Question:
Two Pouches--Can area below pouch stretch to become a second pouch?

I've been having stomach pains and feeling extremely "full" for a month or so--I had my surgery (Sapala-Wood Micro Pouch) in 2001--and had an upper GI last week--saw a larger "pouch" had formed below my "original" one, so food stayed there for awhile before going further into my intestines. Is it possible that, while my original pouch (just the fundus, which has minimal stretching) didn't stretch, I somehow stretched the lower part of my GI system? I took some "colon-clense"-type product, do you think the extra fiber expanded there and stretched me out?? HELP!! (THANKS!) [email protected]    — cspw (posted on November 3, 2008)

November 3, 2008
Cindy, I would go to my doctor if you haven't already. Also stop taking the colon cleansing products; they are dangerous; your surgery is 7 years old. A second pouch is possible but not likely. Also look for support groups; they help tremendously. vinnigirl
   — vinnigirl

November 3, 2008
I only took the "colon" product for a week, didn't think it did anything. My original doctor is now in another state, and I tried to get with my local doc today, she was out of the office. I plan on checking with the bariatric doctors who are local tomorrow==I am just curious as to whether anyone else had this issue. Thanks for your answer, VinJan! :)
   — cspw

November 3, 2008
Depending upon how your micro-pouch was created, you could have developled a fissure that created what you see as a "second" pouch. It typically (for RNY patients who were not transected) occurs as a result of a staple line disruption and should be looked at closely by a bariatric surgeon.
   — SteveColarossi

November 3, 2008
Thanks, Steve. I was transsected, and the bottom of my pouch was actually hand-stitched shut. This second pouch is a couple of inches down from the pouch, in the intestinal "tube" attached to the pouch, and looks sort of like what a snake looks like after it swallows a large object (in this case, a large egg). I will ask about a fissure, though, just in case.
   — cspw

November 15, 2008
Have you had the consult with your surgeon after your exam? What did you find out? Avoid colon cleansing products unless your doctor orders them before a study ok? Let us know. Best of luck, Dawn Vickers
   — DawnVic