What is an enlarged Stoma??

Hey All, I posted this to the main message board and got nowhere. Does anyone know that an enlarged stoma is and how do you know if you have it? Does this mean that you can eat more? The reason that I ask is that I was able to eat about 3/4 of a can of Del Monte Carb Clever Fruit ****tail made with Splenda in about 40 minutes. Help!!! Cathy -37

Hi Cathy!! I had never heard of it, but did a search on here and I found a post that kind of talks about it. Here is the link, and let us know how you are. I have a friend who had the surgery 5 days after me, and she said the other day she had chili and she ate a little over a cup of that.....Is that one of the symptoms or something?? http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/messageboard/postdetail/619507.html?vc=0#619595

Cathy, Your weight loss seems to be on target - so that is a good sign. An enlarged stoma can mean that you empty fairly quickly or the food runs through you very quickly. You may never feel full.... and be able to eat almost continuously.... have you puked from overeating??? chances are, if you have, then you might not have enlarged stoma. Are you on any medications to help your pouch empty?? Some docs use them routinely... my doc just put me on one and boy, I gotta tell you it makes quite a difference in how I feel and what I can eat. You said you ate about 3/4 can (what size can?)... does this include the liquid the fruit is in??? If there is fluid included then this can also cause premature emptying of the pouch so that you never quite feel full and can consume larger quantitites of food. Hence, the "no drinking" while eating rule. B

WOW!! Thanks for the good information there!! I have never puked from eating anything, but I do get dumping if I eat something that doesn't agree, or if I eat one bite too much. I just get VERY HOT and also get tired and sick to my stomach. I can't eat much at one time at all though.....I think this stoma thing would be awful!! I don't drink when I eat either...Can this just come on or what?

Hey Cathy, My hubby has an enlarged stoma after 6 years postop of an rny. I have a lapband. He is ablt to eat more, however does not suffer from the not being able to get full thing. This is one of the hazzards of an rny over 5 years. It is usually diagnosed with an upper GI swallow. There really isn't many other ways to verify that problem, except for using large curd cottage cheese to tell how much your pouch can hold. It sounds to me like you may just been able to slide the fruit through, since it is liquidy. You are a newbie somewhat so I wouldn't be too worried for now. 3 years down the line, yes. But, not 3 months. OTH, Terri