Apex617

Hi all, New poster, but long time lurker here. I have a gastric sleeve scheduled for next week on 8/27. A week into the 2 weeks pre-op liquid diet, woo! I'm struggling right now thinking about water post op. This week, I found out that my job is not going to be easy to be sipping water all day. I say just found out because I only started on 8/3. My surgical team tells me that I need to be drinking "0.5oz of water every 3-4min" a day to get to 64oz. With my job, we aren't able to do that. It is a health inspecting position, and we aren't really allowed to have drinks with us especially in food establishments due to code. In addition, constantly drinking water while talking with an operator and inspecting the establishment (temperatures, measurements, etc) would not really work. The inspections typically range 1-3 hours, but can last much longer depending on establishment. Of course I can drink while driving, in between inspections, etc. But getting the 64oz a day, at least on most work days, is not going to be realistic based on the requirements they set in terms of drinking rate and drinking before/during/after meals. I messaged them about my concerns, and it isn't going well. They now want me to take 6-8 weeks off, which again is not going to happen because this is a brand new job. I'm able to get the 2 weeks off (that my surgical team and I agreed upon) due to having sick leave that followed me from another state job. I'm nervous. I'm afraid I'm not going to be able to meet the hydration requirements, and the more I think about them the more I think that they can't honestly expect every single patient to be able to drink that small amount every 3-4 minutes. I know there are others that have jobs more active or restrictive than mine that still go through the surgery. Does anyone have any advice or words to share? I'm afraid at this point, but I've come so far and want to finish. But I don't want to get sick and end up in the hospital, or not have weight loss due to not getting the water they require. Tony

Thanks! I spoke with my supervisor after I posted this and it looks like I can have water with me during the inspections. I wouldn't be able to have it with me at all times to be able to the sip every few minutes, but would be able to have it set off to the side and could take a drink here or there. With the exception of food places though, those I would not due to code. The inspections vary quite a bit in the time it takes. Some of them take 45min, some take 3 or more. I'd say on average 1-2 hours is what I'd be looking at. I'm in training now so my schedule is a bit wonky, but once I'm on my own I'll be able to schedule what works best for me. Some of that time is report writing too, and I can sip while doing that. My team just made me really nervous. They made it seem like I need to do that precise sipping all day forever and that if I don't get the 64oz, I will definitely get dehydrated and fail. I'm going to be off the first week after surgery, and then work from home the second. So by the third week I should hopefully be able to tolerate a bit more drinking at a time. My guess right now is that I should be able to get at least 40-50oz.