Hi! I’m almost 3 week’s post op sleeve and I am worried about my fluid intake. I keep a big, cold 32oz tumbler of Gatorade zero, zero cal diet green tea, or water with me at ALL times. But I can only sip. I feel like I barely get any fluids! Between my protein shake and TRYING to eat, I feel like I can’t drink (can’t drink 30 min before or after eating or drinking protein). Since I drink my protein in 3 sittings, and try to eat 2-3 times a day, that’s 6 hours of the day I can’t drink (bc of the 30 min before and after rule). So I’m trying to sip but I feel like I’m not getting enough! Any tricks?!

Also, I am not peeing hardly at all. MAYBE 3x a day and not a lot comes out. I see my surgeon wed but I thought I’d ask if anybody had any advice/ideas/tricks.

Also..I’m only getting like 8 bites of food in per day. Is that normal? I’m also getting 30g protein and 160 cals from my promier protein drink. So I guess that’s better than nothing I guess.

Thanks for any words of advice!

Edited July 17, 20188 yr by Dfox1984

sounds normal but you dont say how many ounces all those sips add up to.

and what food stage are you on this early, at almost 3 weeks i was still on liquid but all programs are different.

dont worry about what the calories add up to. we all have an over supply of stored energy (fat) so you dont need that right now.

if you are not dehydrated then you are fine.

everything else will come with time. the dehydration can put you in the hospital so that is your priority.

track the ounces you are sipping

4 minutes ago, allwet said:

sounds normal but you dont say how many ounces all those sips add up to.

and what food stage are you on this early, at almost 3 weeks i was still on liquid but all programs are different.

dont worry about what the calories add up to. we all have an over supply of stored energy (fat) so you dont need that right now.

if you are not dehydrated then you are fine.

everything else will come with time. the dehydration can put you in the hospital so that is your priority.

track the ounces you are sipping

Thanks. I’m probably getting about 32oz total per day. I don’t feel dehydrated but I guess I wouldn’t know...

4 minutes ago, Dfox1984 said:

Thanks. I’m probably getting about 32oz total per day. I don’t feel dehydrated but I guess I wouldn’t know...

Oops, I’m on soft foods!

ok thats a little low, if you sip 1 oz every 5 minutes that 12 oz per hour you need only 6 hours to get hydrated.

you really have to sip sip sip all the time during the first months. It will get easier but you have to make hydration the number 1 thing from first moment up till bedtime.

I'm 11 days out and getting my 64 oz of fluids per day has been the absolute hardest part for me. My surgeon/NUT count protein shakes as well so that helps some. I haven't gotten over 50 oz. ever and most days I get around 45 oz. I'm like you--trying but there is just not enough time or space in there yet!

The drinking gets easier when the swelling goes down. I had a terrible time staying hydrated the first couple weeks. Good luck!

Sounds like my post-op experience precisely. I've stopped worrying about it, though. I recently had some bloodwork done and all my levels are fine. Sure, more fluid and protein would be ideal, but I'm not there yet.

If only I could get rid of this cramp/knot/pulled muscle in my right calf. To rule out a blood clot, I was recently in the ER. They did an ultrasound and X-ray. I was fine. I'm starting to suspect low potassium levels, even though my potassium looked okay on my labs. My multi-vitamin (a good one, too) doesn't include 100% of the recommended potassium. I'm going to try adding a potassium supplement every other day or so, but I'm going to find out how much to take... too much potassium can be dangerous.

I found "New Whey" protein drinks at Walmart. They are in a tube like those 5 hour energy drinks, but I pour mine over ice and dilute it down so I am killing two birds with one stone. More fluid intake and 42 g of protein in one drink! I sip on mine all morning long then sip water all afternoon. 180 calories, fat free, sugar free, gluten free.

I struggled with the water intake too. I had to get fluids through the IV a few times. My surgeon said that fluids have to come first before worrying about the protein. If you don’t feel hydrated try and get some IVs. I am 9 weeks out now and don’t have problems anymore. Good luck to you.

1 hour ago, shoopmom said:

I found "New Whey" Protein Drinks at Walmart. They are in a tube like those 5 hour energy drinks, but I pour mine over ice and dilute it down so I am killing two birds with one stone. More Fluid intake and 42 g of Protein in one drink! I sip on mine all morning long then sip Water all afternoon. 180 calories, fat free, sugar free, gluten free.

What isle?! Do they taste good?

In our Walmart, they were over by the other protein drinks and whey powders. You can also order them online from Amazon. My personal favorite flavor is the orange and fruit punch. My daughter likes the watermelon and acai berry. Google New Whey and check it out.

Were any of you folks big liquid drinkers before. I always have drink with me and drink tons of fluids now. I wonder if I will feel as thirsty after I have my surgery.

30 minutes ago, Porthous said:

Were any of you folks big liquid drinkers before. I always have drink with me and drink tons of fluids now. I wonder if I will feel as thirsty after I have my surgery.

I am and always have been a chugging machine lol

I was very worried about this, for the first few weeks after surgery I was sipping cause of the swelling but now I drink a few ounces at a time no issues at all. The hardest thing to relearn is not eating and drinking at the same time, stick to the 30min rule and you'll be golden...

I find drinking fluids throughout the day is harder cause I don't make the time for it. I usually get 2 30oz Yeti glasses in before 5pm (Gym) and then after dinner at 7pm I drink 2/3 more depending on how long I stay up.

11 hours ago, Porthous said:

Were any of you folks big liquid drinkers before. I always have drink with me and drink tons of fluids now. I wonder if I will feel as thirsty after I have my surgery.

Yes, I literally drank fluids all day long! But I chugged a lot. I can’t do that anymore