Question:
3 weeks post op Drank too much.. could I have harmed my pouch

I drank a carnation instant breakfast tonight and it tasted way too dang good. I ended up taking in about 8 ounces in 15 minutes. Normally it would take an hour for me to drink that much. About 10 minutes later I felt overfilled but did not throw up. Could I have hurt/stretched my pouch with this momentary lapse of attention/good judgement? I am 3 weeks out and have been super careful to take things slow other than this 1 time.    — Sa-ruh (posted on December 26, 2009)

December 26, 2009
I doubt that one incident is going to damage your pouch. If it had, you'd know it. You didn't even throw up, so I wouldn't worry about it. Just be a little more careful in the future. You should be drinking about 6 to 8 ounces an hour at this stage.
   — Erica Alikchihoo

December 26, 2009
tho as a rule fluids won't stretch your pouch, at this early stage you want to take it easy. Your pouch will take weeks to heal and you don't want to rip out any staples etc. Try to sip and things will go well. But i seriously doubt you did any damage from one incident.Congrats and God Bless, hugs, kim
   — gpcmist

December 26, 2009
you should be fine. Just remember to take it easy in the future. You don't want to get into the habit that you did it once and it was ok so it is fine in the future. It's easy to slip into that way of thinking. You might want to consider that you were needing more fluids at the time. I know it tasted good but perhaps you were starting to get dehydrated and that is why you wanted so much at one time.
   — Dawn A.

December 26, 2009
Liquids flow straight through. Even early out from surgery you can't stretch your pouch with pure liquids. The most you will notice is the too-full sensation and possibly nausea because it's backed up. Think of your pouch as a slow drain right now. The pouch and stoma are still swollen from being cut on so the 'drain hole' is very tiny. As the weeks pass and healing continues, the internal swelling will dissipate and you will find you can drink more liquids, more quickly and not have that full sensation from liquids alone. Just remember to stick to your post op rule of sipping slowly and stopping completely 30 minutes to 1 hour before/after each meal. Later on, drinking too much too soon after eating solids can result in washing out your food thus reducing absorption time and leaving you feeling hungry sooner.
   — Arkin10

December 26, 2009
thanks so much for everyone's help and reassurance!
   — Sa-ruh

December 28, 2009
You can't stretch out your pouch from liquids on a one time episode. Liquids aren't the cause of stretching, it is the cause from too much food, over a period of time. (stretching will happen naturally) So you don't have to worry about that. You will however, feel yuckie from too much liquid. But since you have been super careful, I would say you are doing great.
   — Kristy