Question:
How do we avoid stretching the pouch after surgery?

What should be avoided to stretch the pouch months after surgery? I am concerned i will go back to old habits and stretch out my pouch. I want to avoid anything to cause this.    — Debbie C. (posted on September 8, 2001)

September 8, 2001
We were taught that in open RNY that you must stretch your pouch during the period leading up to a year. At the end of the years period you could me taking in as much as 6 to 9 ounces where it was a few tablespoons in the beginning. If you never stretch it some you will not be able to eat normal foods to get your proteins and you don't want to live out your life on liquids and soft foods. You want to live a normal life just not eating as much. Dr. Flannagan at an oregon.com address, has some really good answers to questions like these. You just need to stay away from sugar products loads of carbs and remember to get your protein in first. How can you fail if you do as directed by your physician and your diet requirements. It is possible to actually go back and make your pouch work for you for the rest of your life by reverting back to the beginning dietary schedule you first had. It is something you should talk to your physician about if you are feeling anxious or others who have had the surgery in your support group. I find that support groups are so helpful as they are the people who are living in your shoes.
   — Debbie S.

September 8, 2001
We were taught to keep that pouch as close to original size as possible til the day we hit goal wt, basically. We eat 6 meals, 1 oz each. Larger meals stretch the pouch, as well as not being as satisfying. But grazing is much worse. Then it's painless pouch stretching. Can't feel it, so no alarm bells go off. If you eat 1-2 oz (depending on what it is) and tell yourself that you "get" to eat in 2 hours, pretty soon you find that you "have" to eat in 2 hours, and you start to stretch the time out a bit. Or for me, a volume eater, I got more relaxed about Will I get enough food? and was able to do that thing, of feeling comfortably full, comfortably empty, establishing a normal cycle. The "meal" being something that you can comfortably eat in 15-20 min, or with chatter, 30 min. If it's taking longer, it becomes grazing, even if you are in a social situation.
   — vitalady

September 10, 2001
Stretching my pouch and regaining the weight worried me also. It doesn't anymore. My surgeon assured me that it is quite normal and expected for the pouch to stretch a bit within two years of surgery. However to stretch it significantyl, one would have to overeat to the point of nausea, several times a day, for several months.
   — [Anonymous]