Englarged Stoma

Hello, I am new to this board. I had my surgery on 5-24-04. I am wondering if my Stoma has become enlarged. I am able to swallow any size of anything, I feel hungry most of the time. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!! I don't know much about the reasons why a Stoma can become enlarged.

Wow. I would love to have this question answered. I am able to swallow anything too, any size. I am worried that I have stretched something. I never feel hunger. But, I do eat often. Usually at work, probably from bordom.

The stoma is made from a very stretchy bit of material - the intestine (think of whale intestines, they are used for tents, drums, etc. because they are sooo stretchy). Some docs are preventing this from occuring by putting a ring on the stoma...and some docs are repairing a stretched stoma the same way. Some are using a new method of scarring to fix this. A scope can determine if your stoma has stretched. I heard of one case where a woman had developed a large pouch in her intestine....the food went straight through the pouch (stomach) into her intestine into the new large intestinal pouch, allowing her to eat a LOT of food. Some people find they can eat a lot of some foods, but only limited amounts of denser foods. Can you eat large amounts (exceeding 5 or 6 ounces) of beef or chicken - not ground?

So are you saying that I'm basing my ablility to eat too much on the wrong criteria? Example. I am/was following a food plan laid out for sugar and flour addicts (the main reason for my bingeing and wt gain) and here's what I would eat for lunch: 3oz protein 1 c cooked or raw veg 1 c salad veg (raw) 1/2 c starch 2 T salad dressing 1 serving (usually 1/2 cup) fruit. Sometimes this would be just right, sometimes I was gagging on all the veggies. Dinner is kind of the same, but no fruit. Again sometimes it was fine but sometimes I felt so barfy because of the veggies or quantity maybe? I panic and cry because I can eat so much after putting my body through the surgery. I figure my pouch is huge and I just suck. LOL what a self image?! Oh by the way Dame Tooter, where is your forum or ? Someone recommended I go see it...

I would have to ask how long you take to eat that size of a meal AND you mention gagging or feeling barfy - a good sign you might be over-filling your pouch. Cheer up hun...you don't 'suck' lol. Have you discussed your feelings/this problem with your surgeon? oh my website it www.bariatricbytes.com HTH, Toots

I haven't talked to a surgeon who deals with this since 2000. I've asked my doctors once I got established here, but they all had no clue and gave me more info to confuse the crap out of me. When I did talk to my surg about feeling hungry a lot he gave me pills that were horrible-made me dizzy and nauseous. I've decided I need to do whatever it is that helps ME not be hungry and eat healthy. I'm keeping a journal now so in a couple weeks I can asses my intake and see what helps me feel full longer. I've been trying to fit myself into so many other peoples plans or menus or habits that I haven't taken the time to really figure out what works best for ME. Amazing I can work all of this out in an afternoon.... Your story was great by the way... thanks for sharing ...

Hi Terry, It does to me sound like your stoma maybe enlarged. I also had that problem and mine happened very early after my original surgery. It was about 4-6 weeks after my rny that I noticed I could eat way more than most. My surgeons office didn't want to believe me and I finally got a scope done about 5 months after my surgery and sure enough my stoma outlet was huge. I just recently had it repaired in Boston at Brigham's Womens Hospital by Dr. Christopher Thompson. He goes down your throat with a scope and a suturing device and sews it to the correct size. It is done as an outpatient. I did have some internal bleeding that had to be monitored but it resolved on its own. I am on liquids for 2 weeks and then pureed food for another 2. It will be nice to try real food soon. All the doctors I spoke with do not know specifically what causes the stoma to enlarge. Good luck with resolving your problem. Debbie