Question:
Can the stoma be stretched too much with an endoscope procedure?

Has anyone had the experience of having had an endoscope done to stretch the stoma because it was too small and then the Doctor stretched it too much allowing food to pass through the pouch to quickly? I had my stoma stretched and the Dr wants to go back in and stretch it again because I am still having stomach pain. I am scared to death that he will stretch it too much and I will be able to eat too much at one time. Is this a realistic fear or am I just being paranoid? Thanks for any imput you may have! Cheryl    — cdiss (posted on September 10, 2003)

September 10, 2003
If it is the WL surgeon who did your surgery wanting to do this then I would let him. He knows how important it is to not get it too big. It can happen but not too likely if the right person is doing it. It's possible that it has closed up some from the first dilation, so all he has done then with both procedures is put it back to where it should be. Doesn't mean that each time he is making it larger than the last, he's just trying to get it to stay open at a reasonable size. I was scoped and my surgeon did dilate my a little permanently and I have found that sometimes food does not stay as long but it stays long enough for me to know when to stop eating. It just doesn't sit for hours and make me sick like it was. Discuss your concerns with the surgeon and let him explain what he is doing and why this won't cause you problems long term and then trust him.
   — zoedogcbr

September 11, 2003
My WLS did the first dilation but a gastroenterologist (sp?) wants to do the second dilation. Just concerened he may not know how much to stretch the stoma. I will discuss it with him. Thanks. Cheryl
   — cdiss