I have read a lot of posts about how to sip sip sip on Water post-op. I know that that will be hard to adjust to, especially in the heat of the Summer when nothing but a cool glass of water sounds good. But, what about long term, like one year+ post-op. Will the sip sip sip always be the only way to drink beverages? Or at some point will I be able to...not chug, but drink more than just sips of water?

I don't drink anything except water (or wine with dinner) and I just can't imagine not being able to enjoy cold water on a hot day.

No, sipping isn't a permanent thing. Heck for many of us sipping never was an issue. It really does just depend on how much your sleeve swells & how long it takes for the swelling to go down.

I'll be 1year post op in 3days & I can drink a liter of water quite comfortably in 10-15 minutes.

I am almost 11 weeks out and I can take a good healthy drink. Not gulp by any means but a nice normal drink. It gets better with time. I take a bottle of water with me when I walk the dog and I can finish a 16 oz bottle in about 20 minutes.

I am 5 months out and I can drink water pretty comfortably these days!

5 days out and my sips are getting bigger and more frequent with no problem.

Oh thank goodness! I don't know why, but I am really stressing out over drinking Water. It was SO HOT yesterday and I was working in the yard and flowerbeds all day. During my breaks I would drink cold water and it is just so soothing on a day like yesterday. I kept thinking about how miserable I would be if I could not enjoy ice water like that ever again.

That is the type of thing that still has me on the fence about sleeve surgery.....the long-term changes. I pretty well understand all of the post-op healing challenges, but not so much on the long-term. Things like, will I ever be able to have a glass of wine with dinner....will I be able to eat fruit and veggies before getting 60g's of Protein in first....will I be able to digest red meat???

I think it's these last few fears I need to face before committing myself to this surgery.

Oh thank goodness! I don't know why, but I am really stressing out over drinking Water. It was SO HOT yesterday and I was working in the yard and flowerbeds all day. During my breaks I would drink cold water and it is just so soothing on a day like yesterday. I kept thinking about how miserable I would be if I could not enjoy ice water like that ever again.

That is the type of thing that still has me on the fence about sleeve surgery.....the long-term changes. I pretty well understand all of the post-op healing challenges, but not so much on the long-term. Things like, will I ever be able to have a glass of wine with dinner....will I be able to eat fruit and veggies before getting 60g's of Protein in first....will I be able to digest red meat???

I think it's these last few fears I need to face before committing myself to this surgery.

I think it's great that you're asking so many questions on the front end. It can only help you on the back end. It also helps with going into this process with eyes wide open. I'm post op and I learned from the responses to your question. That's why I like coming here. I learn answers to questions, some of which I never knew I had.

When I went in for my two week post op visit I was actually instructed NOT to sip anymore. I was told to drink in large quantities at a time. I can get down a 16-20 oz bottle of Water in less than 20 min easy. I usually have 32 oz in the mornings while I'm getting ready for work over about two hours and that is really taking my time with it (sometimes even forgetting to drink for 30-45 min at a time).

Yes you will be able to eat fruit and veggies before getting in 60 gm of Protein in first. I haven't been released to eat red meat yet so I'll let someone with more experience than me answer that one. And I was told to stay away from alcohol for at least the first year. I do know that my NUT does not want me eating and drinking at the same time again, ever. So I'm guessing that would be a no to the wine with dinner but you could have one before dinner after you are far enough out