Question:
What size is your pouch, and why do the doctors make them different sizes?

My surgeon told me that my pouch is between 2 and 3 ounces in size. I had dinner the other night with a WLS patient who told me that her surgeon makes their pouches 1.5 ounces. And I just finished reading a question from a poster that says that her pouch is 1 oz in size? Why such variation? Do the smaller pouch people lose more than those with larger pouches? Would be interesting to see some stats tracking pouch sizes and weight lost...    — Cindy R. (posted on September 17, 2002)

September 17, 2002
I don't know exactly what size my pouch is but my surgeon leaves the pouch larger than most and bypasses more intestines. I am two years post op and mostly I feel like a normal person when I eat. I have a friend who had basically the same surgery I had and we have lost roughly the same amount of weight.
   — Helen C.

September 17, 2002
My surgeon made my pouch .5 ounces, and bypassed 6 ft of intestines. I am still curious why so little and why so much, I only had 120# to lose for MY goal weight, my surgeon never gave me his goal weight, but I am now 2 months out and down 70#'s. I don't know why surgeons make the pouches different sizes, it was very discouraging in the beginning at how little I would eat before I was either too full, or sick. I have now learned my limits, and have done better since. I think that the people that have 2 oz pouches have it easier (in my opinion). Good luck and have a blessed day! ~Ang~
   — angel_wls

September 17, 2002
hi there. i know mine is bigger than 1 oz. my surgeon when he first started was a stickler on making the pouch tiny but said that while the patients did get the weight off they couldnt eat without being sick so he then upped the size to 2 or 3 oz. he said patients still got the weight off but no longer were sickly.i believe mine to be between 2 and 4 at this point and ive lost 140+ at this point. i had open rny on feb 8 02 so im doing great. i visited an interesting site called pouch rules for dummies and it was infromative. it went on to say that docs had done studies on smaller vs bigger pouches and interestingly it had no effect on the amount the patients lost. so the theory being its not the size of the pouch but how you use it. what ever size mine is id say its sure working! :) best of luck to you
   — carrie M.