Question:
Confused about water intake, will it stretch your stomach

Hi i have been looking at alot on this web site. If you can only eat say a half cup of food and if you overeat it will stretch your pouch why doesn't all that water stretch your pouch.    — seeschell48 (posted on May 27, 2008)

May 27, 2008
Because liquids move through your body quickly and don't tend to "build up" as regular food would in your stomach...
   — ALafferty

May 27, 2008
The water runs straight through your system. The food, depending on what it is, will sit in your pouch and slowly go down, so if you are eating to much, the pouch stretches to accomodate the amount of food you have eaten. It does retract after it is emptied, but if you make a habit of it I'm sure it will stretch.
   — bariatricdivalatina

May 27, 2008
Liquids go right thru your pouch and that why it is SO IMPORTANT not to drink with your meals...because you can wash the food you eat out of your pouch by drinking....and you will get hungry quicker. Hope this helps clear it up for you. pam / Ft Worth Bandster Bites Silverware [email protected]
   — pphillips4720aol.com

May 27, 2008
Only if you eat and drink together...Don't gulp water either...It hurts like you don't want to know! But it moves faster than food out of your belly. Water swells some foods too, like breads, pasta and rice and fiber. If you drink with your meals, these food can make you so bloated and over full from water swelling that you will feel aweful and can stretch your pouch and intestines making bowel movements more difficult...Drinking with meals is NEVER a good thing...Even if you eat foods that dont swell with water, you wash these foods out of the pouch too soon and the nutrients are not absorbed...however the calories, and sugar are ALWAYS absorbed...so you might as well get the good stuff from what you foods you eat since malabsorption is real and all vits are important.
   — .Anita R.

May 27, 2008
Liquids pass through very fast. Food does not. Everyone has to remember that this surgery is only a tool and a great tool too. I have lost 260#'s in 15 months. If I over eat I can gain weight to easy. I haven't come this far to screw it up. Just don't go off track.
   — obx100

May 28, 2008
First, your pouch will stretch. It's a normal effect of eating - even eating the proper amount. (That doesn't mean you should go hog wild and eat large amounts. You will always need to be in control of your portions.) There are some foods and, yes, fluids that pass quickly through the pouch. They aren't dense enough to be held back by the stoma (exit from the pouch). Always measure your portions and take time to eat and drink, and you'll do OK. If you drink too much at once, you'll probably feel uncomfortable, and it may even return.
   — gonnadoit