When Will I Be Able To Drink Normally Again? Tired Of Sipping!

[gettingtohappy 23]

I am one week post op and feel like the reason I can't get enough fluids because I have to sip sip sip sip sip sip sip....darn it....burp sip, burp sip...burp sip...sip sip sip....Older sleevers what is your experience? If I even TRY to drink more...oh...it's coming back up Suzie!! :ack2:

[Aussiegirl 580]

I am almost 10 weeks post op now and am able to drink fairly normally, a bit slower than normal but about the same size sips as pre-surgery. From memory it was about the 4th week I was able to swallow easier.

I know it is annoying and sometimes painful now,but it definitely does get better.

[emily_0192010 168]

Hey I am 11 weeks out tomorrow and it does get better! I can take normal sized drinks, but I can't take more than three in a row without a little break. So i'm not sip sip sipping anymore but it is definitely better. It takes me an hour to get my 14 oz Protein drink down. For me that is really good since Protein shakes have always sat very heavily for me. I don't time Water since I rarely can have it next to me to do so, but I can get 30 oz down during work (say 6 hours) and I do NOT have constant access to it.

Bottom line is, it does get better!

[sleeve 4 me 910]

YES you will be able to drink normal again! I remember the day and it felt so good! So don't worry it will come back

[TootsieJuice 1]

Thank gosh because I am already over this! Im one week with you and i am definitely tired of sipping too!

[waldy43 4]

I can relate to being tired of sipping and I'm also just one week out.

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,281]

For me it was around month 4-5 that I was able to drink normally. What I mean by that is getting over 80 oz per day without much effort. Today I can drink a gallon without even thinking about it. I'm almost 15 month post op. Have patience with your tiny tummy. Wonderful things will be happening for you in your first 3-4 months. You're going to lose a LOT of weight. HUGS!!!

[*susan* 1,709]

It took me almost a year before I could drink what I consider "normally" again. And even now, I still cannot gulp a drink like I used to. My tummy punishes me when I forget that, and am really, really thirsty.

[RRcubed 2]

I'm 3 months out and I'm still sipping all day to get my fluids in. I'm hoping one day things will improve.

[FishingNurse 1,210]

At 3 months I could drink huge gulps (like at the gym) again. Oh how I missed that!

[Purdy in Pink 57]

ive been able to take large gulps since about 3 weeks out. I asked my nut, she said as long as it does not hurt, no harm. i was also told to chew, chew, chew.....and again, at my 4 week checkup, I asked, said as long as it didnt bother me, i was fine. I know every dr's different, so u may want to check w/ ur dr or nut.

Good luck

[gettingtohappy 23]

Thanks so much for the responses everyone! This most certainly gives me hope! I'm pretty sure I'm not getting all the Fluid I need now and it's scary. I'm starting the second week and I'm so aggrivated with all of this. It's so interesting how some people were better able to drink in a few weeks and others months and others over a year....wow....I want to be on team "few weeks" .

I see now that patience is a virtue here...

[Seraphina 60]

I'm 5 days out and relating to all of this. I am sipping all day. It's very tedious. I miss drinking like a normal person. I get extremely scared when I feel that push/pressure in the breastbone too. I'm just sure I'm causing a leak, so I slow down again and keep sipping.

I also have the infamous, "I'm going to be the one person this doesn't work for!" panic thoughts. It's rougher than I thought it would be.

Question. I'm supposed to be on clears for 10 days. Can I mix Protein powder and drink that too? I can't drink clear Protein because I can't drink whey. I desperately need some nutrients.

[wishes 125]

I am 3 months out and I can get down pretty much a days worth of fluids in an hour if I tried. I just can't gulp like I used to. I just constantly keep a drink on hand and drink normally.

[gettingtohappy 23]

I'm 5 days out and relating to all of this. I am sipping all day. It's very tedious. I miss drinking like a normal person. I get extremely scared when I feel that push/pressure in the breastbone too. I'm just sure I'm causing a leak, so I slow down again and keep sipping.

I also have the infamous, "I'm going to be the one person this doesn't work for!" panic thoughts. It's rougher than I thought it would be.

Question. I'm supposed to be on clears for 10 days. Can I mix Protein powder and drink that too? I can't drink clear Protein because I can't drink whey. I desperately need some nutrients.

Seraphina,

I can totally relate! This truly isn't as easy as I thought. But I guess that nothing worth having is...right. I am still amazed by all the different timelines that doctors give. Dr. Garcia only gave me 7 days on each phase. I'd be passed out somewhere if I had to do more than that. If you are over 7 days...not only can you mix Protein Powder with your drink...you should! I'm already freaking out because I'm not getting enough protein in my diet and after week 1 it is very important to start getting your protein up. Of course PLEASE consult your physician first. Because I am no where near medically qualified. lol...

Good luck in the future...this too shall pass! Someone said in this post that it will pass sooner than you think...but not soon enough! That was so clever because we don't have the restrictions of others like the gastric bypass people...in essence, it's only a few weeks to a couple months before we return to that comfortable feeling. But we want it NOW.

I don't care what anyone says...this is a serious surgery and you are going to have to take some time to heal. Please understand, I'm not preaching to you. I'm just reminding myself! Blessings!