Staying Hydrated
#201118 - 07/30/05 07:45 PM
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I'm IBS-D. I've read (in helpforibs.com, I think) that you shouldn't drink a lot of liquids while you are having a meal, if you are IBS-D, because it can make it difficult to keep things from getting water-logged and liquidy when it comes to "movements".
Am I incorrect in this?
I have read about not "guzzling", nothing too cold (though a cold drink is very nice after a hot day  ), and to "sip".
But if you are having "small meals" all day long, when does one find time to drink liquids in the scheduling of eating?
I mean it is beginning to feel like a never-ending cycle of being a "chemist", "injecting" all these foods and liquids into your system in a certain balanced and proportioned way so that things don't EXPLODE!!!  in your system.
Basically, how do I stay hydrated, how do I drink enough water, without interrupting my IBS-D chemistry?
thanks.
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That's exactly how I feel at times....I wish I could help you with an answer, but I too am at a loss.....Alyson
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Everything in life happens for a reason, patience will eventually tell us what that is......
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Ugh, I totally struggled with this too for a really long time - drinking water when it's uncomfortable to drink until about 1 hour after eating, and you eat every 2 hours! ...but now I do manage to get around 3-4L of water a day. Basically I guess I just progressively tried to drink a little more each day (slowly, not all at once).
Some other things I do...
Without chugging, I also drink as much as I comfortably can about 30 mins-1 hr before I know I'm going to be eating a meal. I guess that only makes sense - eat, 1 hr of digestion, 1 hr drinking water, eat again. I just have to make sure that I have water with my all the time so that 1 hour window doesn't go to waste! lol
I also drink a big portion of my water when I exercise, since I exercise about an hour each day, and I drink about 1L during that hour. I find that I can comfrotably drink a lot more water while I'm working out.
And my last tip - really hot tea. I know that probably doesn't sound too appetizing in this hot weather but I find that with hot tea I can drink a lot more. I try to keep a big pot (about 4 cups) warm and drink it throughout the morning, and then have another one in the evening (usually only about half a pot/2 cups). So, there's 1.5L right there, plus 1L during my workout, and the rest 'sipped' during the rest of the day as I work. I don't always get as much as that everyday - especially if my stomach is acting up or feeling a little gurgly, then I can't drink at all until it calms down.
Anyway... hope that helps a little!
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I think you outlined it beautifully. I compulsively drink water and am always thirsty (though this is med. induced to some degree). I'm trying hard not to dilute my gastric juices by drinking too much with meals. So, I've been following the pattern that you have basically outlined.
Of course, I drink way more fluid than you, but I think that's semi-pathological. However, now, I'm trying to follow my m.d.'s advice with the Gatorade think and adding tons of assorted salts, etc. It's challenging for me to drink something with liquid sugar listed as an ingredient, but I FEEL BETTER...and my tummy is better and I'm not falling over with excessive hydration/water intoxication/low blood pressure. So...I'll test it for awhile. There's less gurgling as well.
But, waiting half and hour after eating makes a huge difference before drinking something again. Brushing my teeth takes the edge off the urge to DRINK more water or whatever. IT's JUST SO HARD!!!
I'm experiencing less cramping, too...and this is a good thing; not just tummy spazzing, but muscle cramps in general. It will take time, I suspect...but it's working.
And that pot of tea is a huge tummy and psych. comfort. It's really relaxing! Especially with a big fat juicy book or a wonderful conversation.
Kate, IBS-D.
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I disagree with the "don't drink while you eat" line of thought. A book on the digestive tract I read years ago said that the first and most important thing to remember about the digestive process is that it is very wet, so the best thing you can do for it is to consume lots of liquid. I haven't found that drinking with meals or not makes any difference in how my tummy feels. All that matters is that I get enough fluid throughout the day.
BTW, I don't remember reading the "no fluids with meals" rule on the Website or in Heather's books, although I have seen it on the Boards. If anyone has a reference, I'd very much like to read what Heather says about this. Thanks.
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[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
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Agreed
#201192 - 07/31/05 11:39 AM
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atomic rose
Reged: 06/01/04
Posts: 7013
Loc: Maine (IBS-A stable since July '05!)
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I'm a D-predominant A, and I've tried it both ways, and I've never noticed a single bit of difference in my BM's whether I drink with meals or not. So I do. I literally ALWAYS have a drink in my hand or on my desk, from the time I wake up till the time I go to bed. In fact, I find I feel better D-wise for all that drinking than when I drank less.
I'd like to see the reference in Heather's books too. I know there's nothing to that effect on the site, unless I missed it somehow.
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They say that if you drink fluids whilst you eat you are "flooding" your system which depletes enzyme activity, making it harder for you to digest your food. You should drink 25 mins before you eat and about 3/4 of an hour after. The best way to stay hydrated is drink at least 2 litres a day (avoiding meal times) that way you won't need to drink when you are eating!
There's my two-penneths worth!!
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You exercise an hour a day every day? Good for you, healthy woman! I'm D and have always drank water with meals and it's never bothered me. Haven't heard of the diluting gastric juices or flooding stuff... so much water gets leached out and heads to your bladder anyway. I guess I tend to think that even though our bodies are a little bit broken with IBS, they in general know how to keep operating and though it's good to eat healthy, they don't need us to be biochemsists who balance every molecule. But then, I'm fairly stable, so... others experiences could be different.
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...limiting the amount of liquids you have during meals. You can read about it in her link about tips on how to eat here link . I think it's about the 8th one down. But I guess everyone has their own tolerance amount, just like everything else! 
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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Thanks, Beth, I missed that. I guess I've now officially become one of the people who doesn't follow Heather's advice to the letter. 
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[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
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And you remember a heck of lot more than I do about all the suggestions! You are one of the masters at finding her links!
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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Thanks to all for comments. It seems to me that this topic largely falls under the category (yet once again for me) of learning to live with this IBS thing in general, trying to find what works for me and what doesn't.
it is very frustrating sometimes, because i'm trying to keep a healthy nutritional intake but i'm so afraid (literally afraid) of putting something in me that will upset my system. and the way the "world" is scheduled these days...i have no "time" for this.
so i hold back on putting things into my body with such trepidation.
but hopefully with time it'll get "easier" and i'll be able to eat and drink without such fear. i'm so thin too...5'11' and 129 pounds.
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I don't know what the science is or anything, all I know is that if I drink during a meal I'll *immediately* feel bloated and yuck. So I don't - but that's something I've done for longer than I've been (officially) dx'd with IBS, so it's not really from reading anything anywhere, just from knowing it will make me feel like crap! lol
So I suppose, once again, everyone's different on that one!
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Do you bloat if you drink while snacking on dried cereal or other smaller foods or just if you drink during a "meal". How long before eating do you stop drinking, and how long after eating do you wait before drinking?
Do you have the same "rules" for drinks with snacks as you do with meals?
I never drink with meals, but never thought about the snacks. I usually drink freely while consuming my snacks. Maybe not good?  And I usually drink right up to eating and right after too. Maybe I'm sabotoging myself. It's just with all this constant eating/snacking, it's hard to get enough liquids in my body working it around the meals/snacks and not gulping it down to keep the timing safe.
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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Thanks, Beth. You're very kind.
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[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
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For me, anything more than a few bites of food + a drink = indigestion, cramps etc. So FOR ME, that goes for snacks too. But I mean, I feel this immediately. Drinking before a meal, provided I don't chug or anything, is usually just fine, even if I drink immediately before eating. However after a few bites, I can't usually drink anything for 30 minutes to an hour without getting really uncomfortable.
But I mean, like I said, that's just me. And also I know immediately if I drink something while I'm eating that I shouldn't have done that - it's going to cause me pain right then, not later on... so if you were just like me in this case Beth, you'd probably already know LIke I said, I don't know the science or anything so I don't know if it could affect you in the long run etc. even if it doesn't hurt right away 
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a lot of the time, it is just getting frustrating....because it seems like i can't do this whole thing of learning to adjust my diet and how i eat.
what is the point?
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I drink from the moment I wake up until I fall asleep and I too feel better, as a D, WITH LIQUID!!! I find, if I don't have liquid with my food, I get a tummy ache. Now, this doesn't necessarily have to be a HUGE amount, but fluid helps me digest my food!!! Maybe that's also why I love SOUPS/SMOOTHIES. If there's not enough fluid, I get a "charley horse" in my pipes or end up coughing/hacking the food up. There's nothing worse than dry guts. I do think that the fluid itself makes a difference. If you can't cook in it, then you shouldn't accompany it with eating. (Note, people do cook in teas of all kinds.)
Kate, IBS-D.
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The point is that Heather's diet really can make you feel better. I'd say focus on the basic food ideas - high SF; low fat; cautiously adding in IF, fat, safe protein - first. Don't worry about fluids yet except to make sure you're getting enough. Get the basic idea down, see how you're doing, then fine tune it if necessary.
You can break it down even further. Do the Break The Cycle diet - you've got your SF. Start an SFS a little bit at first and go up slowly. Make sure you're getting fluid. Start adding IF, fat, safe protein one little tiny bit at a time. After a couple of weeks you've got a pretty healthy diet.
I hope this helps.
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[Research tells us fourteen out of any ten individuals likes chocolate. - Sandra Boynton]
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for at least 30 to 60 minutes after you stop eating any amount of food?
Hmm, I may have to experiment with yet another aspect of my eating choices/procedure!
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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Wouldn't you feel ill if you didn't drink water to help digest your food? I have to drink water--doesn't it get lodged in your esophagus without some water???
Kate, IBS-D.
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LOL... honestly? No. I just really feel 100% better when I wait to drink. For me it seems like the water is actually interfering with my digestion if I drink while eating, and like I said I immediatel feel bloated. Guess I'm just weird on this one!
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