Question:
Have I stretched my pouch?

I do not usually feel satisfied with a 1/2 cup of food. Sometimes I feel I could eat a whole cup..but wont..usually.. Please help. Thanks to all for your support and input. God Bless.    — mmulnix (posted on January 19, 2003)

January 19, 2003
Hi Michelle, I have a few questions for you. How far out are you?? What kinds of food are you not getting that satisfied feeling on?? I know some things make me more full than others. Heck, so days I get full quicker than others.
   — bevewy

January 19, 2003
Who says you should eat only 1/2 cup at a time? A half cup of soup won't fill you up, but 1/2 cup of cottage cheese may be too filling. Try not to obsess on details by measuring to the letter everything you eat. It will wear you out. Some foods are different than others and fill you up at different rates. I can only eat 1/2 of a scrambled egg but I can eat a whole boiled egg. Go figure.
   — Tawnda C.

January 19, 2003
I never measured my food, just ate slowly. There are some foods that you will be able to eat more of than others. Dense foods like chicken, meats, apples, breads for example will fill you up faster on smaller amounts than something like salad or soup. Also, if you eat small frequent meals you will stay more full. in fact, a good rule is, when you are hungry- eat. Concentrate on protein first...
   — Cindy R.

January 19, 2003
From what you posted its "NOT" have you stretched your pouch... I think you need to be concerned as to weither or NOT you have any pouch function at all. I have this problem. Its noticable right away... Have your doctor order an Upper GI... More than likely; if its 'true' you could have NO pouch function.. the reason: your stoma (the opening from your pouch to the intestines" is 'to big'... This is a problem RNY can face, that few people talk about and surgeons 'ignore' happen. IF it turns out you have this problem, you will not have to worry about 'pouch' stretching.. I feel Im on a crusade here, I wish I had know about this potental problem.... at least pre op you would be aware of it and be able to deal with its afteraffects. If you do have 'it'. The RNY portion will still continue to work and you will loose weight. but the 'food' limits will NOT be there.. sorry :(
   — star .

January 20, 2003
Pouch stretching....fact or fiction? Seems like everyone is so worried about stretching the pouch but in my 2 yrs experience....it is impossible without really trying to do it and before that happens there is pain and you can't overeat that much! I had a staple line disruption with my first surgery and had an upper GI to confirm. Even with that, my pouch was still tiny and not stretched at all. My twin sister had an upper GI today and she is almost 2 yrs out and her pouch is still 2 oz. I am now transected and we eat about the same thing. What can we eat? Ok, for instance...on fast food. We can eat a Whopper Jr with one piece of the bread thrown away,OR a whole Lean Cuisine,OR a 1/2 cup apple sauce, OR a small bag of popcorn, OR for an entire meal: 2 or 3 oz of chicken, 1/2 cup of green beans, and a small side salad. OR an entire small Wendy's OR 4 chicken nuggets from McDonald's. OR a personal pan pizza (veggie) from Pizza Hut. I know fast food is not the best choice;however, I am using these examples so that everyone can relate. I think that the pouch stretching is possible only if your surgeon has made a horizontal cut which is what some of the old surgeries with just staples had. With the new rny,the surgeon cuts (or staples if not transected) on the lesser curvature of the stomach so that it will not stretch as much. Of course, the stomach although only 2 oz can accomodate the examples I gave because some of the food passes through quickly. The harder foods like beef or chicken remain in the pouch longer and fill it up with about 2 oz or so. I have found that drinking with meals really does push the food through so I have quit even having a drink available with my food. Make good choices, don't eat and drink, and your pouch will tell you when it is full. By the way, my surgeon said pouch stretching IS A MYTH. Just my .02 worth. I think we should all relax and enjoy this journey. Listen to your body. Marilyn open rny 11/27/2000 and transection 10/16/01. Lost 118 lbs and still losing.
   — Mylou52

January 20, 2003
Pouch stretching....fact or fiction? Seems like everyone is so worried about stretching the pouch but in my 2 yrs experience....it is impossible without really trying to do it and before that happens there is pain and you can't overeat that much! I had a staple line disruption with my first surgery and had an upper GI to confirm. Even with that, my pouch was still tiny and not stretched at all. My twin sister had an upper GI today and she is almost 2 yrs out and her pouch is still 2 oz. I am now transected and we eat about the same thing. What can we eat? Ok, for instance...on fast food. We can eat a Whopper Jr with one piece of the bread thrown away,OR a whole Lean Cuisine,OR a 1/2 cup apple sauce, OR a small bag of popcorn, OR for an entire meal: 2 or 3 oz of chicken, 1/2 cup of green beans, and a small side salad. OR an entire small Wendy's OR 4 chicken nuggets from McDonald's. OR a personal pan pizza (veggie) from Pizza Hut. I know fast food is not the best choice;however, I am using these examples so that everyone can relate. I think that the pouch stretching is possible only if your surgeon has made a horizontal cut which is what some of the old surgeries with just staples had. With the new rny,the surgeon cuts (or staples if not transected) on the lesser curvature of the stomach so that it will not stretch as much. Of course, the stomach although only 2 oz can accomodate the examples I gave because some of the food passes through quickly. The harder foods like beef or chicken remain in the pouch longer and fill it up with about 2 oz or so. I have found that drinking with meals really does push the food through so I have quit even having a drink available with my food. Make good choices, don't eat and drink, and your pouch will tell you when it is through. By the way, my surgeon said pouch stretching IS A MYTH. Just my .02 worth. Marilyn open rny 11/27/2000 and transection 10/16/01. Lost 118 lbs and still losing.
   — Mylou52