Question:
Can drinking with meals or too soon after stretch the pouch?

I had open RNY a little over 7 mos ago and my weight loss has been awesome down 117 lbs. I am a little anxious though, I have always cheated when it came to drinking with meals or drinking too soon after a meal, is it possible that I have ruined things, I guess that now that I am under 200 lbs (195lbs) I am getting anxious and scared that I will not loose any more or that I will be stuck here, I would like to loose another 50 lbs, and I am now scared that I have done something to hinder that, I am now able to eat about anything (things with sugar in it doesn't bother me, though I do struggle to stay away from it). I would love to hear any advice or from anyone experiencing the same anxiety.    — Bonnie S. (posted on November 12, 2001)

November 12, 2001
I am 8 months post-op and have just recently been able to start drinking a little bit with my meals. Before 7 months, it wasn't even possible for me. I think the main reason that surgeons advise against drinking with meals is that it washes the food from your pouch down into your intestines for digestion faster. Thus, you don't feel full for as long. Make sense? If you want to get full use out of this tool, don't drink with your meals. But, if you're like me and are having trouble getting down enough protein, drinking with your meals will help you to consume more. Best of luck and congrats on your weight loss!
   — Terissa R.

November 12, 2001
Hey your like me, I have always been able to drink with meals, and do it primarily to get the protein in. Early on it helped getting the water in big time. I hated the taste of narly all liquids but sugar free kool aid and the nutrasweet was giving me diarrea bad. Water with food tasted good. Asked th pouch stretching question of my surgeon he said its not about stretching the pouch but washing the food thru the pouch and being able to eat more. I have read repeatedly we post ops worry too much about pouch stretching and as long as were transected not to worry about it. I dont think its a problem as lng as your not drinking to injest high calorie foods of no nutritional value.
   — bob-haller