Has anyone progressed to the point where you can drink something during your meal. I still loathe the thought of not being able to wash something down.

Once I progressed to regular foods my surgeon said a couple *small* sips during meals is fine. I might have 2-3 sips during my meal.

nope. That rule never ends - it's lifelong. Drinking too soon after eating washes the food out of your pouch (your pyloric valve has been bypassed, so there's nothing to hold the food in your stomach if you start drinking)

How about vegetable soup. Do you have to separate solids from liquid for life?

11 minutes ago, JTSC said:

How about vegetable Soup. Do you have to separate solids from liquid for life?

with these kinds of soups, I usually try to eat as much of the liquid as I can first, then I'll eat the solids.

7 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

nope. That rule never ends - it's lifelong. Drinking too soon after eating washes the food out of your pouch (your pyloric valve has been bypassed, so there's nothing to hold the food in your stomach if you start drinking)

As a big time flusher with diet coke and other beverages during meals post op, I agree with above 100 percent correct, However you will get use to it quickly i did. I was one of those who would make the poor waitress refill 3 times during a meal, now it does not bother me at all.

FYI - Alot of it is in your head, it was in mine

You're never supposed to drink with your meal. I just met with my nutritionist last week, one year post-op and she reminded me about the reasons for the no drinking while eating rule. It's so we won't rush the food through and then get hungrier sooner and want to eat again.

Never. Or you will never feel full. it's completely the opposite of what the surgery is meant to accomplish.

I was also told the rule is for life. Out of all the sacrifices that wls patients need to make, this one is the hardest for me. I get so thirsty after eating and to not be able to drink anything for 30 minutes really drives me nuts. Im hoping one day i get use to it.

You really do get used to it. I had a lap band 10 years ago and it was one of their rules, too. It didn't take long to get used to it, and even 10 years later when the band wasn't working I still didn't drink while eating. Now I have a bypass and that was something that was so ingrained it wasn't difficult. You could probably take tiny sips of water, but you'll quickly get used to not drinking during a meal.

If you ever forget this rule and do drink right after or with a meal, you will likely get a very painful reminder.

I have to keep drinks away from the table when I eat. I have slipped up a few times and it caused a great deal of pain.

11 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

nope. That rule never ends - it's lifelong. Drinking too soon after eating washes the food out of your pouch (your pyloric valve has been bypassed, so there's nothing to hold the food in your stomach if you start drinking)

I did not know that! I thought it was because the food and liquid would stretch the pouch. But what you say makes perfect sense!

14 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

nope. That rule never ends - it's lifelong. Drinking too soon after eating washes the food out of your pouch (your pyloric valve has been bypassed, so there's nothing to hold the food in your stomach if you start drinking)

Isn't that bypass only? Pyloric valve on a sleeve is still there.

Edited to add: not saying it's ok to drink while eating, just clarifying reasons why and for whom.

Edited December 17, 20196 yr by lvidacovich

I had a sleeve. That is why my doc and RD said an occasional very small sip during a meal is OK.

4 minutes ago, lvidacovich said:

Isn't that bypass only? Pyloric valve on a sleeve is still there.

Edited to add: not saying it's ok to drink while eating, just clarifying reasons why and for whom.

yes. Pyloric valve is not bypassed with the sleeve. But most surgeons have the 30-minute rule regardless of surgery.

This is one of the hardest things for me to wrap my head around. I thought it would be “no beer” rule but I really don’t care about that. The 30 min rule will take some getting used to.