Micro pouch or not...........

I have been trying to make up my mind if I want the micro pouch done. they say if you get it done, your pouch does not stretch but your stoma can { is that a bad thing?...}. Or if you dont have the micro pouch your pouch will eventually stretch and you will possibly need a revision in a few years. I will be getting my surgery date soon and I need to make up my mind. I would appreciate any input on this Tammy

Well I was 390 and went to like 225. Then I slowly gained up to 250-260 and can't lose again to save my life. I DO think my stoma has stretched, but I need an endoscopy to prove this. I am considering getting a lap band on my pouch to act as my stoma. I have had no complaints until now. Read my profile for the complete lowdown. Good luck.

I have been very successful with my rny done laproscopically almost 3 years ago now, losing about 125 lbs., about 20 from goal then. No problems, etc. But since then, I have gained about 30 lbs, then lost about 20 of that again, and on and on we go. So....in looking back and really thinking about this, I wish I would have had the micropouch. I think I would have lost to my goal and would have been able to stay there. Just my opinion. My health has been wonderful though and I have had no problems with food, throwing up, or any upset stomach whatsoever from eating. The first two years of course you had to be VERY careful with sugar, but I never had a problem with fats, etc. My best advice to anyone having ANY of the surgeries....DON'T TEST THE WATERS WITH SWEETS!!! Many of you have heard me say this hundreds of times. Don't try the sugar or candy to "see" how much you can tolerate, because before long, you grow accustomed to it again....not completely, but enough to snack your way up in pounds. So just be careful, no matter what you do. Change you lifestyle and stick to it. It's so easy the first few years and if you don't let yourself try things like that, you won't miss them and be much better off. Best of luck to you! Theresa

Thank you theresa and paula for your advice, I do agree this is a new way of life I guess you could say its a second chance and its up to you to do the best with what you have to work with. I have been reading alot of profiles and I read the boards almost daily and I hear good and bad things about the micropouch, but I guess in the long run what ever size it is its what you put in it that matters.

Hi Tammy; I had my micropouch with Dr Wood on June of 2003. I weighed nearly 300 lbs. I lost 143 lbs which was half of me. I have NEVER regreted having my micropouch. I don't over eat. I try to eat slowly so that I know when I am full and don't over eat. I have to be honest and say I have overeaten and it HURTS like heck. A micropouch is different from your regular size pouch. It is smaller. Some of us can't eat things other people can. I can't eat anything with grease. Comes right back up. If I eat to much sugar I either am praying really hard that god comes and takes me or it goes through my system FAST. You will get to know what you can and can't have but that will be the result of any pouch. You have to remember that no matter what you do, it is a tool and not a miracle solution. You still have to have discipline. I still LOVE to eat I just can't eat the amounts I use to . I also can't eat certain foods anymore but thats ok. You get use to it. My aunts told me once that she wished she could eat a small amount like me and I told her that if I could have done that without the surgery, I would not have needed it. Just do ALOT of research and good luck is your quest!!

Ultimately only you can make the call. I had the micro pouch 3 1/2 months ago and have lost 50 lbs thus far. I feel good and am glad I had the micro. Two of the ladies I work with also had the micro (which is how I heard about it.) Both are doing well, 3 & 6 years out respectively. And I agree about doing the research. Something like 30 % of the regular RNY's need revision due to stretching. But then too, how much weight do you have to lose? Discuss it with your surgeon. He will be able to give you the pros and cons of each for your specific situation. Hope that helps! Email me if you have more questions.