Question:
Is it possible to destroy your pouch after giving birth?

In 1995 I had the gastric by pass surgery in 1999 I gave birth I've been having a lot of stomache problems and I can't seem to shed the 10-13 extra lbs that I've put on and I'm becoming so depressed. I only gained 23lbs during pregnancy my doctors wanted me to gain 30lbs I went through so much to loose the weight that I was afraid to put it back on I just want to be back to my normal weight if the doctors would do the surgery again I would jump at it is there away that the can give retouch on the pouch?    — Tamika B. (posted on January 12, 2001)

January 12, 2001
Perhaps your staple line is disrupted? Do you know if you were transected? If not, then the symptoms might include regain, acid returning to the pouch from the lower stomach, pain--maybe even back pain, and kind of an ache in the gut. Have your doc go in with a scope and take a look. I had a 1994 surgery that had to be revised last year.
   — vitalady

January 12, 2001
You would be willing to have major life-threatening surgery just to lose 10 pounds? Forgive me for being so blunt, but do you realize how crazy that sounds? Lots and lots of women gain more than they wanted during a pregnancy, and then find that the weight is harder to lose afterward than they expected. I think pregnancy changes your hormones or metabolism somehow to make this happen. I would suggest that you go back to your original surgeon and have him check you out, do a scope of your pouch, or whatever he recommends. If he finds something wrong, stretched or disrupted, then certainly you can have another surgery to fix it. But if it is simply a matter of your body being "a little different" after pregnancy, you may have to come to terms with it, and maybe get some counseling for your depression. Good Luck!
   — Lynn K.