X-Post *Pyloric Valve and the VSG"

 
 

First, I’m not a doctor nor have I ever played one on TV.

This may be old news to some..... But I’ve noticed a lot of people who have had VSG do not have any idea how the Pyloric Valve works.

This is my understanding how the Pyloric Valve works.

The Pyloric Valve function and how it pertains to your VSG.

The function of your Pyloric valve is the single most not talked about important part of understanding how and when you should eat and drink.

The Pyloric Valve is just that....It is a valve that is located at the bottom of your stomach/sleeve. This valve is in between your sleeve and the lower intestine. The basic definition of a valve is an apparatus that opens and closes.

When open this valve it is about the diameter of a dime. When closed it’s opening is closed down to the diameter of the head of a ballpoint pen.

Dense proteins and harder to digest foods will cause the Pyloric valve to close to hold the food in your stomach for pre-digestion...... stomach acids breaking down this “Rough" food. 

That’s why we are told to eat dense proteins first.....To close the Pyloric Valve so food stays in your stomach/sleeve longer so we have a sense of satisfaction.

It takes about 30-60 minutes for the food to clear the Pyloric Valve...... Than it’s OK to drink.

That is also where the term slider food  comes into play. A slider food does not close the Pyloric Valve and as the term is intended.....food slides right past an open Pyloric Valve.

There is a video that gets posted every so often that is supposed to explain food going past the Pyloric Valve. The guy uses a funnel and has apple sauce or something in it....and it shows the apple sauce dripping out the end of the funnel very slow. Than he pours water on top of the apple sauce to dilute it, illustrating drinking after eating.....and the diluted apple sauce runs through the funnel end faster. Than he concludes that this is how your pyloric valve works.

Well, it is a great video that only tells half the story.....remember it’s a valve...and he is only showing it in the open position....

So now the other half of the Pyloric Valve function..... You eat a dense protein like chicken that causes your Pyloric Valve to close. Say for example your sleeve has a 4oz. capacity.....and you eat 4oz. of chicken.....your sleeve is full and holding all 4 oz. of chicken for pre-digestion because your Pyloric Valve is closed. 

So now try and drink something....where is it gonna go? Up.....Up until it hits another valve of sorts..... the Esophageal Sphincter (valve) and above that is a flapper valve. The function of these two valves is to hold food, bile and stomach acids in your stomach and not backing up into your air way. This is a very high pressure system. Thats why when you eat to much or drink after eating a hard to digest food and your Pyloric is closed.....It hurts cause you pressurized your intake track. Vomiting would be a natural pressure release.

So you can see how learning and understanding how the Pyloric Valve works is important as it pertains to eating and drinking with a Gastric Sleeve.

So that was kinda like VSG and the Pyloric Valve 101

As you get further a long you will want to use the Pyloric Valve in other ways to keep food in your sleeve longer to stay satisfied longer. 

A sleeve empties faster than a stock un altered full size stomach so sometimes it’s beneficial for you to learn what foods stay in your sleeve longer to extend satisfaction.

Dense proteins are #1 in closing the Pyloric Valve. Chicken, steak, pork, fish.....in that order seems to be the way it goes for me.

Other foods that are hard to digest and help close the Pyloric Valve are foods like:

• Broccoli Stalk
• Asparagus
• Celery
• Cucumber with Skin
• Radish
• Cabbage (I’m testing this right now)
• Bell Pepper

So I hope you understand my 5 cent tour of the Pyloric Valve and how it effects the way we eat with a VSG and how important it is to work the Pyloric Valve to your benefit.

frisco

As usual, a wonderful and educating post.
I know all of this but it is good to refresh the knowledge no matter how new a sleever you are or even a long time vet.

Thank you frisco!

 Frisco I have such an appreciation for all the time you give to us I just want you to know you are appreciated!

 "There is a video that gets posted every so often that is supposed to explain food going past the Pyloric Valve. "

Psst, hey, Frisco... that video is supposed to explain how drinking and eating works for RnYers. They don't have a pyloric valve.

 
Yah know....I think the title of the thread that I saw the Video on.....said How your Pyloric Works....

frisco

I remember that thread... I remember someone posting that video too and thinking "I should say something". But I didn't because it's kind of splitting hairs.

Drinking with meals does make the food get mushier faster which also make the pyloric valve open faster (vs drinking after which makes foamies).

But it's not a good idea to perpetuate less than accurate info. The guy who made the video has RnY and there is a tendency for those guys to say "us freaks" as if everyone has bypass. Which is also a pet peeve of mine...

FRISCOOOOOOOOO!!!


"First, I’m not a doctor nor have I ever played one on TV"

You just ruined my fantasy!!! Here I though you were my personal Doctor, chef, oh and photographer!!! Hehe! Thanks for bursting my bubble!!...HEHE!..Kidding (o;

Loved the post, and Thank you!

Hugs

Donna

Great post Frisco.

Wow, thanks Frisco. You learn something new everyday. Obviously I knew about protein first and thought it was about getting your protein in and not filling up on carbs. But the effect of dense protein on the pyloric sphincter I didn't know. Makes so much sense. I'm going to be much more diligent about how I eat. Knowledge is power... At least when you put it into practice.

 You mention Celery, I heard to stay away from this and coconut because it can cause some problem in our stomachs. I cannot quite remember what it's called. Anyone else have that info?