Question:
Has anyone successfully rest their pouch?

I have heard that you have "reset" your pouch or even shrink it by going back to a full liquid diet. Is this true and has anyone done it. I sure would like to return to the days of dumping and feeling full fast. I'm almost 2 years out and would like to lose 20 more pounds.    — Brenda H. (posted on March 15, 2003)

March 15, 2003
Hi Brenda, I've been wondering the same thing lately. I read your last entry on your web page and I could have written it. I'm about 20 months post and could easily regain weight with what I can (and have been lately) eat. I'm hopeful there are folks who have reset their pouch at least by size. I don't think I'll ever have the dumping sensitivity I once had (bummer). I've never been one for the protein first concept, but reading through posts yesterday I found some talk about drinking protein shakes later post and how many still do. I think I'm going to try Michelle Currens approach and drink protein shakes to see if it helps control my hunger and cravings. I'd hate to come so far and blow this! I'll be eager to see what other suggestions folks come up with. Best wishes. -Kim open RNY 7/17/01 -152
   — KimBo36

March 15, 2003
Yes you can. At one year post op I had to have surgery to remove and ulcer in my intestine just outside my pouch. I could not eat or drink anything for 4 days and when I finally could it was the same modified eating as after the RNY procedure. When I was finally able to eat again...after about 3 weeks. Everything was reset. I could barely eat half of what I could prior (but i did have a small staple line disruption that was repaird, so you really cant count that) and could not tollerate sugars or meats at all. Now, I did not want this as I had lost enough weight at this point. It took me over a month and a half to get myself back to being able to eat certain foods. And it has taken me several months to be able to eat more than 4 ounces at a time. My surgery was 9/27 and I weighted 155 at the time. 3 weeks later I weighed 135. And I had not lost in several months. So yes it can be done, but I'm sure it will not be easy.
   — RebeccaP

March 15, 2003
Yep, have done it several times. I am almost 9 yrs post op and when i cold turkey the snacky foods (sugars and carbs) and stick with dense proteins I get full real fast and my dump-o-meter and pouch are reset, As long as I don't take a taste of this or eat a snack sized xxx and continue what I am doing, I get satiated fast at each meal and stay satiated. But when I start gradually adding extras in I build up a tolerance. So glad it can be reset with perserverance and resolve. At this point post op I do dump and I get full fast and am actually losing wt again. Rita
   — vt_rita