Hi there.

I'm wondering if the water sipping every 10-15 minutes is a forever thing. I am so irresponsible about drinking water now. I worry I will drop the ball. It's seriously making me reconsider in addition to other fears.

Don't worry, Bloodhound, it isn't forever. It will get better. The first few weeks I could only get in tiny sips at a time. Now, at 2 months out, I'm able to drink much more normal amounts. I can't chug like I used to (that I miss), but I can get more in when I drink now, compared to the beginning. You will definitely need to stay on top of your water, though. If you tend to forget, setting timers on your phone helps a lot! You'll learn as you go when stomach wants you to stop. It took me quite a few times of getting that feeling in my chest like the water was pooling at the top, before I finally managed to get it right. I still mess up sometimes, but not as often. But when I do, my stomach is not afraid to let me know.

There is a really common misconception that we need to drink 64+oz of fluid each day. This actually isn't the case, drink what you can, when you can. Everyone's body is different and its needs are, therefore, also different. When you're thirsty, that means you're starting to get dehydrated. With the VSG surgery, you won't be able to chug/gulp anymore so you have to be sure to drink when you're not thirsty so you don't get dehydrated. I could drink larger quantities in one go after about a year. I still can't chug a whole bottle of water but I can do about 4oz in one go.

Seriously, don't worry about the drinking every 10-15 minutes thing. Just drink when you remember and keep a liquid on hand. And if you find yourself getting thirsty, try harder to remember to drink. Put your bottle at eye level, put a bottle near the microwave or oven so you remember to drink before you eat, a bottle on your nightstand, another in your car, essentially put a bottle everywhere you frequent so when you see it, you take a sip.

Edited September 6, 20214 yr by Stalled

I struggled with water right after surgery, but I'm a little over a year out from gastric bypass and I can drink water at a normal pace now. I still log my fluid consumption in MyFitnessPal, but I always drink way more than 64 ounces without really having to try. I wasn't very good about drinking water before surgery, but the surgery got me in the habit of drinking a lot of water, so I actually drink a lot more now than I did before surgery. Occasionally, I will take too big of a gulp and it will be a little uncomfortable, but other than that, I have no issues.

Like everyone has said so far, the "taking a sip every 5-10 minutes" thing only lasts for a few months. I am 5 years out and I can (if I'm really thirsty) chug a half a bottle of water without getting uncomfortable. Anything more than that though and my stomach will feel overfull and bloated. It took years to be able to do this much but at 6 months out I was drinking pretty much normally.

nope. Six years out and can drink water like I could pre-surgery - and have been able to since I was a few months out.