Question:
I'm confused, what is a large stoma?

I'm confused I have heard people talk about having a large stoma, and I was wondering what exactly that is and is it the same as stretching out your pouch? Thankyou for the info.    — Melodee S. (posted on June 13, 2003)

June 13, 2003
Melodee, a large stoma is the opening from the pouch to the small intestine. If this gets "stretched" or enlarged, it allows food to pass through quickly and thus causing you to be hungrier and able to eat almost pre-op portions without trouble. From my understanding, it is no one's fault when it happens (correct me if I am wrong). The pouch is another issue all together and it can stretch and "relax" as my surgeons says over a period of time. In the beginning, it is very rigid because it is not healed yet. Once it heals, it can relax and stretch a bit allowing you to eat more at a meal than in the beginning.
   — Happy I.

June 13, 2003
One thing about your post that made me FEEL good is that you stated 'you have heard people talk about having a large stoma'. I am glad this is finally coming to AIR. I was diagnoised with this over two years ago; and when I started researching found NOTHING! It is very heartbreaking to have this problem. The 'large stoma' problem is actually the "opposite' of stricture. Where in stricture the 'stoma' strinks to much and closes up; someone with a 'large' stoma; the stoma NEVER shruck right after surgery; or was 'stretched to large during an endoscopy (what they do to fix the stricture - they can accidently 'over fix' it; when the stoma is too large it renders the pouch 'non-functional' food goes directly from the espogus into the intestines; leaving the person with NO food limitations. VERY few, if any surgeons will fix this problem. According to the AMerican Bariatric Associations; surgeons, in the past have had little success in fixing it; so if it happens (no often but it does) they refert their patients to diet and excerise. ONE WAY to avoid this problem completely is to op for a DS. The large stoma issue is only if you have an RNY.
   — star .