me, in the early days at least. It was more like trying to pour water down a clogged pipe. I learned my lesson.

[mandyjdc]

It's both. I constantly have dry mouth and have to take sips (tiny) sips of water to moisten my food a bit so I don't choke.
I also make sure to chew at least 20 times depending on what I'm eating.

I sometimes also have one small sip after I eat. I haven't noticed that I get hungrier any faster. But I'm not actually drinking per se.

[Aussie Girl]

Thanks all, interesting how I prob knew the anwer but great hearing how everyone's experience is always slighly different and this helps get my head in the game .

2 days to go !!!!

[Christie13]

I still don't eat and drink together. Occasionally I need a sip but it really has just become habit now. And while eating out my surgeon and NUT always said to have water as soon as you sit down. Drink some and then stop while waiting for the food. Usually that is plenty of time between the water and meal.