Question:
I hear alot about stretching your pouch. What are ways that people do stretch their
pouch and how long does it take for a pouch to stretch out?Are their any ways to prevent from stretching your pouch? Just curious. — LUKESHA C. (posted on March 30, 2003)
March 30, 2003
Not really unless you want to be on liquid shakes for every meal for the
rest of your life. The pouch is suppose to stretch up to 6-10 oz.
<p>Take Care, Be Well, Be Happy!
— John T.
March 30, 2003
What he said. Plus, the infamous "Pouch Rules For Dummies" came
out of a study in which they found that, within that six to ten ounce range
of pouch capacity, weight loss and maintenance success was a function of
what people were eating, now how big their pouches were. In other words,
some people with ten ounce pouches could and did do better than some with
six ounce pouches, IF they ate a better diet and exercised well. And vice
versa. Protein first! :~D
— Suzy C.
March 30, 2003
Gak! Yet *another* typo from me! That should say NOT how big their
pouches were, instead of "NOW."
— Suzy C.
March 30, 2003
Relax pouch stretching is a overrated problem according to my surgeon. Its
actually very rare and some stretching is to be expected and is normal.
— bob-haller
March 30, 2003
Remember....eat till you are full not till it hurts. I an 13 months out
and sometimes I still can only eat a few small bites. Like Bob's Doc, mine
says the stretching is to be expected to some extent.
— Oldsoul
March 30, 2003
I have heard that drinking soda can stretch your pouch. I never drank soda
so this does not bother me. I know patience in my group who do drink soda
and their weight loss is not as much. One woman just had a revision and
brags about drinking a whole bottle(62oz) a day. I wonder if everything
that would put air/gas in your pouch would cause it to stretch??
— [Deactivated Member]
March 31, 2003
As the others have said, it is normal for your pouch size to stretch over
time, otherwise, we would continue to have 2 oz pouches and whittle away to
nothing. There are those that abuse their pouches though and can stretch
them beyond the normal capacity it is supposed to stretch. They do this by
eating until over stuffed, eating this way all the time, and eating all the
wrong things-they end up stretching the pouch and regaining weight.
— Cindy R.
March 31, 2003
I just had my first consult thursday and my surgeon said that in two years
my pouch should be the size of 2 thumbs. That doesn't sound like a lot to
me but he has been doing these for a long time and I trust that he knows
more than me. I am going to do everything in my power to keep the things I
don't need out of my little pouch so it will be the size he says it should
be and not overstretch it because I still have a long life to live and I
don't think I can keep the weight off with a 7-8 ounce stomach. Every where
else on here I have read that 7-8 ounces is what the stomach should be
though.
— S C.
March 31, 2003
Lukesha, pouch stretching is one of those things that surgeons and people
disagree on. My surgeon says soda can do it, others say not. One thing
that usually can is if you eat to full capacity at every meal, your pouch
will probably stretch a little more than usual. So it's best to stop eating
1 or 2 bites B4 getting full. I am 10 months out, don't drink soda, try not
to eat till maximum capacity and still can only eat about 3oz at atime-
never more than 4oz. And the pouch should stretch to about 6-8oz I've
heard. And it could seem like alot, even the previous poster thought she
couldn't keep weight off if it was that big. BUt you really can, that is
not that much food, compared to what our stomachs used to be able to
handle- something like 26oz or so I believe. BIG difference! Goodluck to
you
— Lezlie Y.
March 31, 2003
My surgeon says pouch stretching is over exaggerated and really not
anything to worry about. I am 17 mos post op from my revision to
transected pouch and add another year onto that from the original rny and
just had an upper GI. I wanted to make sure all was well and my pouch has
not stretched a bit! It is the size of one of the vertebrae which was
visible in the xray. But sometimes I can eat more than I would ever think
possible with a small pouch. Then other days I can eat only about 1 oz or
so. It is rather confusing. Anyway, in order to stretch your pouch
purposely, one would have to endure a lot of pain and would have to really
try to stretch it. Just my humble opinion.
— Mylou52
March 31, 2003
I asked this question of a surgeon that was doing a chat here on this site
over a year ago & he said It's very rare for a pouch to be stretched
out ( I assume he meant MORE than is usual & expected) & isn't
cause for concern. I was really surprised at his answer, but that's what he
said....
— Kathy W.
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