Pouch being stretched....

Hi everyone, last week my GI Dr. did a colonoscopy to see why I keep getting constipated. This morning he did an upper scope and had to dialate my throat so that I would be able to swallow easier.  But he also stretched my pouch.  Why would he do that?  Within three hours I had eaten 4 bites of a hamburger from the Jack-n-the box, a small box of pudding that I made at 7pm, a bowl of cereal.  All this was eaten within the 3 hours.  I am worried that I will be able to eat more and gain back some weight. My tummy keeps growling now.  I am going to ask Dr. Colquitt about this on Monday.  He's not in the office on Fridays.  Has anyone else had this done, getting their pouches stretched?  I was doing fine with my smaller pouch, 4 bites and I was full, now I don't feel full, just the opposite.  Thanks, night, love Kathy

That is really weird. You're right. Why would the doctor do that?  Are you sure he stretched your pouch, and maybe not just the opening?  When they dilated mine, the opening from my pouch to the intestine was too small.... food couldn't pass through.  But if he stretched your throat, why all the way down to your stomach?  Hmmmm.... I would be concerned.  Heck, I havent had that done and I still get worried that I eat too much... or worried that I might stretch it myself!!

Hi Mel, the office said he stretched the pouch.  Dr. Colquitt's office wants me to have the procedure notes faxed to him so he can understand why it had to be stretched and to make sure that there was no damage to the pouch.  Read what I wrote in the response to the following posts.  Thanks, love ya, Kathy

Just a thought but you might want to check your carbs because too much can also make you hungry.  The procedure may have irritated your pouch and those sensations are being interpreted by the body as hunger.  Try doing soft foods and liquids for a day or two and see if that helps. Keeping in mind that I know absolutely nothing about what I'm talking about, I think the stomach/pouch/etc is muscle and one big stretch isn't going to enlarge it permanently.  It take stretching over a period of time to do that.   Scar tissue is a different matter.   The doctor may have stretched the outlet of your pouch so he could view your colon with the instrument but I'd be very surprised if he stretched your whole pouch or need to. I'd be interested in what Dr. Colquitt has to say.

Is this Mary?  You had your surgery the day after I did.  I called my GI's office and they said he stretched the pouch.  He did a complete colonoscopy just last week,  but he dialated my throat and stretched the pouch some plus the opening into the pouch so that food would be able to pass on into my pouch.  Mary at Dr. Colquitt's said that is normal in my situation.  But as long as he didn't damage the pouch in any way then it would be alright.  I'm to have the reports sent from my GI Dr. here in Nashville fax them to Dr. Colquitt.  I'll know more after he has read the report.  Carbs don't make me hungry.  I've never had a problem with my carbs.  Because of the chemo, I need to keep my weight from dropping more.  I'm already past my goal of 130 in January, I'm holding at 120.  Without the carbs, I would be losing more. As it is I have very little meat on my bones, mostly just skin like on my butt bones. I am a skelaton of flesh and bones.  They are trying to get some weight back onto me, hence the carbs.  I don't use splenda as processed sugar has never bothered me, and my diabeties stay in the normal range everytime. I can even handle some carbonated drinks. As long as there is a lot of ice to help water it down some.   The last time I weighed 120 lbs was in 1978 when I was pregnant with my 2nd son. I have breasts, a butt, and hour glass figure.  I wore sizes 12-14. I am wearing size 4-6 now.  When I stand side ways, I am like an ironing board, totally straight.   So how have you done?  Did you reach your goal yet?  I had to see Dr. Colquitt in April so I don't have to see him in July for the 18 months, just in January from here on out.  Already had my tummy tuck done in April at the VA medical center.    Need to run, have to get to Walmarts before it gets much later.  Take care and thanks.  Kathy

I'm sorry.  I wasn't specific enough. I meant I didn't think the stretch would be permanent. I've done really well.  With the exception of a few times when I was an early patient, I've had no trouble at all.  I don't do sugar or other high glycemic carbs and no carbonated beverages.  I pretty much still follow all the rules.  Doing it my way made me fat.  When I do rebel, I eat my salad before my protein.   Still have my curves, just not where I left them.  But that's okay.  Elastic is a wonder invention.  My only regret is for clogging up the landfill with cotton granny panties 'cause I've sure sent a bunch their way!

The only problems I had wasn't from the surgery, my chemo pill that I had to take was eating up my potassium.  I spent more time in and out of the hospital for the first 5 months because it kept dropping, I couldn't keep anything down when it was low. Every week I had to go to the cancer center in Morristown have my potassium blood work done.  I would get 1-2 bags plus saline, and some pheneragan because the potassium would me me very queasy.  Two days later I would bottom out and have to go to the ER.  I ran across an article about my chemo pills that it has been known to eat up the potassium. My body was rejecting the chemo it.  I started a new chemo drug in October and have had no side effects except if I don't eat foods high in carbs to keep my weight stable, I continue to loose it. I still have a hard time getting in my protein as the leukemia causes a lot of my nutrients to exit thru my kidneys.  But I just try and eat more protein.  Even if that's all I can get into my system.  I'm going to check a couple of places online to see if I can get my protein in pill form or chewable forms since the powder affects my stomach and I just pee it out. I often wondered how you were doing. Glad to see you back on the board.  Need to go, been on the go all day in KY at Cave City Guntown Mountain.  I am wiped out. Kathy