Question:
Am I harming myself by drinking water too fast?

I was lap banded on April 29, 2008 and prior to that, I was always able to chug a 24 oz bottle of water without hesitation. Then with surgery, I obviously was only able to drink small sips and have slowly increased the amount. But now, I'm able to chug a 10 oz. glass of water with no problem. It doesn't hurt to do it. Could I be harming myself by doing this?    — Monte57 (posted on July 10, 2008)

July 10, 2008
You are most likely not damaging your pouch by drinking water too fast. If you have a lot of restrictioin, your stoma won't allow it. However, I don't recommend "chugging" your liquids... I drink distilled water from the moment my feet hit the floor in the morning until the time I go to bed at night and get in about a gallon/day. When I am exercising, I get hot and have the desire to chug, I just don't to be on the safe side... I'd rather not take chances. Congrats on your surgery and welcome to the loser's bench, Dawn
   — DawnVic

July 10, 2008
It could dilate your pouch and just because you can doesn't mean you should.....it is this time after surgery that you should be learning good band habits....like tiny bites ...chewing your food to mush....not drinking with meals....keeping your food intake at each meal 1/2 to 1 cup only....eating protein first...making sure you are getting 65 grams a day of protein.......if you don't start practicing those things now when you get really good restriction then it will be harder for you to eat with out PBing ( your food coming back up in the form of slime) Pam / Ft Worth Bandster Bites [email protected]
   — pphillips4720aol.com

July 10, 2008
I wasn't able to chug (guzzle) for quite some time after surgery (3/18/08). I can now. I'm not the only one who does chugs either. No one has been hurt by it and I even questioned the staff if that was a problem and they said no. I get to working out and I just drink until I'm satisfied. Of course you don't want to drink until you feel pain either. But you should be able to feel when you shouldn't drink any more. Always talk with your surgeon's office on any question you have. That's what they are there for; to help you learn how to use the band. We can only tell you what we do and everyone is different. It's great you're getting your liquids in. It took me a a little while longer.
   — jct001

July 11, 2008
I just really don't understand? *WHY* are you trying to push the envelope? You certainly have no valid reason to do something like this that has a high potential of doing harm to yourself. Like Nancy Reagan says, "Just don't do it!"
   — [Deactivated Member]

July 11, 2008
Perhaps you discovered that you can gulp. I know that for the first 2 1/2 years I never even tried to gulp, but when I did, I discovered that I could and went immediately to the doctor to make sure I didn't "break" anything. I showed the doc how I could gulp and he said compared to the sips I was taking, yes, that was a gulp. He reassured me that the water was not hurting me, nor did I "break" anything.
   — bariatricdivalatina

July 11, 2008
Remember water is great for banders. it will gro right through the band, could make you nauseated if you drink to fast, however, if you can "chug" maybe you want to talk with the Dr. about a fill to "tighten you up?. Your decision.
   — Ira Sansolo