Stretched pouch

[Liz W 11]

Do you know if you can have your pouch stretched and your food can still get stuck? Sometimes it feels like it, I have symptoms of stretched pouch, pain in the left shoulder but I can't eat much and some food gets stuck. I have that pain very often ever since the surgery so I never thought it's a problem. I have an appointment with my doctor next week but until then did some of you experienced something similar? Please help!

[2muchfun 8,927]

Why do you think your pouch is stretched? What symptoms are you experiencing?

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

Yes, food definitely can still get stuck with a stretched pouch. The pouch is above the band and while it can stretch, the band doesn't. So, food can still get stuck trying to pass from the stretched pouch through the band.

[lasvegas1989 9]

wow, when i read about the pain in ure left shoulder, i found that really interesting. i can tell u that as i am typing this, i have "some small" pain in my left shoulder right now and i've had 2 cups of tea!... my surgery was March 29th 2013~ I've never had pain in my left shoulder before this surgery. NOW, when i eat normal or drink a lot of Water for example; the pain really sharpens and uncomfortable. my doctor had no clue but his nurse said she heard it from other patients after the surgery. it's the weirdest thing and i have yet to get the REAL connection. But it's my shoulder that tells me to "stop".

also, i've only had 2 small fills. right now i'm not losing weight, i'm maintaining- i have an appointment for a 3rd fill in 2 weeks.

as far as the stretched pouch, i wish i could help, i'm still learning and educating myself as well. i can say that their is definitely way more to this than i was told. They do their best educating us but obviously their is a lot more to find out- Best of Luck

Jeanne :-)

[Adrienne21 106]

I totally get the same pain in my shoulder and my chest. I am still on the liquid diet and I do sip slowly. I am wondering if I am suppose to take breaks between each sip or if each sip should be about a cap full of Water. in the past 6 days I have only drinked about 2oz of water and maybe 2oz of chicken broth. I can't seem to get anything down. I am afraid to force it because I do not want to purge. Also does anyone know if they pre-fill your band when you first get it?

[stept04 465]

I totally get the same pain in my shoulder and my chest. I am still on the liquid diet and I do sip slowly. I am wondering if I am suppose to take breaks between each sip or if each sip should be about a cap full of Water. in the past 6 days I have only drinked about 2oz of Water and maybe 2oz of chicken broth. I can't seem to get anything down. I am afraid to force it because I do not want to purge. Also does anyone know if they pre-fill your band when you first get it?

As far as your question pertaining to a pre-fill most Dr.'s won't put in any amount of Fluid at the time of surgery, but some Dr.'s do. So the only one that can answer if you had any Fluid put in at your surgery would be your Doc or nurse. Hope that is what you were talking about.

~~~Stephanie

[Luka Beth 78]

Some docs do put in Fluid when they area installed. Mine came with 3cc.

However, since you don't say how far postop you are, its hard to tell why you might think you have stretched your pouch. If you are still less than 6 weeks postop, the shoulder pain is still gas from surgery. It can still flare up even 6-8 weeks out.

If you think you are stretched BC you can eat more than you think you should you need to look at what you are eating...if its sliders, then of course you can eat more than you should.

[SashaWLS 412]

May be gas?

[Good4me1313 54]

When did you have your surgery? If it was fairly recently, it could very well be the gas from surgery to inflate your abdomen. I know I had pain in my left shoulder for weeks but it finally subsided.

[Liz W 11]

I was just reading one website http://drsimpson.net/fills/Lap-band-problems/food-stuck-pain/food-stuck-pain-after-eating.html that's were I got my idea. I'm so afraid of stretching my pouch, when you taking about the pain in your left shoulder I have one still, one year after my surgery and one more pain I have maybe some of you have it as well, my port "hurts" Every time I drink more Water, more then a sip, about a 6-8 oz I can feel my port right under my skin, on the left side and it hurt, it gets hard. Maybe it sounds funny, but I always had it and they told me it's OK Does any one else is experiencing same symptoms?

[Good4me1313 54]

Yes, I too can feel my port, but only when I over eat. Feels like it is "pulling", can be quite painful.

[MzTia 3]

I have the pain in my shoulder also on my left side it gets hard as a rock almost. I'm not sure if that's normal or not is tender to touch

[Liz W 11]

Just came back from the doctor's and good news, everything is good, added 1 CC and I'm fine

[Lady VS 1,147]

Yes, my pouch has been stretched a couple of times but I didn't know it until we did a fluro to make sure everything was well and it wasn't. I had been stuck a couple times when it was stretched. My PA took a cc of Fluid out and I was put on liquids for a week, then mushies, and then solids. I was so scared I think I did liquids for two weeks and mushies for the next two until I had my appointment. I was back to normal.

[lellow 1,713]

Shoulder pain can actually be a soft stop for some people. So it doesn't always mean it's a sign of a stretched pouch. If everything's ok, then maybe it is your soft stop, which means it's probably a good idea to stop eating before you get to that point.