I feel SO silly asking this question so don't laugh at me, but I cannot for the life of me manage to drink any water without swallowing a bunch of air in the process. I'm only 1 day post-op so I'm worried about damaging my band if I can't find a way around this. I don't have any fill yet, so I am able to bring the air back up, but it feels a little tight going down which is pretty scary. Is this normal? Any suggestions?

No judgement here! Don't feel silly asking a question, that's what we're all here for! You're probably feeling tight from being fresh post-op. There is typically swelling around the band.

My team highly recommended NOT using a straw. The theory is you swallow less air drinking from a straw. You're going to swallow air no matter what...it's what fills up the rest of your mouth that's not water.

I actually do drink through a straw, but only water. I ran it past my doctor and he said as long as I wasn't feeling like I was taking in an excessive amount of air it should be find. For some reason, drinking out of a cup makes me drink MUCH slower and I take in a lot less water. Using my plastic bottle with a straw makes it easier to take in my 100 ml goal. I know it's all a mental thing, but hey, I've made so many changes, my water bottle is the last thing I want to change right now.

If you're concerned about damaging your band or stomach, it never hurts to ask your surgeon, but from my experience/knowledge drinking water and swallowing a little air shouldn't cause any damage.

Again - my disclaimer - this comes only from my knowledge and experience so far, and each physician is different in their care, so if you're concerned ask your WLS team.

They told me no straws at first, but that I could try 3 months post op and see if they work for me then. So for now I'm drinking out of cups or bottles of water. I LOVE those plastic cups with the straws, maybe I've just gotten used to those. I'm glad to her that you swallow air too, that's a relief. I guess I just never noticed it before the band.

For the first few days post op I had little cups, kind of like a medicine cup, to drink out of. I was told to drink 2 oz. every 15 minutes. At least I think it was 2 oz every 15 minutes, it was almost 2 years ago This way I was unable to accidentally gulp too much water at one time. Good luck!

They told me no straws at first' date=' but that I could try 3 months post op and see if they work for me then. So for now I'm drinking out of cups or bottles of water. I LOVE those plastic cups with the straws, maybe I've just gotten used to those. I'm glad to her that you swallow air too, that's a relief. I guess I just never noticed it before the band.[/quote']

I am only 9 days post op and I drink my water like you too. No matter how little or big of a sip I always get some air. Its water and will stream right through the band, as long as there is no food involved. My main concern is to get in as much fluid as possible, avoiding dehydration.

I got a nice little gift bag at my post op appt.....one of the gifts was a plastic bariatric surgery cup with straw! Lol thought that was funny now that I've heard were not suppose to drink of straws!

I am being banded on Aug 6th and I purchased a bottle called Hydra Coach the intelligent water bottle. It has a rubber valve covering the straw that does not let the air in you stomach. I bought it because I wanted to drink plain unflavored water after surgery. It also calculates your intake and tells you how long it takes to drink it and on average how much you are drinking per hour. $20 on line at hydracoach.com.

I also purchased 2 different place that have measuring compartment so I can make sure I am not over eating.

store.ezweightplatestore.com/

and

bariware.com

good luck

Thanks Mybella! Those are really neat, I love the cup that measures your water intake.

Just last week I realized that I was drinking incorrectly, I would get a sloshy sound on the left and feel the air as well. It would take some time before I would feel better. I simply was taking in to much at once, SIP, SIP SIP. I was also not eating the right way. 3 years and still learning.

good things to be aware of prior to surgery too I use both cups and straws currently.

Hey everyone!!!

search for "one way drinking straws" in you favorite search engine. There are many places to get them and many different types they have valves line the one Mybella mentioned. Many disabled people have issues with this so straws have evolved for them.

You are going to take in air no matter what you do. When i first come home after surgery, I was lucky if I could drink an ounce of Water. At night, I would wake up so thirsty and the instinct to gulp is huge, but small sips. Tip the cup up till the water kind of forms a seal with your upper lip and drink that way. Don't just open wide and poor the water into your mouth. From here on out, FOREVER, you will have to think about EVERYTHING you put into your mouth. solid food is a whole new expierience! Take extremely small bits and chew till it is the consistency of oatmeal! With practice it becomes easier, but I still have to watch out when I go out to lunch with the girls and I am talking and eating at the same time. I had to excuse myself from the table because I got a bite stuck in the band. NO GOOD when you are in a group and you have to explain that!

Good luck in your journey!

Maybe my sips have been too big. It's gotten worse, I almost feel like I'm stuck right now, but I don't know what I could possibly be stuck on. All I've had was half a protein shake, some clear chicken brother and water.