Question:
ARE THERE CERTAIN FOODS I SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM............................
ARE THERE CERTAIN FOODS I SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM TO AVOID STRETCHING THE POUCH — JENNIFER S. (posted on January 18, 2004)
January 18, 2004
It is going to stretch over time regardless. But to avoid that uncomfy
feeling; I would avoid rice, pasta, grape nuts, bread...things that will
swell when you add liquid. BTW, Frosted Mini Wheats....just added that one
to my list this morning. :) Rebecca 10/03/01 265/140
— RebeccaP
January 18, 2004
I would say NO.... The key is everything in moderation and to test and
taste different foods to see what feels right for you....
— baybekmbrly
January 18, 2004
Hi. I was told that caffeine can stretch the pouch because it expands it.
I'm not sure if this is true or not but I'm avioding it at least for the
first year.
— AmyWollet
January 18, 2004
Caffiene? How so? *refrains from commenting further* Rebecca
— RebeccaP
January 18, 2004
I would say try to stay clear of sugar, even if you don't dump some people
can tend to eat too much of it.
Carbonation some people say can stretch your pouch, I doubt it but it isn't
the best for us anyways. Caffeine dehydrates you so be careful & pasta,
breads......etc are usually difficult to eat anyways....
Like the other poster said it is all in moderation!
GOOD LUCK!
— Saxbyd
January 18, 2004
I would say avoid sugar, pasta, breads and complex carbs. For me they just
stimulate my hunger or sit way to heavy on my pouch. If I stick with
protein, fruits and veggies, I tend to do pretty well. As other posts here
have said--everything in moderation.
— Cathy S.
January 18, 2004
I just asked my dietician this question last week. Her reply was stay away
from soda. She says for some reason the body has a tendency to crave snacks
when drinking soda. She said everything else was fine, even sugars (though
they may cause dumping), is okay in moderation.
— Mini Gadget
January 19, 2004
Hi. What I meant to say was carbonation....not caffeine....My
mistake...sorry.
— AmyWollet
January 19, 2004
My Nutritionist allowed me to have 1/4 cup pasta flat type because that is
all I can get to stay down - it is in my soups. Of course I never finish
an entire 1/4 cup - more like 1-2TBSPN. I warn caffiene may cause ulcers or
irate the stomach.
I won't go near bread - for a fact it blows up, but again the Nutritionist
says wheat bread or toasted bread is okay.
I am an early post-op 50 days, but longer post-ops say the stomach
stretches over time - so I guess it is wise to learn to give up or learn to
limit anything made with white flour
— Anna M.
January 19, 2004
This is a question to all. Who really stretched their pouch? I don't even
understand this thinking. It stretches on it's own. But if you eat less
for a few days, it stretches back down. I can eat less now at 7 mos then
at 5. I needed more calories at 5 months and my body signalled my pouch to
stretch. Now that I am not doing as much weight lifting, my pouch is tiny
tiny again. I think this pouch stretching this is an old wives tale? What
I am concerned about it the opening between the pouch and the small
intestine beocming so big that food doesn't stay in the stomach long
enough.
What people also neglect to consider is that in order to stretch your
pouch, you would have to be constantly overeating and if you do that at
all, you would probably vomit.
Unless you are compulsively overeating food, I don't know if I'd spend time
worrying about pouch stretching. I would worry more about grazing. That is
where the calories slip in.
— mrsmyranow
January 19, 2004
Your question was are there foods to stay away from to avoid stretching the
pouch and instead most of the answers are foods in general to avoid that
are not so good for you. The other posters are correct in that your pouch
will stretch over time and that is normal. Our pouches start out at .5 to
2-3 oz and stretch to 6-10 oz after a year or longer, all normal. Abnormal
stretching of the pouch occurs when you overstuff on a consistent basis,
eating way more than you should. As to whether carbonation stretches the
pouch, I think thats the myth. There is a hole at the top (esophagus) and
one at the rear of the pouch (stoma) thru which the carbonated fluid flows,
so no stretching. Discomfort perhaps due to gas, but not stretching.
However, carbonated beverages are discouraged as they tend to dehydrate,
have way too much sodium in them, and unnecessary calories and caffeine if
not diet or caffeine free. Better to stick to water. I wouldn't avoid any
foods, though as long as they are healthy foods and agree with you.
— Cindy R.
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