About a month ago, I went to the doctor to see about having a hiatal hernia repaired. He suggested a relatively new procedure for weight loss that he could do at the same time as the hernia repair, and it would cost me nothing to add it on to the procedure. I only needed to lose about 50 pounds to get in the optimal range for my height, so I wouldn't qualify for other weight loss surgeries, and hadn't even considered them before. I asked about side effects, etc, and he said I would just have a smaller stomach, so I would just eat less-smaller, more frequent meals. Great! That was the part of dieting that was always the most difficult for me (portion control), so if it would force me to do it, why not? I would have to be on a liver-shrinking diet for two weeks pre-surgery and a high Protein liquid diet for two weeks after surgery, then soft foods transitioning to normal as tolerated. Sounded like a breeze. That's all the information I got. There's very little info on the internet about this procedure, so I couldn't do much research.

I'm two weeks post op now, and I've learned that I cannot eat or drink 30 minutes before or after meals, or during meals, for the rest of my life. I didn't know about this ahead of time. It was on my hospital discharge papers, but I assumed it was temporary. Nope. I'm upset-maybe to an unreasonable degree. I like spicy food-Thai, Indian. I absolutely cannot eat it without Water though. And the spicy food that I like is very healthy! It's mostly tofu with steamed vegetables. I don't like that I wasn't informed ahead of time. I knew that I was going to have to cut back on carbs, but by eliminating water during meals, I feel like I've actually eliminated a lot more of my food choices simply because I cannot imagine eating them without water! I was told that even a sip was not ok. On the other hand, I feel so silly for being upset about something as simple as a glass of water. I know my body is still reacting to the surgery and I'm a hormonal mess, but I've been upset enough to cry and consider having the procedure reversed. I just wish I'd known ahead of time what I was getting myself into. I really don't think I would've gone through with it.

Advice welcome.

What WLS did you have? It sounds like the lapband but there's tons of information out there on this procedure. I would be frustrated as well, your doctor should have told you the good, bad and the ugly so that you could make a more informative decision.

Welcome to the wls Journey,

For me its all a trade off. I can live without Water for 30 mins before a meal. I'm sipping water all day. I don't feel deprived.

I'm sorry your feeling "buyers remorse" right now. I hope down the road is a new day and you can see what a positive choice you have made. I'd take 30 mins without water compared to being overweight and feeling miserable any day.

Here's to a new you!

Jenn

what kinda of surgery did you have?? and the 30 mins before and after seems pretty straight across for all weight loss surgeries..

I had an imbrication (without a band). Pretty much every website just compares it to other WLS, and if all of them include the no drinking thing, I guess that's why it didn't come up. I'm just frustrated that my doctor never mentioned it. I'm one of those people who likes to know everything ahead of time. I had resigned myself to not eating bread for quite a while (and I am a carb-o-holic!), but no water during meals FOREVER means eliminating about half of my normal foods. I understand that losing weight and being healthy should be more important, but I'm irritated. I'm mad at myself for not just dieting better on my own. I'm 26 years old and I feel like I just made a mistake that will mess up my eating forever because I wasnt well informed.

It sounds like you had a vertical sleeve. There is tons of info on the internet coving this topic. Start with you tube. It's hard for me to believe you didnt research this entire proceedure. I spent a lot of time before getting the surgery. You can drink all you want but if you want to lose weight you need to follow the rules and eat protien first followed by vegatables. No beverages for at least 30 to 60 minute after the meal.

Hint: When I dine on spicy foods (luv Mexican), I suck on an ice cube afterwards. And ice cube contains very little liquid and my dr approves it.

Yep, ull get used to it. Not sure why the 30 minute beforehand rule. I can drink up till the time I take my first bite of food and then I actually can FEEL when it's time to drink something (30-45 mins), when my food has cleared my stomach. Not only is it to keep the food in ur stomach longer but it also stops the volcano from erupting. I was a lapband patient for almost 4 yrs prior to my sleeve revision 11 mths ago. I literally couldn't drink during/after eating cuz the food would make a cork in my esophagus and anything I drank would come right back up - violently. Now that there's nothing in the way, I still don't drink after eating cuz #1. I'm still scared as it feels like it's "stuck" at times and #2. I'm now used to it.

I promise, ull get used to it soon. Try the ice cube trick. It works well

Imbrication is another term for gastric plication (30 second google search told me that). Lots of info here and on the web if you search for that term.

Good luck! Maybe your normal foods with a little less spice won't require Water?

Just a question for anybody here. I have the Lapband, and I was told I can drink all the way up to my meal, but I must stop during my meal and for 20-30 minutes after my meal. What is the logic for not drinking before the meal with the other surgeries?

@@JustWatchMe I have a sleeve and my surgeon also approves drinking right up until eating, then not drinking during or after. So that's what I've been doing for the past year . . . I don't think it's hurt me at all.

@@jlt6187 I also like spicy food, Keep practicing at eating without drinking, you may develop a better tolerance for it. Another trick is to munch on cold shredded lettuce in between bites of spicy food. I actually find that works better than drinking while eating.

Just a question for anybody here. I have the Lapband, and I was told I can drink all the way up to my meal, but I must stop during my meal and for 20-30 minutes after my meal. What is the logic for not drinking before the meal with the other surgeries?

It matters mostly with what ur dr requires, not the type of surgery u had. I had the lapband and the sleeve (same surgeon) and was told for both that I could drink right up till the first bite then 30-45 mins after. Like I said prior, after a while ull be able to "feel" when the food has passed and ur safe to drink again. Depending on what I eat translates to the amt of time I hafta wait: salads I can drink within 30 minutes. Meat and others, about 45 mins. Not sure why but thats the way it is

"I'm one of those people who likes to know everything ahead of time"

Like Jess said, a simple Google search pulled up lots of information available for anyone to see. If you like to know everything, why didn't you research more? Surgery is no joking matter and I know of no one who would just lay down and say go for it without knowing what was in store?

Surely you had nutrition counseling and orientation where you could have asked any questions you want? I also agree with Jenn, you're having buyers remorse. But if you want to drink ask your doctor if you can? He'll probably say you won't lose weight or as much weight but if drinking Water is more important than being healthy, go for it?

tmf

@@jlt6187 your whole life is going to change, forever. This journey is in no way temporary. Spicy food even causes some people acid reflux and discomfort, you may never be able to eat that ever again (you'd just have to sample it). What I'm trying to say is, you have to make the ultimate choice. What's more important? Getting your health and life back, or eating Thai foods and drinking Water with your meals.

No way am I trying to sound harsh, but it's just the facts when it comes to WLS. Nothing you read about your procedure should be taken as temporary. It's for life.

def way over thinking it....in my opinion.

i have the plication with lap band

advised by my dr and all involved to drink up to eating and wait until 20 minutes passed to drink again and yes, no drinking while eating..

its not something to be overwhelmed and as upset as you are making out..

if you need to take a sip, or a drink, drink it....but def do as your doctor advises

for best results......to my understanding, drinking while eating helps it go down

as my hub says, makes room for more...

its doable to not drink while eating

if i want a drink or need to based on a spicy item, i do it

Disclaimer : this is from my doc for my surgery (had lap band), suggest to talk to your doc to see the allowances

From what I was told, considering this is weight loss surgery you want to stay fuller as long as possible. Water will wash/push food through a lot sooner, this making you want to eat more, don't feel when full, eat more often etc. that was the rationale that I was told to not drink for about 30-60 mins after eating. They originally said an hour but I was having a hard time drinking my daily allotment of water. I 'can' drink while eating without any complications other than feeling hungry sooner.

Again I had the band and this is my surgeons rules. I went through buyers remorse at the beginning but I'm glad I did it overall. 6 months banded.

def way over thinking it....in my opinion.

i have the plication with lap band

advised by my dr and all involved to drink up to eating and wait until 20 minutes passed to drink again and yes, no drinking while eating..

its not something to be overwhelmed and as upset as you are making out..

if you need to take a sip, or a drink, drink it....but def do as your doctor advises

for best results......to my understanding, drinking while eating helps it go down

as my hub says, makes room for more...

its doable to not drink while eating

if i want a drink or need to based on a spicy item, i do it

Good advice from one who knows.

OP, I'm also instructed to not drink and eat but sometimes I do. I like spicy foods too so sometimes I'll sip when I drink. It's not the end of the world and if I did it all the time I would probably be hungry all the time. If you drink when you eat spicy foods you may not have the quick success you wanted. But, you probably don't eat spicy foods every meal so don't drink every meal. No biggie. Drink when it's necessary and don't when it's not.

Lose weight and still enjoy foods you like. What could be better?