Question:
Are stretched pouch and staple line distruption different thing?

I KNOW there is something wrong. I am 6 weeks post open open RNY and i have lost almost 40 pounds. I cAn eat ALOT though. Way more then i should. I didnt do anything wrong. Can gulping down water cause pouch stretching. Early on i would gulp down water and it would hurt my stomech. Also, can i shrink my pouch after it gets stretched? What if my staples are still intact? I AM SO SCARED. I can barely sleep at night. I would die if i had to do surgery again. I pray I wil be okay...Someone who has been there, please,i need advice. I am going to call my doc first thing monday! AHH!    — Andrew J. (posted on March 30, 2002)

March 30, 2002
Hi Andrew, Sounds like you are really worried and I will try to help. Although I really don't know that much about stretching the pouch, I do know about staple line disruption as I had one and had it repaired. Even though my staple line disrupted, the pouch had not stretched at all and I had been eating a lot with the disruption. I was not transected and that is what happens sometimes when not transected (staple line disruption). If you are transected then don't worry! A staple line disruption is when the staples actually come "undone" and the line and pouch form a break. The old stomach was still attached in my case and therefore the food flowed into the old stomach. I have read that it takes a lot of effort and a lot of overeating to actually stretch a pouch! Read "Pouch Rules for Dummies" for some good information about overstetching the pouch. God bless and try to relax! I had to have a second surgery and believe me, you would NOT rather die than have a second surgery! The second surgery was a breeze compared to the first and I am sooooooo glad I had it done! I am now transected and all is wonderful! Losing again and feeling great! -96 lbs! Good luck and do talk to your surgeon. Be sure to ask if you were transected, ok?
   — Marilyn C.