Question:
If I drink water to fast will my pouch stretch?

I had surgery on August 20th 2001 and I am feeling wonderfull and have lost 20 lbs but I have a question about the water. I am having a hard time drinking it slow. It doesnt hurt when I take a big gulp of water but Im scared that I will be stretching my pouch. When I "eat" my "meals" (im still on liquids) I drink it really slow but with water I can take big drinks and feel fine. Please help...    — JENN *. (posted on August 31, 2001)

August 31, 2001
Jenn---I asked this same exact question both here and at my surgeon's just a couple weeks ago. There is no chance of water stretching your pouch. It travels quickly through your new stomach. Keep chugging!
   — Tracy L.

August 31, 2001
I asked my surgeon this question and his answer was thoughtful. He said that water passes quickly through you so it isn't likely to stretch the pouch....but, he added that if you were to chug a pint of water down all at once, yes it would stretch it a bit before passing through, simply because the volume of water is greater than the capacity of the pouch. That made sense to me. I love water, but I don't slug down an entire pint in 3 gulps.
   — Lisa D.

August 31, 2001
I am a little over a month post op, and I drink water in gulps, not a liter at once but a lot. I asked my doc the same question, worried that I was stretching my pouch. He said it wouldn't stretch it, as long as I wasn't drinking the water soon after eating. It passes right through you. I'm actually glad I can drink this much water. My goal was to drink 1 gallon a day, and I'm doing it, very easily, good luck! :)
   — Carey N.