Question:
YIKES! I think I just got my stoma stretched too much!

I had my second dilatation endoscopy last friday. The first one was at 4 weeks post op and the Dr. strectched me from 7 to 10. I continued to vomit constantly for 2 more weeks, and now last friday he stretched me from 10 to 13.5! No more vomiting, but I am now able to eat 2 tacos at a sitting, and I'm still no where near feeling full. Then, 2 hours later I am having hunger pains! What is the optimum stoma size, and does anyone think that this is tragic for me? Thanks...    — Vanessa H. (posted on June 11, 2002)

June 11, 2002
Stop eating carbohydrates. Eat protein and you won't feel the hunger. Meats, chicken, fish, eggs, beans,....As for the stoma, it's a tool and maybe it'll reduce in size if you decrease the food load. Good Luck
   — Elizabeth P.

June 11, 2002
No, this probably won't end in tragedy:~), although I know it may feel that way. I too was dilated twice, the first to 8, the second to 12. At 12 I was worried to death that my stoma was stretched too much and I had the same concerns as you. I felt doomed to fail. Things like yogurt and soup passed right through and I could eat an endless amount and not get full. I was able to eat an entire grilled chik. sandwich from chick-fila and still not full. But over time my stoma slowly closed again to where I thought that I had a 3rd stricture! I couldn't tolerate meat again. They told me to wait it out that time because it was just meats I was having a hard time with and it slowly relaxed just enough to a desirable opening size. If you were dilated just recently, give it time. And in that time, avoid the runny, soupy foods, because you will never get full. Try to eat more solid items. The optimum stoma size is 8-12mm. They really try to keep you in that range. I feel that mine stopped at 12, which I wish were a tad bit smaller, but I will take it. When you were dilated to 10 the first time, it obviously didn't stay there very long or you wouldn't be vomiting. You probably closed up pretty quickly again. Give it some more time to see what happens. And as far as the 2 hour hunger pain, I was 5 weeks when that started happening to me, well, that was also the time after my second dilation, hmmm, I wonder if there is a correlation. Hunger was there and with a vengeance. I had to eat every 2 hours, sometimes sooner. That did get better too. Now at 7 mo. post I have days where I feel like that again, and other days where I only get 600 cals from lack of hunger. Isn't this an interesting journey? Be patient, it will all work out.
   — Cheri M.

June 11, 2002
They stretched my stoma to 15!! I could have killed that tech! I noticed a huge difference in how long I stayed full. It seems to have gotten slightly better, but I do have to eat solid proteins like tuna or ground beef in order to keep that full feeling for any length of time. Hopefully yours will close back down some.
   — mom2jtx3

June 12, 2002
I to was dilated twice. I don't know the size after the 2nd time, but it did close some after about a two week period. I can eat anything without nausea and vomitting. Althoug, I am still full very fast and rarely get hungry before 4 hours after the last meal. My point is that it will close a little more. Just give it a little time.
   — Sandra C.