Stomach vs. pouch question

Ok - so you get a stomach virus...as they say "it's going around", you get diarrhea, you , you say, "my stomach hurts", "I have pain in my stomach"....you know - all the things you said prior to surgery. So my question is - is it your old stomach where the virus lands or is it your pouch? There is a stomach virus going around work and this got me to thinking. Any ideas? (what a topic for today!) Barbara

GOOD QUESTION!! If you are vomitting food wouldn't that be that the virus was in your new stomach? Everybody had that virus around here as well and I didn't get it thank goodness.

tell them you cant get a stomach virus because you only have a "pouch" now! very good question Barbara, not sure of the answer, but wanted to say anyway

could it even get to your old stomach..is it even attached anymore...I mean nothing passes through it?? Good question! Mimi

I do know the old stomach works - bile and stuff go through it and it is still connected to other things - at least that is what they told me! I just don't know which stomach gets the virus...what if they both do?!!!! Would you be doubly sick???

I think I remember being told by the nurse in my dr office that GBP tend not to get the stomach flu because a virus tends not to stay in the stomach long enuff to make you sick she had the surgry 2 years ago and has not had the stomach flu when everyone else around her has... I dont know if it ture.... but I pray it is Jeani

I'm going to take a stab at this one.. It seems to me that a virus resides in your blood, not in any particular organ (i.e. stomach) .. Once you have a virus, it can cause certain symptoms.. like nausea, vomiting, achy muscles, headache, etc.. If you're nauseated, it may create the illusion that the virus is 'in' your stomach (or pouch, or whatever..) ..however, I think the virus is really in your blood stream. I'm not a Doctor.. (but, I could play one on TV.. ) so, this is my best guess.

Dr. Barry, It makes sense to me! It sounds as though you were trained at the St. Elsewhere hospital. It is a great question. I do know that (knock on wood) I have not been sick, not even a cold, since surgery. I used to get every cold and virus that came down the pike. I hope that losing weight has halted that drama for good! - Stephanie

Interesting question Barbara. I don't have a pouch though. I have a stomach. Mine was made smaller and the larger portion was removed, not stapled off. Still have my pylorus valve and all. Guess I can still say stomach flu...but then I think you can too