I recently went for a fill at my doctor and I was told that there are new guidelines on drinking before eating.

She said that drinking before eating is not only allowed but it is recommended as well! She said the reason for this is that it moistens you up and allows food to go into your stomach so it won't get stuck. She also said that it fills you up studies have shown that you don't eat as much if you drink before you eat.

You're still NOT allowed to drink while you eat and you much wait at least 20 minutes after eating.

Well, that's a relief, because I've been drinking before my meals anyway. I find that taking a few gulps of Water before I eat removes the temptation to drink afterwards, which is when it really causes trouble.

Only 20 minutes after eating, though? That surprises me. It doesn't seem long enough for the food to leave the pouch.

While many doctors make up their own rules as they go along (see my whiney post), I don't recall that Inamed EVER had a before meal beverage restriction.

Sue

That is so true in the mornings. I need at least 8oz before I eat or it feels stuck. My doctor is still saying NO but I won't tell if you won't tell on me:cool:

My doctor advised me to wait TWO HOURS after eating before I take a drink!

Originally posted by ~c~

My doctor advised me to wait TWO HOURS after eating before I take a drink!

According to the Inamed guidelines found in the lap-band patient vooklet ( http://www.inamed.com/pdf/health/94829F_LB_Patient_Book.pdf ) you should keep food and drink "separate." They don't mention any specific times.

Two hours sounds extreme but I would always follow what my own doctor advises.

On page 12, it says no beverage one to two hours after eating.

(I believe the earlier edition of the book said one hour...I've gotta go find it.)

Sue

Originally posted by GeezerSue

On page 12, it says no beverage one to two hours after eating.

(I believe the earlier edition of the book said one hour...I've gotta go find it.)

Sue

Sue,

You stand corrected!!

OMG this web site is awesome! I even saved it on my favorites list. It is FULL of good stuff that every bandster should know! I wish I would have found this long ago!

OMG this web site is awesome! I even saved it on my favorites list. It is FULL of good stuff that every bandster should know! I wish I would have found this long ago!

They should have given you a book when you had your surgery. It goes with the band. I asked my doc where mine was and he was like 'huh?'. Duh..

Leatha: Dr. Lopez didn't even give me a sheet of paper with "YOU HAVE A LAPBAND" printed on it much less a booklet. LOL!!! It wasn't until I saw the FAMOUSLY handsome and marvelous Dr. HELMUTH BILLY (drool drool) that I got some information and a INAMED card. SIGH!!

I agree this site is awesome. Wish I had known about it way before I was banded. Glad I found it now though.

May I ask, why can't you drink with your meals? Would you get sick or something?

May I ask, why can't you drink with your meals? Would you get sick or something?

The reasoning behind this is that drinking will actually flush any food in your pouch on through, leaving room for MORE food. This will hamper your weight loss efforts allowing you to eat more. The band actually works the best by eating only enough (solids) to fill the pouch and then stopping. The longer you wait to 'wash' it through, the longer you feel satiated.

I hope this helps!

The reasoning behind this is that drinking will actually flush any food in your pouch on through, leaving room for MORE food. This will hamper your weight loss efforts allowing you to eat more. The band actually works the best by eating only enough (solids) to fill the pouch and then stopping. The longer you wait to 'wash' it through, the longer you feel satiated.

I hope this helps!

Thanks, that makes sense.

I've been having trouble adhering to the no-drinking-with-meals restriction. I'm on meds that give me chronic dry mouth. Quitting them is not an option. The good thing is, I have no trouble drinking 64 oz. of water each day, because I was already drinking that much before the band. The bad thing is, I'm sipping water constantly. I've tried various lozenges and they don't seem to help. Meanwhile, after nearly two weeks I'm waiting for my first 1.2 cc fill to kick in. . . I just had a whole entree at a Thai restaurant, complete with rice. Any suggestions?

If I drink with a meal my meal comes right back up.