I’m about 10 weeks post surgery.

At what point can you drink liquids with food?
With the summer being here, after I come back for a walk, I’d like to drink some water and heat up dinner. Pretty frustrating I have to wait 30-45 minutes before I can eat and it’s already a long work day.

I still can't and I'm 20 months post op tomorrow Matt! I can drink drink drink before a meal now - pretty close to eating actually (and it sounds like you can't yet). Think it took me at least a year from memory to get that far.

I simply cannot do it the other way around - gives me real grief. Once I eat solid food I have to wait at least half an hour and ideally more like an hour until I drink.

The only exception to this is when I want to, LOL, and even then it needs to be planned like a military operation. I can swallow a mouthful of pizza followed by a mouthful of beer for like forever. I only do this when in company and not wanting to draw attention to my surgery. I wouldn't recommend it other than in an emergency - it's a surefire way to regain.

From what I understand, we will never be able to eat and drink at the same time, again. You'll get used to it. Edited to add: I will drink right before eating, but not for half an hour after eating.

Edited July 16, 20233 yr by Jeanniebug

I got told the same thing too - never .That's what the dietician said .It's such a pain if you are out with friends , you can either order a drink OR food, but not both .I usually end up with just an iced latte !

I was told never, but honestly, the few times I've forgotten and drank while eating, it didn't give me any issues. I felt full faster, so I had to take longer to eat, but it never caused me any problems or pain.

I vomit if I have liquid straight after food .

2 hours ago, matt917 said:

I’m about 10 weeks post surgery.

At what point can you drink liquids with food?
With the summer being here, after I come back for a walk, I’d like to drink some Water and heat up dinner. Pretty frustrating I have to wait 30-45 minutes before I can eat and it’s already a long work day.

i'm almost 5 years out and i still can't.

for me, liquids and solids together is a sure fire way to fill up my stomach real quick and result in uncomfortable fullness. i almost never drink while i eat, and for at least 30-45 minutes after consuming anything "solid" (though i have taken a VERY rare sip if something gets caught in my throat, or if i eat something too spicy, but if i do, that basically signals an end to eating solids for a while...otherwise i'll projectile vomit).

like another above, i can drink liquids as much as i want right up until i eat something solid. after that, i need to wait to digest before even attempting to drink anything else.

as a result of this i am often drunk before the meal when i am out to eat, because i drink my liquor BEFORE the meal (on an empty stomach, yikes!)

it took a while to get used to, but now it's second nature. Even my husband and good friends know to wait to order our food until i'm almost done finishing my drink.

p.s. i have even learned to eat soup to accommodate this quirk: i'll sip all the liquid in soups first,and leave anything "chunky" in it until last.

Edited July 16, 20233 yr by ms.sss

With the sleeve, the 30/30 rule between fluids and solids is so that you do not fill up too quickly without getting in all of your nutrition. With the bypass, it's for that reason, but also so that the water doesn't push the food through the bowels too quickly causing dumping syndrome. Admittedly, eating soon after drinking is much easier than drinking after eating. What I ended up doing when I would go out was have my alcoholic drink and then eat. I also went from mixed drinks full of juice, soda, ice to just 1 or 2 straight shots of silver tequila or vodka. It kinda helped because I'd have my shots, feel my buzz, enjoy the company, and then eat (which would kill my buzz). It kinda worked out except that it got way too easy, and I started preferring drinking to eating. My meal wound end up being may be three bites/forkfuls of food because my sleeve was full of fluid (alcohol). But even if it'd been water, I still wasn't getting everything in like I was supposed to.

1 hour ago, fed-up said:

I vomit if I have liquid straight after food .

Me too. One day this week my food would not shift and 3 hours later I was so thirsty. I drank. I ended up with the foamies, then I was fine

I’m 4 yrs out & I can’t drink & eat at the same time & neither can my friend at 3 yrs out (we were actually chatting about this on the weekend). Neither of us have to wait the full 30 minutes. Like on a good day we only need to wait a couple of minutes before & after if we sip slowly. Sometimes it just depends on what we’re eating or drinking. Like drinking champagne we have to wait longer. I can sip tea with a snack if I leave a couple of minutes between sips & bites.

You’ll work out what you’re able to tolerate with trial & error in time too.

Even though fluid goes through your tummy quickly it’s not quickly enough not to restrict/reduce how much food you can eat. Getting your protein & nutrients in is most important. You’ll still meet your fluid goals by waiting your 30 minutes. Sip all day. Establish habits & routines to help. I even drink while I’m driving: at every stop light or whilst driving (considering traffic safety of course), Take water with you & drink while you walk don’t wait for after. I drink throughout the night too (whenever I wake or get up to pee).

You’ll work out what you’re able to tolerate with trial & error.

I was "allowed" to drink BEFORE eating once I was a few months out. As far as drinking AFTER eating, that's a life-long rule.

It's supposed to be a rule to follow forever, however the nutritionist said the guidelines are there due to feedback from patients. Some may be able to eat before the 30min are up depending on how they feel. I can drink up to 15min before, but after I have to wait 30min to 1 hour depending on what I eat. Soup is a no no for now, I can only do a few spoonful and that makes it difficult to get my protein in.

I'm also pretty sure it is a lifelong rule. They don't want us to wash the food out of our stomach too soon before getting the necessary nutrients from the food we just ate. I as well as others have sometimes had to take a sip while eating, but it is just that, a small sip. I do drink up to eating and that has not afftected my ability to eat my food. I do limit my drinking after to about 30 min, sometimes 20 min

Thanks for the tips. I have the gastric sleeve and will work on habits to drink more throughout the day. It just slips my mind when I’m busy with work

On 7/16/2023 at 12:42 PM, matt917 said:

I’m about 10 weeks post surgery.

 At what point can you drink liquids with food?
With the summer being here, after I come back for a walk, I’d like to drink some Water and heat up dinner. Pretty frustrating I have to wait 30-45 minutes before I can eat and it’s already a long work day.

When you say you have to wait 30-45 minutes, is that because you've tried eating sooner after drinking and it's uncomfortable or because you are following a rule from your program?

What about cereal and milk? Is that considered food and liquid together?