Stretching of your pouch

[Lissa74 0]

Hello..I had lap band on May 2008 and lost about 90 lbs. In Feb 2011 I went for a checkup because I was having some pain in my left side and it was discovered my band had slipped. The dr stated that it may had slipped due to a bad stomach virus I had a couple of weeks prior. I had revision surgery Feb 2011 and they put in a new band. Because of this of slippage I am very scared of over eating, but I am very careful to measure all my food. However, I am confused about how much Fluid I can drink at a time and if it can stretch my pouch. I feel like if I get in all my fluids, I feel very over full. Can fluids stretch your pouch?

[kimaly 57]

I woundn't think so, the fluids should be going right through. Maybe you could just try to slow down a bit when you drink. Not as big of sips and give it time to run through.

[TKW 501]

Nope... I posed this question to my Dr. a couple of weeks ago because I have upped my Water intake to 100 oz. She said that I can drink as much as I want, not a problem. Good Luck!

[Fred41 0]

Hello..I had lap band on May 2008 and lost about 90 lbs. In Feb 2011 I went for a checkup because I was having some pain in my left side and it was discovered my band had slipped. The dr stated that it may had slipped due to a bad stomach virus I had a couple of weeks prior. I had revision surgery Feb 2011 and they put in a new band. Because of this of slippage I am very scared of over eating, but I am very careful to measure all my food. However, I am confused about how much Fluid I can drink at a time and if it can stretch my pouch. I feel like if I get in all my fluids, I feel very over full. Can fluids stretch your pouch?

[Fred41 0]

How can you tell if you stretch your pouch? On my 2nd fill they said I may have stretch my pouch, because I drink more Water then half a glass. They said I may have to go back on liquid for two weeks, but they give me a fill. I been losing weight ( 4 lbs.) the last month, but have hit a level of no lose or gain. I have no pain, can eat most things, I need to slow down my eating and measure my food better. Banded Nov. 30, 2010, Two fill (3cc , 2CC ) 14cc band. Do you think I need to go on the liquid thing for two weeks before my next fill ??

[Dave_NW 92]

How can you tell if you stretch your pouch? On my 2nd fill they said I may have stretch my pouch, because I drink more Water then half a glass. They said I may have to go back on liquid for two weeks, but they give me a fill. I been losing weight ( 4 lbs.) the last month, but have hit a level of no lose or gain. I have no pain, can eat most things, I need to slow down my eating and measure my food better. Banded Nov. 30, 2010, Two fill (3cc , 2CC ) 14cc band. Do you think I need to go on the liquid thing for two weeks before my next fill ??

Fred, I think it's unlikely you have stretched your pouch. Unless you're eating too much at a time, or eating too fast, the foods you eat are moving through your pouch within a minute or two. If you are eating slowly and chewing right, things should be moving easily. At only 5cc's in a 14cc band, it's unlikely you have restriction yet, so liquids would also move fairly quickly.

Going on liquids wouldn't hurt you, and may help kick-start your weight loss again. You can also do the "five day pouch test" if you're unsure whether you've stretched things. Basically, it's two days on liquids, one day soft foods, one day firm foods, and one day normal food. You can repeat as needed. This is from the website for it:

"How often should I do the 5 Day Pouch Test?

The 5 Day Pouch Test should be done if you are feeling out of control with your eating, if you have fallen into a slider-carb eating pattern, if you are at a weight loss plateau or have gained weight. It can also be done simply for cleansing and appreciating our weight loss surgery tool. Many patients have successfully done the Five Day Pouch Test and followed the five days by repeating days 4 and 5 over and over. Other patients have elected to include extra days of liquids in their plan. It is perfectly OK to adjust the plan to your specific needs. Patients who do not desire the liquid phase have reported success by doing 3 days of day 3 followed by days 4 and 5."

Dave

[Lissa74 0]

Thanks everyone for input..I appreciate it

[ElfiePoo 109]

How can you tell if you stretch your pouch? On my 2nd fill they said I may have stretch my pouch, because I drink more Water then half a glass. They said I may have to go back on liquid for two weeks, but they give me a fill Do you think I need to go on the liquid thing for two weeks before my next fill ??

According to my surgeon, it would take a lot of long-term, consistent overeating to stretch the pouch. Liquids won't do it because they slide through relatively quickly. Even when my band was overfilled I had no trouble glugging down a full glass of Water.

I don't understand the reasoning of going on liquids for 2 weeks prior to a fill, although you might find that after the fill that's all you can do for a day or two. Again, that was never my problem. My fills never kicked in for almost 2 weeks and then I'd wake up one morning barely able to get shakes down for a day or two.

Just listen to your band.

.