Question:
How does food get processed in our pouch?

I had open rny 4 mos ago and need to know something. Does the food we eat just kind of "sit" in the pouch if not chewed enough? Since there are no gastric juices in the pouch, how does it disintegrate? What happens to it if not chewed and cannot pass through the stoma? Does it just sit there and rot? Please someone explain! Thanks...    — Marilyn C. (posted on April 11, 2001)

April 11, 2001
Over a month ago I went to a WLS meeting for more info. Dr. Lee (who does the fobi pouch) was present and someone asked a simular question. He said there are some juices in the pouch. Very little but there is some. Chewing is very important. Chewing takes time and while you're chewing some food will begin to past through the pouch. Making space for more food. After food leaves the pouch the pancrease and liver still function to help digest the food. To help break it down. If you chew too fast you will vomit.
   — Renee C.

April 11, 2001
We're not really going to "digest" it, as such. We do break it down quite a bit with saliva, as that is step one of normal digestion. But you're saying if something sticks and will not pass? Either you bring it back up, OR they'll need to go fetch it with a scope. It won't stay in there for all that long without doing one or the other.
   — vitalady

April 22, 2001
I went to my doctor for my one month post op and asked him the same question. He told me that the new stomahc contracts to squeeze out the food.
   — Leewan V.