How long does this last?

I'm really starting to struggle mentally with this.

The difficulty drinking water and staying hydrated isn't something I was prepared for.  Having pain when I drink, getting nauseas all the time (especially when I drink water or any other thin liquid), feeling tired all the time, the dry mouth, it's all starting to break me down.

How long does this pain/nausea when drinking water last?  If this is forever, then I'm afraid I've made the biggest mistake of my life.  :'(

I called the surgeon's office today around 6, spoke to the doctor on call who wasn't very kind or understanding.  He told me to drink 1/2 cup of water every half hour.  I did that the first half hour and then got sick.  It's just not going to happen.  Tomorrow at 11am I meet with a nurse practitioner at the pulmonologist's office, and I will tell her about my concerns regarding dehydration.  I'm hoping she sends me over for some IV fluids at the hospital.  I just feel so awful.

what about other liquids ?    ive been drinking my protein shakes and  i got some of the sf hawaiian punch drink mix to add to my water , i also have been drinking from the sport top water bottle so i dont get air when i drink.  oceanspray has a diet cranberry with a hint of lime ive been having some of that for a change up, try new things and make sure u r not swallowing air.  go back to chewing ice ... why did they not call u in a script for something to help with nausea ?  

I am sorry to hear you are struggling. Have you tried different temp water? Can you drink broth? Sugar free Popsicles? All of these things can be consumed to replace plain water to help you hydrate. Snow cones, sugar free jello.

I never had a problem with fluids, until I got a stricture, then I couldn't keep anything down.

Best of luck to you. I hope that they get you the fluids you need.

Jen,

I feel for ya baby!  Water gives me grief too!  Sometimes if hurts like it hits bumps as it goes down.  But I have had some improvement since then.  Ya gotta drink slowly all day til you are hydrated.  Try the popsicles and broth.  Both were easier for me.  Non fat milk goes down easy for me. I also discovered something weird....I take metamucil so I can go to the bathroom and when I add the metamucil I can drink a lot easily.  So now I take metamucil 2x a day and I get at least a glass in each time.  Good luck at the drs. and report back and let us know how it goes.

What kind of metamucil do you use?  I want to try that.  I haven't gone since the day before my surgery, and I want to get things moving.  Plus, anything that helps me drink without pain or nausea I'm up for trying.

The broth has bothered me since the hospital, just can't drink it.  I have been having sugar free popsicles, but they are sort of burning my mouth in a way.  I don't know how to describe it.  Today I let them melt most of the way then drank them. 

I take the sugar free orange powdered. It's on coupon this week at Costco.  Buy a small bottle first before you commit to something you might not be able to take.  At first the taste was disgusting and I was grossed out but now I am used to it.  Stir it well to get rid of any clumps. 

Good Luck!

I use the fiber Splenda in a cup of hot tea every morning. It usually takes about 4 hours to choke it all down. I'm 4 weeks post op and I have the same drinking problem. I hate to say it, but I've started cheating. I'll take a spoon of something useless, like mashed potatoes, to stretch my stomach out and then sneak water in. Either it works, and you can get about a cup of water, or you throw up.

The sugar free pops are burning out my mouth too. I have to melt mine to a slushy consistency and even then it still hurts.

Sometimes warmer or room temp liquids work better in the morning. Then the afternoon is a protein smoothie, made from ice. It hurts, but it can be got down. I told my NUT at two weeks, yeah, I'm getting 64ozs. Total, protein and soups and ice pops combined, maybe.

I have another appt tomorrow. I'll let you know if I hear anything new or get any new suggestions.


P.s. if you're a girl, you may notice "other" things drying out. Buy what you need in the adult section of your pharmacy. Spare yourself the agony. And humidifiers work really well on the nosebleeds, and moisturing lotion rocks.

"other things drying out"  OMG you are too funny!

Jen, I would call your surgeon and ask if he can give you something for the nausea. I know it's hard and I struggle getting liquids down. The only thing I really like right now is my decaf coffee. Have you tried something warm like decaf or tea? You have to get something down, it will actually make you feel better. Take care.