Can you shrink your pouch?

Hi I gained about 60lbs back since having gastric bypass surgery, is there anything I can do to get back on track or shrink my pouch,  I thought I heard somewhere that you can shrink it but it would never be a small as it was after surgery. Thanks, Jenn

Hi Jenn, I am in the same boat (50#).  I was just going to post a similar question.. "Has anyone SUCCESSFULLY lost a significant amout of weight after gaining ?(40#+) If so, please share what you did.. or didn't do.  I'm having a VERY difficult time with it.  I saw my surgeon this morning and cried my eyes out.  I am not ready to stay a fat person.   Jenn, maybe we can get some 'real' person reality check :-) Thanks all. T

http://www.obesityhelp.com/ohblog/mode,content/cmsID,10601/ Hi I thought you might find this helpful. I know My surgeon (Dr. Garber in NY) is offering this. hugs, Britt

Hi Britt, I've been  looking into this and will probably pursue it.  I did tell my orig surgeon about it today and  he said he'd support me, but there was no proof that it actually worked.  Do you know of anyplace that I could search for statistics on it?  It's very new so it might be too early.  I'm not so sure I can wait 6 mos! btw.. u look gorgeous... good for you :-)

Thanks Tina - Look on the revisions board. I know a girl there had it done and was thrilled so far.  hugd, Britt  the nice thing is its done endoscopically -

HI MY WLS DR. SAID JUST LAST MONTH SAID THAT IT IS STILL THE STOMACH MUSCLE AND SHE BEL. THAT IT WILL SHRINK *THERE IS NO PROVEN FACT THAT IT CAN, BUT SHE SAID WITH HER EXPERIENCE IT WILL.. ((TO BE HONEST I WENT IN HOPING FOR A REVISION))NOW I AM GLAD SHE SAID NO..  IT GOT ME BACK TO REALITY, AND BEING HONEST WITH MY EATING,,    GIVEN THAT, AND THE FACT THAT ALL MY TESTS UPPER GI, ETC. SHOWED MINE IS STILL AT A GOOD SIZE 4X2.5 AFTER 4YEARS AND A 20LB WEIGHT GAIN. I STARTED A T/O (JUST MEANING ONLY PROTEIN, NO CARBS) THIS IS MY 3RD WEEK DOWN 11 LBS I WALK 3-4X WEEK 2+ MILES NOTHING TO MUCH, DRINK PROTEIN DRINKS 3X DAY AND EAT 2-3 OZ LEAN PROT. EITHER MEAT OR CHEESE 1-2X A DAY AND CUT THE CARBS, BREAD, CHEEZE IT'S, ETC.. AND I KNOW MY POUCH SHRUNK, OHH AND I STOPED DRINKING WITH MY MEALS, I NOW GET SO FULL EVEN ON THE SHAKE, I ALSO NOW FEEL YUCKY AND TIERED WHEN I DO EAT CARBS (OTHER MORNING I ATE 2PCS. TOAST AND HASH BROWNS, NO PROTEIN I WAS SO FULL, SICK AND TIERED HAD TO GO REST FOR 1 HR, ) WONT DO THAT AGAIN, BUT IT WAS GOOD FOOD WHILE I ATE IT,,, SO FOR ME IT IS WORKING, I DONT COMPLETLY DEPRIVE MYSELF, BUT SURE DO FEEL THE EFFECTS OF MY EATING NOW.. SO THE WL IS UP TO ME NOW AND I AM TRYING TO JUST GO BACK TO THE BASICS AND IT SURE HAS HELPED ME,,, HOPE THIS HELPS YOU OUT. 

Thanks HWQueen, Can you tell me what a 'time-out" plan is? I've never heard of it.

And that's great that you have taken that first step to get back on track.  Good luck!

 

T

HI TINA01, IF YOU GO BACK AROUND 6-8 PAGES YOULL FIND IT, IT WAS POSTED BY PATTY B. HER DR. PUT HER ON A T/O PROGRAM AND SHE STATES SHE HAS 3- 90 CAL PROT. DRINKS FOR I THINK 2 WEEKS THEN GOES TO 2 DRINKS AND 1 SALAD A DAY.  I TRIED IT FOR 2 DAYS, GOT EXTREEM CONSTIPATION, WAS NOT FEELING TO GREAT AND 270CAL A DAY SEEMED TO LOW FOR ME. (PATTY HAS HAD GREAT SUCCESS AT THIS, SO I RECOMEND FINDING HER POST ON THE T/O), SO I DECIDED TO MODIFY IT FOR MY BODY, SO I DO 3 DRINKS MINE ARE PURE PROTEIN READY MADE GET THEM AT TRADER JOE.S AND ARE 100 CAL. AND I ADD LEAN MEAT EITHER CHICKEN OR GROUND TURKEY, AND THAT IS PRETTY MUCH ALL I EAT. I ALLOW MYSELF 1 DAY A WEEK TO EAT OTHER THINGS AS DESIRED. (NOT ALOT, ITS AMAZING HOW FULL I GET, PLUS I DONT WANT TO SABOTAGE MY LOSS)     AND THAT IS IT, PLUS AROUND 5 OF US POST EVERY DAY OR 2 AS "SUGAR BUSTER BUDDIES" POSTING OUR WL, STRUGGLES AND ENCOURAGMENT.. SO GET ON BOARD, START TOMMORROW, I DID ON A FRIDAY AND SAT AND SUN KILLED ME, BUT GOT THROUGH IT AND NOW FOLLOWING IT IS NOT TO DIFFICULT AT ALL,, PS.. I ALSO HAVE A GREAT HUBBY, AND 2 LITTLE BOYS THAT I COOK FOR SO FOR 1ST 2 DAYS, SAD TO SAY I SENT THEM FOR FAST FOOD, BUT BY 3RD DAY I WAS COOKING BACK TO NORMAL AND FELT NO NEED TO EAT WHAT THEY DID, I JUST DRANK MY SHAKE WHILE I WAS COOKING AS A REMINDER OF WHAT I WAS DOING... I KNOW IF I GOT MORE RIGID ON THIS I WOULD LOSE MORE, BUT I AM DOING IT ONE DAY ONE POUND AT A TIME, AND IF I REALY WANT SOMETHING THAT I KNOW I SHOULD NOT HAVE, I WEIGH THE PRO'S AND THE CON'S AND DECIDE IF AND WHY I WANT IT,, I AM NOT PERFECT AND DO SLIP, BUT ALSO DONT WANT TO STARVE MYSELF TO LOSE WEIGHT THEN WHEN ITS OFF GO BACK TO EATING AND THEN REGAIN..,, GOOD LUCK, FRI, I WILL PST SUGGAR BUDDIES, JOIN US, WHEN YOU NEED SUPPORT, POST IT AND YOU WILL GET THE SUPPORT YOU NEED AT THAT TIME TO GET YOU THROUGH,, WE CAN DO THIS,  MY REVELATION FOR TODAY:: FOOD IS FOOD TASTES GOOD AND BRINGS MAYBE 1/2 HR SATISFACTION AND  DOES NOTHING FOR OUR MOODS, BUT GAINING WEIGHT FROM THE FOOD SURE PUTS EFFECTS US IN EVERY WAY, TIGHT CLOTHES, WEIGHT GAIN, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, FEELINGS OF FAILURE, AND DONT KNOW ABOUT ALL YOU MARRIED WOMEN, BUT EFFECTS US SEXUALY(BY FEELING FAT AND INSECURE) ANYONE EVER FEEL THIS WAY OR IS JUST ME????? GOOD LUCK, SORRY SO LONG...  R

Re: Stomaphyx This is not covered under insurance at all.  I received this from my bariatric surgeon: Recently, there has been some talk about a new Endoscopic surgery that is reported to be an "alternative to Invasive Weight Loss Surgery" called Sto-maphyX, being offered here in the Ocala area. We have received calls inquiring about this procedure, and wanted to responded to those inquires. Please note that Dr. Jawad does not perform this procedure.

At this time, the surgery is only done for those patients whom have "Dilated Stomas" which is an enlargement between the stomach pouch and the small intestine. If successful, it "May" narrow the Stoma and provide a patient with better restriction when eating. However, this surgery has No Proven track record that it is effective, and there have been no long term studies to support the overall success rates of this procedure.

At this time, No Insurance companies are paying for the surgery, and it is not intended to be used in place of Gastric Bypass. In the hands of a skilled surgeon, Gastric Bypass is still considered the most Proven and Reliable method for long term, permanent weight loss.

I truly balieve that you can "shrink" your pouch.   BUT, it requires a couple weeks of liquid only.   Let me explain my experience. I presented with a small bowel obstruction at 12 days post-op that resolved on it's own after I had an NG tube inserted and stayed in the hospital on morphine and "nothing by mouth" for 5 days.  About 7 months later I had pain very similar to the bowel obstruction.  I was admitted to the hospital, placed on IV, nothing by mouth, and basically vegged out for a few days in the hospital while preparing for surgery.  My surgery date had to be rescheduled, so I went home in the interim on liquids only.  So, basically, I was on either IV nutrition, or clear liquids for two weeks, had surgery and then started my diet over as if I had just had WLS all over again. I wanted to eat so bad, but, I couldn't.  I insisted that my doctor had altered my pouch while he was in doing my exploratorysurgery/intestinal hernia repair.  Well, he didn't alter anything, so, I (to this day) am convinced that when we don't eat solids for an extended time, our pouches kinda reset themselves. This is my experience. Don't know if it works that way for everyone, but, again, I'm convinced :) Good Luck, Karen