Tummy Stretching? Opinions!

[Lisalu 89]

NtvTxn, thanks for this post. I'm 4 1/2 weeks out and wonder the same things.

Tiffykins: eagerly awaiting your research. Hmmm, maybe I'll do a little myself.

[Lisalu 89]

Man, I should have researched first, then posted after. Here's a link from this board and Tiffykins weighed in on this isue.

http://verticalsleevetalk.com/tell-your-story/5688-stomach-stretching-question.html

[BJean 16]

My doc said something like, well you can still regain weight the weight you've lost after you get the sleeve since your stomach can stretch like with the band, if you eat too much or the wrong foods. He's a highly educated and savvy person so I'm wondering if he was just trying to put the fear in me so I won't eat the super foods (high calorie, low complex carb foods like candy, ice cream, pastries, etc.)

I sure hope he's one of the doctors that Tiff's post mentioned. Meaning the ones who remove all of the stomach except the muscle part. I wonder if I should ask him about this because he's the reason I am so worried about stretching the pouch because of what he said about regaining lost weight. If I didn't have to worry about that, I might be able to relax and accept a slow weight loss with the confidence that I will reach my goal eventually and if I eat nutritious food I won't have to worry about getting obese again. I've seen many people who had gastric bypass regain most of the weight they lost. In fact, there's one gal I know who regained everything and more. Has anyone heard of the "rosebud" surgery for patients like that?

[MINI-Me 196]

My doc said something like, well you can still regain weight the weight you've lost after you get the sleeve since your stomach can stretch like with the band, if you eat too much or the wrong foods.

I think this is very true. If you snack all day or graze, you can fit in a lot of food and calories. Likewise, if you choose slider foods for your meals, those calories will just slide right in.

There may be some slight stretching ... only time will tell. But, my doctor guaranteed me that I will never be able to eat a Red Robin Hamburger again at one sitting. And, that sounds good to me because pre-op, I LOVED the Whiskey River BBQ Burger! :001_tongue:

[NtvTxn 1,262]

I've heard of the rose or rosebud surgery for the gastric bypass patients. A friend of mine has gained back some of her weight and mentioned it. She said it is where the go down your throat and kind of tighten everything back up again. I am pretty sure that wouldn't be an option for us since we had a totally different procedure, but I googled it doesn't sound fun to me. Just a vicious cycle. If it happens once, I think it would happen again and again. She has fallen back into some old habits and unless she changes that, in my humble opinion, having everything tightened up again would be a waste. I'd be curious to see what your doctor has to say if you question him further!

My doc said something like, well you can still regain weight the weight you've lost after you get the sleeve since your stomach can stretch like with the band, if you eat too much or the wrong foods. He's a highly educated and savvy person so I'm wondering if he was just trying to put the fear in me so I won't eat the super foods (high calorie, low complex carb foods like candy, ice cream, pastries, etc.)

I sure hope he's one of the doctors that Tiff's post mentioned. Meaning the ones who remove all of the stomach except the muscle part. I wonder if I should ask him about this because he's the reason I am so worried about stretching the pouch because of what he said about regaining lost weight. If I didn't have to worry about that, I might be able to relax and accept a slow weight loss with the confidence that I will reach my goal eventually and if I eat nutritious food I won't have to worry about getting obese again. I've seen many people who had gastric bypass regain most of the weight they lost. In fact, there's one gal I know who regained everything and more. Has anyone heard of the "rosebud" surgery for patients like that?

[NtvTxn 1,262]

We had to attend a seminar....I'm not sure what she was, I think an RN. The doctor did not do it and I never really discussed this with him. There were so many other professionals in his office that patients meet with....individually and in groups....I am not sure that we were ever told that our new little tummies will or will not stretch. I do know they said that the stretchy part is removed and the part that remains is mostly muscle. I know for a fact the lady doing the seminar said we can eat around our "tool". We can re-gain weight. Milk shakes, ice cream, candy, sodas, pastries....those things come to mind. There were others, but those stick out. We all know the bad things. I am very curious about the stretching out though.....any at all??? A definitive answer would be great!!

I think this is very true. If you snack all day or graze, you can fit in a lot of food and calories. Likewise, if you choose slider foods for your meals, those calories will just slide right in.

There may be some slight stretching ... only time will tell. But, my doctor guaranteed me that I will never be able to eat a Red Robin Hamburger again at one sitting. And, that sounds good to me because pre-op, I LOVED the Whiskey River BBQ Burger! :001_tongue:

[MINI-Me 196]

We had to attend a seminar....I'm not sure what she was, I think an RN. The doctor did not do it and I never really discussed this with him. There were so many other professionals in his office that patients meet with....individually and in groups....I am not sure that we were ever told that our new little tummies will or will not stretch. I do know they said that the stretchy part is removed and the part that remains is mostly muscle. I know for a fact the lady doing the seminar said we can eat around our "tool". We can re-gain weight. Milk shakes, ice cream, candy, sodas, pastries....those things come to mind. There were others, but those stick out. We all know the bad things. I am very curious about the stretching out though.....any at all??? A definitive answer would be great!!

I got the distinct impression that he doesn't expect any stretching, but didn't want to give a 100% guarantee. Know what I mean?

[NtvTxn 1,262]

I know what you mean! Seems to be what most insinuate! I sure hope that is correct! I can eat so little, I can't imagine going back to old habits...plus, I am not hungry. Are you??? I am just now beginning to be able to tell when my stomach is empty...interesting! :001_tongue:

I got the distinct impression that he doesn't expect any stretching, but didn't want to give a 100% guarantee. Know what I mean?

[MINI-Me 196]

I know what you mean! Seems to be what most insinuate! I sure hope that is correct! I can eat so little, I can't imagine going back to old habits...plus, I am not hungry. Are you??? I am just now beginning to be able to tell when my stomach is empty...interesting! :001_tongue:

Can't say it's "Hunger" as in the old definition, but definitely know when I need to eat. I get an "empty" sort of feeling - hard to explain.

Head hunger has definitely come back with summer - schedules are off, invitations to bbqs, and tons of sweets seem to be wherever I am. But, working through that.

We CAN do this!!!!

[NtvTxn 1,262]

We can do this!! I have avoided most social situations really. Since surgery was June 11th, I spent six weeks in the healing stage, and now I pick and choose where we go very carefully. We opted out of my husband's company picknic this week, but honestly, I'm not tempted. I'm not hungry! LOL I just don't want to answer questions from people I don't really know! :cursing:

Can't say it's "Hunger" as in the old definition, but definitely know when I need to eat. I get an "empty" sort of feeling - hard to explain.

Head hunger has definitely come back with summer - schedules are off, invitations to bbqs, and tons of sweets seem to be wherever I am. But, working through that.

We CAN do this!!!!

[KathyM 14]

BJean -

If you like ice cream, try getting the Yoplait Whips yogurt and putting it in the freezer. It is just like eating ice cream and they have a chocolate raspberry mousse that is really awesome this way!

[BJean 16]

Thanks for the tip! My daughter buys those. I'll try it.

I do not get hungry either but definitely get that "empty" feeling that only gets worse if I don't eat something.

If this is the way it will be for the rest of my life, I will be a happy camper. When I'm having a meal and I get that dull ache that signals that I am full, it makes me very happy! I love eating so little. I woke up in the middle of the night last night and ran my hands over my ribs sticking out and my much smaller waist and grinned to myself. What a feeling!

[Lisalu 89]

So, I've been doing some research--not peer-reviewed journals, just what I can find online.

Here's my conclusion about tummy stretching: No one really knows.

I've found surgeon's sites that warn against this possibility and others that say it is not possible. Anyhow, how would they test this? Bougie size isn't that helpful since different surgeons cut closer to the bougie. So when someone needs a re-sleeve is it because their stomach stretched or because the surgeon left a bigger stomach? Maybe a researcher could measure stomach capacity at 2 months with a barium swallow (oh yum) and then at 2 years, but I'm not aware that this has been done.

[NtvTxn 1,262]

I'm soooo with you, if I can feel like this for the rest of my life, I'll be thrilled!! I can feel ribs, hip bones and I love seeing my collar bone!! It makes me grin too....but I still don't think I am seeing the drastic change that others are seeing. My mind has not caught up to what the doctor has done!!! How about you?

Thanks for the tip! My daughter buys those. I'll try it.

I do not get hungry either but definitely get that "empty" feeling that only gets worse if I don't eat something.

If this is the way it will be for the rest of my life, I will be a happy camper. When I'm having a meal and I get that dull ache that signals that I am full, it makes me very happy! I love eating so little. I woke up in the middle of the night last night and ran my hands over my ribs sticking out and my much smaller waist and grinned to myself. What a feeling!

[Lisalu 89]

I was wrong--there was at least one controlled study measuring this very thing (gastric dialation in medical terms). Here's the link to the abstract:

Does gastric dilatation limit the success of sleev... [Obes Surg. 2006] - PubMed result

The upshot is that they only found gastric dialation in one patient. The bad (or neutral) news is that they measured the stomach 20 months post-op. Would 60 months post-op look different?