Question:
What are the signs of a strechted pouch?

I know I am probably just overreacting, hope so at least, but what are the signs of a strecthed pouch. I'm just about 2 months post-op and have had a soda for the past few days, in an open cup, but find I can drink a whole one no problem. I know I need to cut back, but find it really helps to not make me feel so weak. My Dr. thinks it could be a blood sugar thing. It's alot easier for me to drink juice, water, etc. than it is to eat. I don't feel hungry often and can't handel bread well at all. I can eat about half a lunchable, or small frozen entree. My questions are: 1. Have I strecthed my pouch? 2. What are the signs of a strecthed pouch? 3. What were you eating at 2 months post op and how much?    — Heather H. (posted on July 19, 2002)

July 18, 2002
Heather, At 2 mos. post-op, leave the soda alone. Drink V8 juice or lots of water. If you can tolerate milk, drink 2 protein shakes per day. I'm 14 mos. post-op and have never touched carbonated drinks since surgery. You are going to feel weak for a while...that's part of recovering from major surgery. I still don't finish a Lean Cuisine, even if I feel like I can. I don't want to stretch my pouch. Soda will stretch it so that you can't get satisfied with the quantity that you are supposed to eat. This surgery is designed to reduce the portion you can eat at one time so don't try to override that by eating more. Eat 3 small meals per day with 3 very small snacks. At 2 mos. you should only be eating 3-4 oz. of solid food at a time...if you will avoid carbohydrates and stick with protein, you will gain your strength back and not get as hungry. I still don't eat bread since it feels like it's foaming up in my throat. I avoid salad since it fills me up too fast and I get hungry later. For snacks, early on, I ate SF Jell-o, even the SF FF Jello instand pudding. Yogurt works well for a snack, but remember you should only eat about 3-4 oz, no more at any one time. I became lactose intolerant about 3 mos. post-op so I couldn't have the milk products. I managed to eat protein snacks by eating a few bites of grilled chicken or deli ham. Fruit is a good choice if you stick with things like grapefruit, melon, berries. I find bananas don't digest well and turn to sugar so fast, that I dump with them. Watch out for any fruit with skins like grapes, apples, and pears. Above all, drink the required water. Hope this helps.
   — Teri D.

July 19, 2002
Just because you can drink a lot of liquid does NOT mean that you have stretched your pouch. Liquid should go down fine. If it doesn't, you'll be in big trouble, because you will dehydrate. I agree with the previous poster, though, about leaving the soda alone. Have you tried iced tea (green tea is best) with Splenda? It's awesome and has no carbonation and no sugar. Plus, you can get it in decaf.
   — Terissa R.

July 19, 2002
Heather, at around 2 months I started feeling better and started experimenting with more foods. I ate a scrambled egg with melted cheese for breakfast, 1/2 a sandwich with the top slice of bread and all the crust removed, or grilled chicken cut up very fine over salad, or a thick soup for lunch and for dinner, usually some grilled chicken or fish with a spoonful or two of a soft veggie. I found that chicken cooked in tomato sauce or stewed in chicken broth made easy to digest chicken at 2 months. Unless the soda is flat, try to stay away from it and stick to water. I've been told that its very difficult to stretch the pouch so don't worry about it at this stage.
   — Cindy R.

July 19, 2002
I drink tons of diet soda. However, it really would be wise to leave it alone for at least 6 months post op. The bubbles expand and you burp alot. And it can be painful. You should let things heal up first. But if you really can't do without it, then put some sort of artifical sweetener in it and stir it up good. It will take half the bubbles out. It will taste better and be flatter, yet not completely flat. But try to do without it until you heal up.
   — Danmark