They're kidding me, right?

The literature they sent home with me from the hospital when I had my surgery on Monday says that I should be shooting for at least 40 ounces of  fluids as of today.  I'm having  a hard time managing 16, and I feel like I'm constantly sipping already.  I just get way too full.  Any tips or ideas are greatly appreciated!

Definitely try hot tea in the morning. Someone mentioned it to wake up the pouch... It so helps! I also having same issues! I never drank that to begin with!

Any specific kind of tea, or just hot tea in general?

Herbal tea. I use a herbal zinger or anything that tastes good

Heck I was doing 60 oz day after. Every 15 mins drink 2oz. Your protein shakes count for fluids too, popsicles, ice chips, broth all count.  If you are having a hard time try crushing the ice and adding in some flavoring like crystal light, I personally love the diet snapple raspberry tea. Right after surgery I bought a sno cone maker, and eat crushed ice. I also did SF hot cocoa. The fluids will not make you full, since they flow right through the pouch. But if its to cold or to hot it will not feel good. Try warm things, or room temp.

Ha!  I know how you feel.  However the bariatric coordinator at the hospital advised that my most important job over the next week was to be sure I didn't get dehydrated.  She said keep pushing the fluids and your pouch will adjust. She made sure to say that it's going to be really really REALLY hard to hit those daily goals, but to do the best I can, make sure I keep sipping, get my vitamins in, and have faith that I'm not doing anything wrong because its so difficult.

Good luck!  We can do it!

Water mixed with Diet Cran Grape (1/2 and 1/2 each) or UNSWEETENED apple juice mixed with water (1/2 & 1/2 each) were my savior.

Also, the sugar free Hawaiian Punch that you mix with bottled water is good.

For some reason it is hard for me to drink enough plain water. Adding the Hawaiian punch flavoring or mixing in the sugar free juices made it "smoother". Doesn't really make sense but once I switch from plain water to that, I could drink a LOT. 

Anything warm.... Tea, Broth. I'm 16 weeks out and anything warm I drink goes down much easier.

My doc didn't give me an amount to drink.   He just said keep sipping and make sure you don't get dehydrated.  Try to get your urine clear.   The more concentrated or yellow the more fluid you need.  I agree with the warm drinks, especially because it's cold her.   Warm broth gets down pretty easily.  Warm decaf or herbal teas, diet Jello.     I wasn't allowed protein shakes until week two.   Good luck

Honestly even 40 isn't enough, but it's a decent goal starting out. 16 will land you in the hospital for dehydration pretty quickly. Even a swallow every couple minutes will help. It will take a while for some people to be able to drink at a more "normal" pace - I can easily get 72oz of water in during a day now, but I really struggled to hit 40 oz for the first 6 months or so (and paid for it with multiple clinic visits for double IV bags of fluids and electrolytes).