Question for sleeve people :)
For a long time I followed the exact same specifications, however, our sleeve doesn't react the same way as a pouch (for RNYers) so we have a touch more flexibility. Certainly early out, for maybe the first three months or so, I was steadfast in following the 30-minute rule for before/after drinking.
In the last month or so, I've relaxed the before requirement though. I can drink up to maybe 10 minutes or so before a meal without any problem at all. After I eat, I try to abstain from drinking for 1-2 hours to give my sleeve and pyloric valve time to digest my food and get it out of my sleeve and into my small intestine. Only then will I drink again. Essentially when the "full feeling" is gone, I permit myself a bit of liquids again.
How much water at a time? I certainly can't gulp liquids down anymore! I take maybe half a mouthful each time I raise my water bottle to my lips. And over the course of a day, I drink about 10 cups. I've go****er bottles at the office, water bottles in my car, water bottles in my house, water bottles when I travel, etc. I have those and Mio or Crystal Light flavourings all over the place! But I can't fill my sleeve with a great rush of liquids like normal people can. I take my time. If I'm really thirsty (e.g., after working outside in the sun, or exercising), I take a half a mouthful, and wait a bit... maybe 10-20 seconds, before taking another, and doing that repeatedly until my thirst is satiated.
I hope this helps you. If not, feel free to message me!
OTTAWA -- 2011 - Contemplated WLS Feb. 15, 2013 - GP Feb. 20 - lung functioning Feb. 22 - blood work Feb. 27 - Referral April 19 - orientation, bloodwork July 10 - nurse July 23 - rheumatologist (VSG) Sept. 12 - Behaviourist & Dietician Oct. 23 - Echocardiogram Nov. 6 - Pre-surgery Class Nov. 12 - Surgeon Jan 13, 2014 - Optifast (3 wks) Jan. 27 - PATTS Feb. 3, 2014 - Surgery (VSG)
HEIGHT: 5'5" HW 303 Pre-Opti 297 SW 271 GW 170 CW 200 (Feb. 8, 2018 - damn the regain!) VSG with Dr. Yelle
Hey Sassy,
I'm six weeks out, and I try my best to avoid water in the 30 mins before and after eating, but there are the occasional times I have the tiniest sip of water to wet my mouth. It's not even a swallow, really, it just keeps my mouth moist. My sleeve seems pretty forgiving, which is both good and bad. I can definitely drink more water than she can! Just not gulping down like I used to be able to. I would say I could glug a 1/4 cup when it's been a few hours since eating. I seem to have a pretty easy time of it, though when I had some regular ricotta instead of light (my fella bought the wrong stuff), I think my missing gallbladder came into effect and I was sick about an hour later, and it was bile-y. Gross. That's the first time I've noticed any outright rejection of food, and I think it was a consequence of having the gallbladder removed, not anything like dumping.
Referral 08/13, Orientation TWH 09/18/13, SW 09/26/13, NP 09/26/13, Surgeon Appt 12/13/13, MRI 01/06/14, Nut Class 01/14/14, Nut 01/20/14, Scopes 02/21/14, Psych 02/25/14, Dr. Urbach 03/28/14, PATTS 04/15/14, SURGERY 05/06/14!!! 
I need to slow it down and start to drink all day rather than large amounts at one time :) Yes, at six weeks I felt healed, but I had no complications (yay!) and even so, it took me longer than most people to stop having soreness and tightness around my biggest incision, I think also because of the gallbladder removal. I didn't properly stop being sore there until week five. Now I don't feel any of that. I actually wish I could be cleared for more rigorous movement! I feel a lot more energetic in the last couple weeks.
I'm just over a year out from VSG and I was super strict on the 30 mins before and after eating for about the first 6 months or so. Now...I actually prefer to drink right up until I eat. Not with...but while I am making dinner I make sure I get in a big glass of water as it helps me not to graze when I am cooking.
As for after...yes, keep waiting at least 1/2 an hour. Go longer if you can.
At about the 3 month mark I could drink an 8 oz glass of water in a few minutes. 8 or 9 months...I could chug back water after a workout with no problems. Not more than a glass...but certainly don't have to "sip" it.
150 pounds gone for now! :-) Initial goal weight of 170 lbs met on March 7, 2014. My 44 year old bones survived hiking 4 days overland to a highest point of 4700 metres! Machu Picchu goal...CONQUERED!
I don't know if I've seen you before -so great to see a Sleever who has such a success story! I started at about the same weight, so it's wonderful to imagine I could be where you are in a year! Congratulations :)
Referral 08/13, Orientation TWH 09/18/13, SW 09/26/13, NP 09/26/13, Surgeon Appt 12/13/13, MRI 01/06/14, Nut Class 01/14/14, Nut 01/20/14, Scopes 02/21/14, Psych 02/25/14, Dr. Urbach 03/28/14, PATTS 04/15/14, SURGERY 05/06/14!!!
