Abstract
Patients are encouraged to drink 6 or more cups of fluid per day to prevent dehydration. Bariatric surgery patients find this challenging because of the small size of the stomach pouch. Some general guidelines to obtain adequate fluid are as follows:
All fluids are not equal. Choose liquid beverages that are sugar free, 10 calories or less per serving, noncarbonated, and high in protein. Gas bubbles from carbonated beverages may cause the pouch to stretch. Drink slowly. Sip on beverages throughout the day. Avoid using straws, as it may cause swallowing of air. Do not eat and drink at the same time. Patient should wait at least 30 minutes after a meal before sipping on fluids. Eating and drinking at the same time can cause overfilling and possible stretching of the stomach pouch. Caffeine should be avoided until the patient is able to drink 64 ounces of noncaffeinated fluid a day. Stick with 16 ounces of caffeine or less thereafter. Vitamins should never be taken with caffeine beverages.