Hydration is important for everybody, but it becomes even more so after bariatric surgery. How much water you drink affects your recovery and healing. It’s also essential to flush waste products from the body. Drinking water may not sound like much of a challenge, but dehydration is the number one cause of rehospitalization after bariatric surgery.
Your stomach will be much smaller following your procedure and can only handle so many ounces of liquid at a time. You also need to separate drinking fluids from when you eat. You will fill up much faster, and drinking water while eating can make you feel artificially full. It can also cause the stomach to empty food quickly, which can cause bloating, gas, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and more. It’s best to give yourself at least half an hour before and after eating to drink any fluids.
Bariatric-Friendly Water Bottles
Bariatric patients also need to pay attention to how they drink water. Guzzling water isn’t an option because it will fill your new stomach too quickly and cause significant discomfort. Carrying a water bottle can help you drink the recommended 64 ounces of water a day, but not all water bottles are suitable for bariatric patients. Finding the best water bottles after bariatric surgery can be confusing due to the oversaturated market. The list below includes several bariatric-friendly water bottles to help you meet your hydration needs.
- H2Opal. The H2Opal is a smart water bottle that can sync to smartphones, Fitbits, and Apple watches. It can send you reminders to drink your water and track your hydration goals.
- Hidrate Spark 3. The Hidrate Spark 3 is another high-tech water bottle option. It pairs with your smartphone, and you can set your water goals within the app. It also glows throughout the day as a visual reminder to drink your water.
- Bariatric Pal Shaker Bottle. The Bariatric Pal is a great option for drinking water and meeting your protein goals. It includes a whisk ball to eliminate clumpy protein drinks and can hold 21 ounces of water to meet your hydration needs.
- Cacktaki. Cacktaki makes it easy to know exactly how much water you drink throughout the day. It features convenient markings that denote how many ounces are left as well as recommendations for how much water to consume by specific hours of the day. It holds 32 ounces of fluids, meaning you only need to fill it twice to drink the recommended 64 ounces.
- Simple Modern. The Simple Modern water bottle may not be high-tech, but it has several appealing features. It holds 32 ounces of water and fits in most standard cupholders. It’s stainless steel, meaning it won’t break if you drop it, as many plastic or glass water bottles do. It’s also insulated to keep your beverage at your preferred temperature and double-walled to prevent the bottle from building up condensation (sweating).
- Ulla Hydration Reminder. Ulla isn’t technically a water bottle, but it is a great tool to remind you to drink. It fits over almost all water bottle shapes and sizes and monitors how often you take a drink. If an hour passes without a sip, it will blink to remind you to hydrate.
Even with the best water bottle after bariatric surgery, you need to remain vigilant against dehydration. Some common dehydration signs include dark-colored urine, urinating less frequently, feeling thirsty, feeling lightheaded, and headaches. Contact us to learn more about your nutritional needs after bariatric surgery.
