So overall I have been good at remembering to sip instead of drinking normally but find myself still trying to drink a mouthful of liquid (especially water) instead of sipping at times if I don't actively think about it (about 4-5 times a day). Then it hits my chest and I definitely remember why I can't do that anymore!

How long does it take to remember to sip after surgery and not take a "normal" size drink?

My nutritionist had me practicing sipping, taking small bites and chewing slowly pre-op, maybe a month in advance. By the time surgery rolled around I still had to remind myself occasionally, but mostly I remembered to go low.

eek, that is definitely a side effect I dread. I frequently drink eight oz in one swallow (gulps without breath) when I'm thirsty and have been working outside... In the Florida sun. But hey being thinner is worth it so I'll be sipping soon also! I look forward to any answers you may get.

My nutritionist had me practicing sipping, taking small bites and chewing slowly pre-op, maybe a month in advance. By the time surgery rolled around I still had to remind myself occasionally, but mostly I remembered to go low.

Ah. That would have been really good to do. Excellent suggestion for the pre-surgery group!

Try drinking out of a smaller cup like a shot glass or saki cup.

It took me all of about one major drink of Water to remember to sip. I had major swallowing issues the first few weeks until I started using a straw. I felt like I was swallowing rocks, so the sooner I learned to take tiny sips, the less painful the process was.

Being an ex-chugger myself I didn't really have an issue with the transition, after the surgery I was so scared to drink anything that's what kept me with sips, a few days later the sips got a little bigger, a week out a little bigger. I do find myself putting way more in my mouth than I should but I swallow 2/3 times instead of all at once. Not really sure how I remember that but that's my new habit.

I wondered about this. I know we shouldn't get dehydrated post op and my Dr. said that you cannot physically catch up if you do. I work in surgery and am often scrubbed into procedures that last for many hours. I worry that I won't be able to sip often enough to stay hydrated. I tend to gulp down big glasses of water in between my cases now!

I used to guzzle 16oz without taking a breath. I thought taking sips would be a struggle but the first thing I had after surgery was a sip of ice Water and the ice water hurt so bad, I couldn't tolerate cold stuff for a while. Remembering that paid made it easy to take sips.

Now I can probably drink and ounce a swallow. I just have to remember to pause, but I can drink of water relatively quickly.

@@beckibut i, too, work in surgery and I'm worried about the dehydration thing, too. I'm half tempted to have friends come over and give me infusions of NaCl after my surgery. How are you keeping up with your fluids while at work?

I brought a baby sippy cup. Whatever it takes.

2 months out and still have to remind myself on occasion to sip and not chug. I usually experience the chugging issue hen it's hot or I've been working out and nothing sounds better than cold ice Water. I also use a straw, so this helps me to sip all day. No issues with straw use.