Question:
I am 10 days post op and having difficulty scheduling food and water..

I am in the soft food portion of my post op diet and find I am really struggling with managing getting water in and doing the food thing. It seems my swallows of water are far too big for my pouch (cramping quickly after) and food is just as hard. I feeling like Im eating too much or wondering, how the heck am I getting enough nutrition in 1 oz of cottage cheeze? Im not having difficulty with vomiting anything I have eaten yet (well except for a taste of a chocolate cake--won't do that again.) I have had scrambled egg--which I use about half the yolk and all the white, cottage cheese with a touch of applesause, sugar free pudding to which I added protein powder and mashed potatos. I bought a little 1oz bowl and measure everything out carefully--I can easily eat the full ounce, tho my pouch complains later, feeling like it is cramping. I wake up so thirsty in the morning--and that ounce of water doesn't really quench me. Prior to surgery, I easily got in my 8/8oz glasses of water in--always. I really like water and now I feel like Im drinking with a baby bottle. What is the experience of others? How can I better schedule food and water so I feel like Im getting what I need. Any suggestions? Thank you all very much.    — MrsBacchus (posted on August 18, 2001)

August 18, 2001
Hi, I had and still do have that problem to some degree, although it has gotten easier. I think if you can remember to eatabout 15 min after finishing 8 oz of water and do that 5 times a day you should be fine. Remember to wait at least 1 hour after eating to drink tho. This seems to be working for me since I get at least 40oz of water and 5 oz of food a day. I feel like I have to always either be eating or drinking and I guess that's normal. It's SO hard not to gulp my water, I love water too but when you are sipping it like we have to it takes forever and gets old after about 4 oz is gone. Good luck!
   — Jenee B.