Stressed about fluid intake.

I am 5 days post-op and my recovery has been really good but I'm struggling to get my fluids in. I would say I get between 24-32 oz in during the day and I know this isn't enough. I have to take such small sips or I get a tightness in my chest that is quite uncomfortable so it takes me a very long time to get anything down. I also switch between warm and cold liquids and I seem to tolerate them the same. I have been monitoring the colour of my urine (sorry, TMI) and it is pale yellow so I don't think I'm dehydrated (plus I feel quite good), but I'm worried that I will become dehydrated if I don't start taking in more. Do I need to be worried? Can anyone offer any advice? Thanks!!

I took a small sip every ten minutes and kep****er next to me day and night.  Dehydration happens quickly.  Make sure you get up to 64 ounces a day.  Your stomach is swollen and that will go down.  It gets easier every day.

Thank you, White Dove, I'll try that. I might need to set a timer because I seem to forget to sip.

I couldn't handle water for the first couple weeks. The doctor told me to get light apple juice and dilute it a little. Something about it allowed me to drink with no issues. The doctor did say to only drink it for a week or two just because it is so much sugar. But it helped greatly. I was finally able to start drinking water, but it had to be super cold. Good luck with finding what works for you.

Thanks for the tip!

Tiny sips are just fine. Just take a whole lot of them during the day (and in the night if you have to). Kairk wrote that he filled a shot glass (about 2 ounces) with water and sipped it down. He did this every 15 minutes throughout the day. Tiny sips taken almost constantly will add up to 64 ounces by the end of the day. And it will get easier to take bigger sips as your stomach heals. Don't let yourself become dehydrated! 

psychoticparrot

The shot glass tip is a great idea, thanks for sharing!

I'm finding warm liquids are going down easier than cold and when I drink water it needs to have some liquid enhancer in it now.. plain water tastes metallic. The first few days I broke down what I needed to drink by the hour (much like Kairk explained) 4-6 oz every hour. 

I've been sipping some herbal tea and it feels quite nice going down so I'm going to keep on doing that. I have to use crystal light in my water too because plain water doesn't taste great right now. I hadn't thought about breaking down my water intake by the hour but that's a really good way to keep track, thanks!

You aren't dehydrated yet because they pumped a lot of fluid in at the hospital. But it will catch up to you. If they have to put an IV in, it goes in a drop at a time. So, a drop at a time in your mouth, or through a needle?