I am like you, I am almost 12 months out - have lost about 42 pounds (would like to loose about 10 more) and I'm going up and down and up and down. After all the money I spent (self pay), and joy at losing the 42 pounds, I certainly do not want to throw all of this away. Does anyone out there know if when you have a vertical sleeve, can it be stretched by eating too much? Sometimes I do eat too much and of course sometimes I am very uncomfortable. But I am really wondering - can the gastric sleeve be stretched - and if so what happens to those staples? Thanks everyone. mega, and