Okay sleevers I'm still pre-op and I'd like to know how good YOU are at not drinking anything while you eat. This is one post surgery rule I'm not sure I can manage in the entirety even if I come close. I have always been very thirsty while eating. It doesn't matter how much I drink before I eat, my throat gets dry while I eat and then I must stop eating until I can drink or I get nauseous. I'm super super super worried I won't be able to stick to this rule. :\

I know the REASON behind it -- not washing food out of your pouch .. which makes perfect sense.. but a lot of people talk about it like it is a choice.. TBH I'm not sure it's truly a choice for everyone.. I know I personally can't do it well.

So my personal plan as of now? Drink -tiny- sips.. just enough to wet my throat and stop the nausea. But hopefully not enough to wash out my pouch once I have surgery. I heard someone say their surgeon allowed an ounce of liquid with a meal for this purpose.

So was this/ is this an issue for you? Did you struggle with it? Did you overcome it or do you drink with meals and just try to do your best regardless not to eat around your surgery or wash out?

(( PLEASE do not tell me I'm just "choosing" to need to drink while eating even if it's only a small sip here and there. I have super sensitive gag reflex and trust me when I say.. it's not a choice thing. If I get extremely thirsty while eating and try to ignore it.. I -will- find myself in the bathroom retching. I've had it happen when we had poor wait staff at restaurants who didn't keep our glasses refilled...so needless to say I'm worried about this lifestyle change and need to hear from others who struggle with it how they handled it. Especially those who couldn't follow the rule to the T.))

The sleeve isn't a pouch. You don't eat and drink at the same time. Because it fills you up but not with solids. You will be hungry again sooner. I'm 4.5 years out and still don't eat and drink at the same time and couldn't if I tried. There's no room.

The sleeve isn't a pouch. You don't eat and drink at the same time. Because it fills you up but not with solids. You will be hungry again sooner. I'm 4.5 years out and still don't eat and drink at the same time and couldn't if I tried. There's no room.

I wish I couldn’t. I can eat too much after 3+ yrs. don’t do it. Gaining too much back now.

I know this is an old thread - but in case anyone else is worrying, I have had no issues with this, and I'm usually a huge drinker at meal times. I've found that I am not eating enough to need to get my throat. The only times I've drank close to meals is when I've been distracted and absent-mindedly had a sip after eating.

Perhaps just use sauce or other item to make it more moist? Hopefully that limits or avoids your need for drinking during meals ?