Have I stretched my pouch? Is this normal??

Hey guys.. So im almost a year and 6 months post sleeve surgery. Im addicted to weighing myself. My usual weight is around 180 give or take a few pounds. When I went to the doctor in mid july they told me that I weighed 193. On that day I was feeling extremley bloated and uncomfortable in my lower abdominal region. I depend on laxatives to use the restroom because im not able to go on a regular basis alone.  Once I take a laxative I immidiately lose a few pounds (only to gain it back in a few days). Lately after I eat my stomach gets very bloated almost as if im pregnant. Ive had extra skin in the tummy region since the birth of my daughter in 2009, this is a big part of why I chose to get sleeved. My food and liquids sometimes sit in my esophagus. Also I layed down for a nap and woke up choking, because liquid drained up my esophagus and into my windpipe. I can also vomit without sticking my finger down my throat. Are these things normal?? At one point in time a few months back i was seeing progress, but now when I compare my pics I am obviously gaining weight back. My clothes are starting not to fit as well. My question is how can my weight flucuate like this constantly within a matter of days or weeks? I have never had problems like these before surgery! My doctor ordered an H pylori breath test for me and she wants me to see a gi specialist. She believes that these are adverse reactions from my surgery. Has anyone experienced this?? Also I work at nights, and since im up I find myself snacking throughout the night. Liquids do not satisfy me anymore. They run straight through me, and I dont know why I am constantly hungry. My appetite is huge. Im a mess guys..

Everything you just described is exactly what I experienced. I am 4.5 years out, and this last December had a reoccurance of a hiatel hernia repaired. Prior to the repair my appetite/calories skyrocketed and I gained some. Bloating, vomiting, reflux, and that crazy weight variation was also part of it. I also during this same period had my gallbladder give out, and that was removed at the same time as the hernia repair so I cannot differentiate which issue (gallbladder v. hernia) caused which symptom. It was a gastro doc that finally diagnosed everything, and the first step of that process was being scoped for an ulcer. Then the next test was an ultrasound checking the gallbladder (had stones). Then I had a quirky palpatation and he ordered a CT (I have a history of cancer so they check every little thing). The CT found that most of my stomach was up in the chest area. My surgeon thought it was a misdiagnosis, ordered an upper GI. Upper GI confirmed. Anyway, it took some time for the hernia repair to heal, but now I use a PPI only here and there compared to strong doses twice daily. Hunger is back in check, and I took off the regain without issue... although that was by defaut due to the gallbladder forcing me on a liquid diet and struggling to keep food down between that and the hernia. All better now. Go see the doc.

Has your gall bladder been removed?

Yes- this past December. Still adjusting- ugh.

I have gallstones and am pretty sure that I am going to have to have my gallbladder removed.  My surgeon says that gallstones and weight loss surgery are not a good mixture.

Absolutely. Most people after several months do not have any residual problem digesting fat. I am falling into the 10% minority and need to take medicine a few times a week to bind to the bile. Even with that though I feel so much better like this than with the malfunctioning gallbladder. I had a ton of stones though. Not sure what the criteria is for triggering removal, but it seems that if you have stones along with our risk factor or crazy weight loss that would do it. I hope you feel better. Having the gallbladder out was a very easy recovery- the hernia was much worse, and that wasn't bad.

I was having terrible chest pain that they thought was gallbladder or an ulcer.  After open heart surgery, there is no more pain.  I see my weight loss surgeon in October so will see if he still wants to remove it.

Your sleeve can probably hold about the amount of food that would fit into an egg.  A new sleeve is much, much smaller and the sleeve grows to mature size by about one year out.

If you eat more than your sleeve can hold then it will overflow into the esophagus.  This was/is a common problem with the lapband and people eventually stretch the esophagus until there is a new pouch about the band.  When you had weight loss surgery you lost the big stomach that could hold a lot of food.  When you overeat now, the sleeve needs a place to store the extra food until the pyloric valve opens and releases it.  This does not happen with RNY because the RNY pouch is open at the bottom and excess flows right out into the intestines.

First it can fill up the esophagus, then it will flow out into the intestines.  You have at least 30 feet of intestines and you can store a lot of stool in there.  A daily laxative might be needed.  I personally don't take laxatives, but take 500 mg magnesium. 

Weight gain is simply a matter of eating more calories than your body is burning.  Snacking all night is a tough habit to break.  Planning regular meals with no snacks in between will help.  I personally go with six very small meals a day.  I worked midnight shift for years and still get up at 3:00 for a small meal even though I am now retired.

My meals are four meals of 200 calories each and two "big" meals of 300 calories each.  When you get your calories back under control you will stop gaining weight and begin to lose the regain.  Having regular bowel movements will help.

Interesting. I am pretty early out with RNY (12 weeks)... and I have food come up all the time if I eat too much and something gets stuck. I guess if it's stuck there's no where for it to go but up. I talked to my doctor about having acid reflux, and he said it's not acid, it's the food/fluids I've eaten and to cut back, eat slower, etc.

I agree with your doctor, at twelve weeks you do have to eat very slowly.