After surgery how muck liquid does upper intestine take in??

While the final absorption of water that produces solid stool occurs in the large intestine, a lot of fluid is normally absorbed in the small intestine. The link below says 80%, and it occurs by osmosis.

http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/digestion/smallgut/absorb_water.html

It is possible there is some adaption after surgery to increase this amount. But, I did not find any study of adaptive absorption.

But I would imagine that to compensate for a loss of 20% of water absorption, you might start with 125% of usual fluid intake. (i.e., .8*1.25=1).

However osmosis is sensitive to the context of dissolved minerals on each side of the osmotic barrier. Water will move from the side with lower concentration of minerals to the side with higher concentration in an so as to balance the concentrations on both sides. So any dietary changes post surgery - especially in salts - can trap water in the intestine and lower absorption.

While there can be too much water so as to flush too many minerals out of the system, I think it would not hurt to take in 200% instead of just 125% to insure sufficient hydration.

Does this make sense?

Your j-pouch will start absorbing water and acting like a colon but not nearly at the same level as a healthy colon. Keep drinking.

3timechamp said...
Yes. Pain is a great motivator Kidney Stone pain can make you unconscious-that’s pain. Water. Water and more Water

Yup I still drink like a fish, despite having a stone 23 years ago... some memories do not fade.

I've heard the 80/20 ratio for colon/small intestine too. My GI has mentioned in the past that our j-pouches will start to absorb more water as they age. "I think" that I remember him saying that some j-pouch cells under a microscope will start to look more like colon than small intestine as they develop.