Question:
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR POUCH IS STRECHED?AND HOW CAN IT GET THAT WAY

I AM ALMOST 4 MO OUT I AM SO AFRAID OF STRECHING MY POUCH OUT ,IS THER A WAY TO TELL, ALSO CAN ANY DRINK WATER LIKE THEY DID BEFORE LIKE TAKE LITTLE GULPS OR DO YOU HAVE TO SIP FOREVER?AND IM DOWN 50 LBS.    — katrina (posted on August 12, 2006)

August 12, 2006
try the cottage cheese test. I am also almost 4 mos postop- you can take regular swollows of beverages- I just have problems with 'gulps'.
   — dabby

August 12, 2006
Katrina, I would not worry to much at this point of stretching your pouch. I am 2 1/2 years out & yes you can stretch it later down the road. By drinking the same time as eating. You should be able to drink bigger swallows now, but, you will never go back to the before drinking habits. You will make yourself sick if you try it. With time your pouch automaticaaly can be stretch a little if you stick to your rules & do not snack or graze. eat no more than 4 to 6 oz of food per meal & do not ever drink soda. If you drink soda even diet get off of it as soon as you can. Carbinated drinks will stretch your pouch & cause weight gain very quickly. Hope this helps you somewhat. Congrats on the 50 pounds. it will just get better & better! Marilyn, the Bearlady
   — Marilyn C.

August 13, 2006
The first poster was right, either the cottage cheese or scrambled egg test. Just see how much you can eat of either of those things before feeling full. Your pouch might be as big as 4 oz by now, according to my nutritionist. I am also 4 months out and even though I can only eat about 2.5 ounces at a time, I can drink water like I did before surgery now.
   — nicolerod

August 13, 2006
I wouldn't worry about stretching the pouch. The top part of the stomach that the pouch is made from is not as strech-able as the rest of the stomach. Those WLS patients that think that they have stretched the stomach are usually wrong. What happens is the opening between the pouch and the intestines is suppose to be about dime sized and it can be stretched which causes the feeling of fullnes to be eleminated the food and water goes straight through. You lose that feeling of fullness. That is why they tell you not to over eat or drink right after you eat. That is the part that can be stretched to lose the ability to not be hungry long periods of time.
   — jk_harris

August 13, 2006
Congratulations! You are doing great! I still have trouble drinking, and often cannot get 64 ounces in, but most people seem to do alright. i have to wait an hour after eating ato drink without throwing up, and an hour after drinking to eat.
   — Novashannon

August 13, 2006

   — AnitaJB

August 16, 2006
Grazing and drinking with meals are painless pouch stretching. Grazing being sitting there and eating IT ALL, even if it takes more than 30 min. I drink water normally, but I can't just toss back a whole bottle at once. Ouch.
   — vitalady