I am considering a sleeve. Consult scheduled. But I love cold Water. Drink over a gallon every day, 2 when dieting, esp. low carb. (No exaggeration). Will I have to cut back drastically after the sleeve? How much do you think can I expect to be able to drink? Are water restrictions only the first few months after surgery or lifelong?

None that I have heard of other than not drinking 30 minutes before or after eating. If you are able to drink a gallon of Water that's awesome. I did that years ago and dropped weight like crazy.

FYI after surgery you cant drink until you do the "leak test" and it was about 36 hours before I had something to drink. Surgical nurse said I could drink up until midnight before surgery I was the first one at 7:30. I woke up on my own about 11:45 and drank as much as I could and went back to sleep. Post surgery I was told leak test would be first thing next morning (NOT!), it was almost noon. I was about to go nuts thinking about drinking something....anything.....licking the condensation off the windows (hot here in Florida and A/C was running) was a thought };]

Usually only the first few months after the surgery. I'm 9 months out, and I can drink 16 oz of Water in about 5-10 minutes now. Before it would take me an hour or more. Weeks after surgery? It takes half the day lol.

For some reason, I still have trouble with really cold water. It goes down easier at room temperature or hot (like with tea or lemon).

Usually only the first few months after the surgery. I'm 9 months out, and I can drink 16 oz of Water in about 5-10 minutes now. Before it would take me an hour or more. Weeks after surgery? It takes half the day lol.

For some reason, I still have trouble with really cold water. It goes down easier at room temperature or hot (like with tea or lemon).

This is so important to remember and where lots of people get lost. You have to think long. How you eat/drink after surgery is NOT the way it is further out.

I prefer chilled water and at 5 months out I can drink a boatload no problem. Well except I have to pee like a race horse LOL and I have to wait a 1/2 hour after I eat ????

You'll be able to drink lots of water just not all at once. Sometimes I am really thirsty and I go gulping like I used to and then my stomach tells me that I need to chill out. So then i drink a little here and there. Its the new normal.

you cannot chug anything, nor take huge gulps even or gulps at all, you have to train yourself to drink slower. And be careful with talking about leak tests etc. Many surgeons do not bother with such a thing unless there is a suspicion of problems or other complications. Every surgeon/medical group is different.

It's gonna be a whole new world. Remember the days of gulping down Water from a hose? Or after playing outside in the summer sun and slamming down some ice cold drink. Even months after surgery, you can't gulp. Gotta sip. I live in AZ, so we get to about 115 in the summer and I coach football. I'm use to guzzling down gallons. Now I gotta sip gallons. Can't wait to see how that is gonna end. Good luck to you.

I'm 6 months out and I still can't drink water without it hurting....I kinda fear water now...I eat ice all day just to be sure I stay hydrated. Big gulps or chugging anything will painful! I was extremely thirsty one and I took 2 big gulps of water and had to throw it up...gross I know! I'm not sure how long this will be the case, but like I said - 6 months out and it still hurts me...

Oh, but let me add - I've lost 70 pounds in 6 months.....so I can live with eating ice forever!! :-)

And another thing I didn't even think about before my surgery - alcohol! I miss drinking ice cold beer!!!! I tried sipping wine, it was a tad painful, but I still wish I could drink more than just a few sips....

I am 4 weeks post op and noticed I can drink more each and every day.

I can drink 12oz of Water but it takes me 30-60min. And I only drink ice cold water with no problem or difference between room temperature water. At first it was very annoying when your thirsty and can't drink a lot.

My surgeon said I can drink water almost up until I begin eating but once I start then I have to stick to the 1 hour wait. Sometimes depending on what I ate I only wait 30 minutes if I'm super thirsty.