HJTx

Does anyone know what the symptoms of a dilated pouch are? Also, what is done to remedy the problem?

Oh no honey. Not even. You are so recently banded. Follow your surgeon's instructions carefully. Pouch dilation usually happens from long term "pouch packing" aka overating. As far as restriction, you won't truly feel or have restriction until you've had several fills. I like most people I've talked to didn't have restriction until at least 4 or 5 fills. This surgery takes lots and lots of patience and discipline. Just be real careful not to eat more than about a cup to a cup and half but for safety, double check with your surgeon because I think it depends on the size of your band/pouch. Right now you just have a band around your stomach which has created a small pouch. The band hasn't been "tightened" yet. You most likely have some swelling in the area of the stoma but don't count on feeling restriction until you've been filled. You're doing good with chewing your food really well. Can't emphasize that enough. If you don't chew it really good you will get "stuck" and have awful chest pain for a few seconds until it passes and sometimes you'll have to slime it back up which is dangerous for your stomach. And most of all.... PLEASE don't overeat because that could cause you to dilate your little pouch. I did that and my symptoms were really bad heartburn and total loss of restriction after I had 5 fills and good restriction. Keep reading up on the "rules" and follow your doctor's instructions. GOOD LUCK and take care of your new little belly. <!-- / message -->

Oh no honey. Not even. You are so recently banded. Follow your surgeon's instruction carefully. Pouch dilation usually happens from long term "pouch packing" aka overating. As far as restriction, you won't truly feel or have restriction until you've had several fills. I like most people I've talked to didn't have restriction until at least 4 or 5 fills. This surgery takes lots and lots of patience and discipline. Just be real careful not to eat more than about a cup to a cup and half but for safety, double check with your surgeon because I think it depends on the size of your band/pouch. Right now you just have a band around your stomach which has created a small pouch. The band hasn't been "tightened" yet. You most likely have some swelling in the area of the stoma but don't count on feeling restriction until you've been filled. And most of all.... PLEASE don't overeat because that could cause you to dilate your little pouch. I did that and my symptoms were really bad heartburn and total loss of restriction after I had 5 fills and good restriction. Keep reading up on the "rules" and follow your doctor's instructions. GOOD LUCK and take care of your new little belly.

Ok now I'M confused!!! I thought we were supposed to eat a cup to a cup and a half per meal. What's this about 1/2 cup??

I knew because I was guilty of overeating for a long time and I gradually lost all retriction and then I began having terrible heartburn. It got so bad that it kept me from sleeping at night. I looked for information about my symptoms on these message boards and also Dr. C said I might have pouch dilation. I did what I had to do to fix it because I was so scared that my band would slip.

I had pouch dilation. Everyone called it a prelude to a slip. SCARED ME TO DEATH!!!!!!! I did two weeks of liquids (slim fast, Protein shakes) to let my stomach rest. Then I did two weeks of soft foods (creamy Soups, Protein shakes, avocados, cottage cheese). My heartburn went away within days and my pouch went back to normal size. I know this because I have good restriction again (I had lost all restriction). I only drink a Protein shake for Breakfast, small snack, then 1 1/2 cup of protein and veggie for lunch, then a small snack and about a cup of protein and veggie again for dinner. Basically, I'm eating every 3 hours to keep my metabolism going and it really helps to keep me from "starving". Also, LOTS OF Water between eating. Now I am being soooooo careful cuz gurrrrls - it's too dangerous!

Oh God, I'm having heartburn again. :faint: I had lost restriction and had pretty bad heart burn for about a month and I read a lot of posts and such and Dr. C you said I might have a dilated pouch. I was so scared so I went on liquids only (Slim fast and blended soups) for about 2 weeks or so and all my symptoms subsided. I've started eating soft foods such as cottage cheese, soft fish, some veggies and lots of yogurt and have been doing great until today. The heartburn is back!!! Should I go back on liquids again and if so, for how long? Thanks!!!!!!!!

Can anyone recommend a fill doctor in Houston? Preferably the 1960/I-45 area or even Humble or The Woodlands would be good. I had my surgery with Dr. Spiegel but will never go back to him.:speechles

tltucker thanks for your input. I totally agree with your experience. I myself didn't have any problems with vomiting at all. I got post operative pleurisy. I had SO MUCH air left in my stomach. I looked 7 months pregnant and I'm not exagerating. The surgeon told me to take Gas X and I took a lot of that with no help at all. The surgeon's staff said "Oh it's just gas, get up and walk around" "You're just fine. Don't worry". Wrong! I wish I had been able to drive to his office. My husband had to call an ambulance and I was hospitalized. It was awful!!!

I am just astonished that you'v lost 100 pounds in 60 days. I've never heard such a thing, not even with a gastric bypass!! Amazing.

You Lost 100+ Pounds In Less Than Two Months???????

I think it's so awesome of Dr. C to offer to take care of her! I wish you were in Texas Dr. C!!! I think I had a pouch dilation. I lost restriction and had terrible heartburn for about a month. I'm not able to see a surgeon for reasons I won't bore you with but I did look on these forums for some help. Dr. C said my symptoms sounded like possible pouch dilation. I immediately went on liquids only. Slim fast and Campbell's Bean with Bacon in a blender. I only had these in 1/4 to 1/2 cup servings three times a day or so. I did this for about a 2 weeks and I'm much better. I've only had mild heartburn about 3 or 4 times. Restriction is better. I started eating avocado, cottage cheese and soft fish with no problems. Lots of yogurt too. I've lost 5 pounds in these last 3 weeks and I feel much better. Should I be worried about "occasional" heartburn? It was daily before but only 3 or 4 times in the last week and only mild.

Are you having any heartburn? I lost restriction too and have heartburn to boot and everyone I've chatted with agrees that I might have a dilated pouch (from overeating). I'm on liquids (slim fast and puree soups). Been on liquids for a week now and am really surprised to have restriction back so soon. Maybe try liquids for awhile and see your doctor. Let me know if it's a dilated pouch. I'm seeing my surgeon next month but in the interim, I'm being really careful. I'm afraid to eat!

Thanks so much for the information. I am not able to see a surgeon right now so I was looking for some information on here and other sites. I have been on a liquid only diet for the past week. Just Slim Fast, pureed bean Soup and Water. I was pretty surprised to have restriction back so quickly. I am very very guilty of "packing" it in. Especially these last 3 months. I lost restriction and thought oh well, I can eat more so I went for it. I know, BAD. This whole thing has scared me straight! Thanks again!!!

Never said you "violated my rights". Just thought it was nosey of you to "look around" to find an answer to a question that I didn't care to answer. It's not my intention to bad mouth a physician.

enterprise01. I don't see why you felt the need to repost my information. Why are you looking up my posts? If I had wanted people to associate my bad experience with Dr. Spiegel I would have posted it all together. I wouldn't have figured that someone would research me in order to answer someone elses question. Seems to me that it would be my right to answer or not.

Beware fellow bandsters with these "gas pains". I too was extremely bloated for days and had pain under my breast, sort of behind my rib which kept getting worse. I kept telling my doctor that it didn't feel like gas at all but he wouldn't listen. It turned into the worst pain I've ever felt in my life. EXCRUCIATING!!!! Turned out to be Post Operative Pleurisy. NINE days in the hospital!!!!!!

Thanks! Do you like him/her? Have they worked? What does he/she charge?