Hi guys! Just wondering if I am doing the liquid stage right? I'm struggling to get the water in as I am only taking small sips. Trying my best to get this better though, but I'm so worried about stretching my pouch. It sometimes hurts when the water hits the pouch too.

Secondly, I have been using 250ml bottles of low sugar high protein shakes, but I end up sipping on them all day rather than drinking them at a set meal time. Is this right?

Thanks [emoji4]

You are doing great!! Baby sips for now, and just keep sipping throughout the day. Right now your body is still healing, so no need to worry about anything else right now!!

GOOD LUCK, and welcome to the rest of your life!!!!!!!!!

I had a lot of trouble getting enough water the first few days. Even drinking 3 ounces per hour made me feel like I just ate Thanksgiving dinner. The good news is that they pump you full of IV fluids at the hospital, so that will help prevent dehydration at the beginning.

I'm two weeks out now and I can drink water at a reasonable pace without feeling stuffed. You are doing it right by sipping throughout the day. You don't need to worry about set meal times until you start eating actual food (pureed stage), and at that point, you'll have to wait 30 minutes after the meal to drink anything (some programs also say no liquids 30 minutes before the meal).

As for the pain when the water hits the pouch, I was told it is fairly common to have cramps or spasms in your stomach, especially when drinking cold liquids. I was given a prescription for hyoscyamine to help with that (which I took for the first few days, but I haven't had any more issues after that).

you're fine

as far as water hurting your pouch - some people's pouches are sensitive to extreme temps in the first few weeks after surgery. Maybe try drinking it at room temperature?

Don't stress you're so early post op

Thank you all [emoji171]