Does not drinking enough Water cause retention?

Yes, it can, because of salt. Salt LOVES to be with Water. Adequate water intake means your body can flush excess salt because the salt will leave to follow the water (this is simplistic but true...I could retell it using words like anion and cation and cell membrane but why on such a pretty Saturday!) When you don't take in enough water to convince the salt to leave the body, it hangs around and can pull Fluid out of circulation and into tissues where it just hangs around with the salt and does no one any good.

So water retention can be caused by various things but in an otherwise healthy individual, if you keep well hydrated you won't have as much edema.

Of course water is IN a lot of things...it's in coffee, it's in celery, it's in meat. But it's easiest to just make sure you drink 6-8 oz glasses of plain water each day!

Thanks for the info, I will do better at drinking my fluids, the nurse told me they coudn't predict my weight goal yet that the stats showed I was retaining body fluid. I sometimes don't drink enough or have to stay up longer to get the required amount. Waiting a hour and half to drink after eating sure takes a lot of time. When I retired I hoped never to watch the clock. Oh well, it's worth it.l It will sure be easier in the summer

Thanks for the info, I will do better at drinking my fluids, the nurse told me they coudn't predict my weight goal yet that the stats showed I was retaining body Fluid. I sometimes don't drink enough or have to stay up longer to get the required amount. Waiting a hour and half to drink after eating sure takes a lot of time. When I retired I hoped never to watch the clock. Oh well, it's worth it.l It will sure be easier in the summer

This has been the hardest thing to do. I have to carry Water with me everywhere so I rmember to drink... I went 3 daywith only having a glaaa of water a day. I actually have to set a timer now.

Camron57...I'm a big rule follower, especially after I ignored my doctor's preop diet, did my own, lost 15 pounds, but band wasn't placed because while I lost, my liver didn't lose. So I believe in what our doctors say. HOWEVER, with a caveat that we all have to do what works for us, waiting 1 1/2 hours post meal to drink seems excessively long. Have you asked your surgeon to confirm it? Mine used to say 1 hour but after reviewing current studies has dropped that to 15 minutes pre, nothing during (and eat in 30 minutes) and then 15 minutes after we eat. That makes it much easier to live with.

Not saying to do what my doc says, ok? Just maybe ask your doc to review his stand or ask him if you can drink a little earlier. Good luck to you!

You know I use to think it was hard to get my water in but now it is just habit. If I do not get my usual water I actually feel bad. I really love water now and do not miss pop at all.