Question:
Just wondering...If you eat something that is not the best choice

but them drink right away, would that wash it out of your pouch so fast that it would avoid being absorbed? I am not looking for a way to cheat. I was just wondering. I had open RNY 4 mnth ago and am down 88 lbs.    — Sue B. (posted on May 23, 2001)

May 23, 2001
A very good question and I wondered about that too. Since the absorbtion happens in the intestine, wouldn't it be more important as to how much was bypassed? I mean, if 150 was bypassed as compared to 100 cm, then wouldn't the malabsorbtion factor, be a major contributor to weight loss? I had 150 cm bypassed and I am having a heck of a time losing 5 lbs lately! I don't understand this at all. What is the purpose of the pouch anyway if all the absorbtion takes place after it leaves the pouch? Why have a pouch at all? Why not just bypass the stomach/pouch too? Maybe a dumb question, but I wish I understood it better before it is past my opportunity window.
   — Marilyn C.

May 23, 2001
That would be so cool if we could get away with eating a donut followed by a glass a water and not even worry about it! But, unfortunately, I believe the only thing that happens when you drink right after eating, is that you flush the pouch, get hungry quicker and want to eat again sooner than necessary. With the intestinal bypass, even though there is a degree of malabsorption, there must be some absorption, otherwise we would all die from nutritional deficiencies. I think the faster we let it enter the small intestine (via flushing our pouches), it just tells our bodies to work faster at absorbing it and keep moving it...after all, our bodies do not want to be skinny anyway - that's why we have to use the two-prong attack (bypass and reduction)! That small intestine is saying, "Cool, eat more! I'll keep up with ya and pack it on your hips, baby!" I can illustrate this with my chocolate binges...Yep, I flushed that chocolate right down with Diet Pepsi...the result? Three pounds up! I suspect since I don't dump, I absorb really, really well. Matter of fact, with all my 'cheating' with this program, I have to say, I am probably most diligent about not drinking until 30 minutes after a meal. I know I can eat more, and I can get full and beyond without feeling sick or miserable, so I do what I can to keep that pouch happy. The most important aspect of this tool for me has been limiting the amount I eat and rewarding me with consistent weight loss; but I have to continually follow that up with my own behavior modification. It would be so much easier if I could rely on malabsorption! Good question!
   — Allie B.

May 23, 2001
Had a medial bypass. 150 cm passed. Asked surgeon specifically how much would be absorbed. He said 90%
   — danirat