Hi everyone... I'm not banded yet, and am still doing the yes/no game with myself, but one question I've been dying to know the answer to is this:

Is it true that bandsters should not, for any reason, drink water (or whatever) while eating? I can't find the answer on here, probably because it's a known rule that drinking while eating is a no-no, but is it really? I'm having a hard (weird I know) time getting my mind around not having a glass of water or iced tea with a meal.

Thanks for the help, in advance!

Hi, Yes that is true. The amount of time after eating before you can drink is kind of debated 1/2 hour or full hour but NO drinking with or right after meals.

You have to chew your food really well so that it is small enough to pass through your stoma (small opening from pouch to stomach) but you want the food to stay in the pouch as long as possible to keep your full. If you drink while eating and up to an hour after you are just going to wash the food out of your pouch into your stomach and you will be hungry right away. Kinda counter productive. Hope this helps.

Good luck with your decision,

Im just here to second what Lynn said.

She is right!

It was a big thing for me too, but after I witnessed the way it works, it made more sense. you can do this!

Ever heard the saying, "Your attitude determines your aptitude" ???

adding also that if you drink with meals it can be quite painful, the liquid sits on top of the pouch with no where to go and it hurts!

Thanks for that addition La Madam - as I haven't eaten solids yet - that will be enough to keep me from even thinking about cheating a little - I'm a pain wimp.

Thanks for the help, ladies! I think the one thing you said that is driving it home for me is the pain/pressure that will come with drinking WHILE eating. I'm feeling really glad to know the real answer to this question, and it has helped me with my Quest towards the band. Can you all give me your thoughts on how long to wait after eating, and how long to stop drinking before a meal?

Thanks again!

I drink right up until I eat, since no food is in my pouch the liquids go right through, after I eat I usualy wat atleast 30 minutes , sometimes longer depending on what I ate.

When I went to an information evening, somebody asked this and said "what about wine when you go out for dinner" which was precisely what I've asked here before.

The surgeon said that liquid washes the food through your pouch more quickly and that you'll be hungry quicker - and he did point out big gulps would sit on top and cause discomfort, but then he went on to say "its up to you though, small sips of wine probably wont hurt you and what do you do after you've been home for dinner? Go home to bed, so if you're hungry a bit sooner what does it matter anyway?". Sensible advice I thought.

I've noticed though that in Australia the type of advice they're giving is way more relaxed and casual than it is in the states. We were also told that everyone's different but most people can expect to enjoy a full diet including bread and rice, just smaller quantities. HOw true that turns out to be remains to be seen though.

My doctor says NO eating l/2 hour before meals and 1 hour after meals. It isn't really hard for me. I have to force myself to drink 64 oz. during the day.

I was told the no drinking rule and the md explained the food pouch quickly theory. My true question was , will I hurt myself or the band if I do drink and his answer was no.

SO, I drink a little and try not to stress about it.

sometimes i drink a little and sometimes i dont... i cant say that i ever really see a difference... the only thing i would say is dont ever drink if you are already feeling pain because that will just worsen the pain, but as far as drinking with meals i have never really gotten any hungrier if i sip some water with my meal!!

Believe it or not this was my biggest concern with the band, I had always had something to drink with my meals and afterwards, I couldn't stand having the food taste linger in my mouth or having dry mouth. But I have to say that it really hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. I just try to keep busy after I eat and time it so that I know exactly when its been an hour afterwards. A few times I've waited only 45 minutes. I try to have a small peice of fruit last to sort of sweeten my mouth, it helps.

Drinking liquids while eating does not make my food watery and go down the band quicker----it makes the food come right back up. My doctor said that for some, drinking with meals acts like a plunge and it sure does that for me. It's a sure way that I'm not drinking with MY meals!

I do drink right up to eating and then I wait at least 30 minutes.

I try to have a small peice of fruit last to sort of sweeten my mouth, it helps.

NESSTG,

That is exactly what my nutritionist told me to do, eat fruit after every meal to quench my thirst. I have not been banded yet, but I've already started to see the nutritionist that I'll be using after the band. She is getting me ready for my post diet journey. While meeting with her, she also told me that I can drink all the way up to 15 min. before I eat and then wait only an 1/2 hr to 45 min. after I eat.

So I guess every doctor is different. It's so funny.. There should be set guidelines. I know what I need to do is different than others. I don't have to do the pre surgery diet, but I need to stay on fluids for ten days and then I enter mushie stage.

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU ALL!

I also drink a little with my food, little sips. Ihave had no problems.

just adding my 2 Cents worth. I do not drink with my meals whatsoever, as one, it is painful when I have tried in the past and two, if you eat some and then add something to drink after getting your pouch partially full of food, you increase the pressure on your pouch which over time could lead to pouch dilation and slippage. So as for me, I don't want to risk that again (I had revision for slippage) and will just opt to not drink even sips with my meals and wait one hour after to drink anything. I usually pop in a breath mint after I eat to get the taste out of my mouth. Hope this helps...