Gastric Sleeve Bougie Size?

[Felicia 28]

So I met with my surgeon today and asked him how big my sleeve would be. I see everyone on here talking all these numbers and I wanted to know mine. He said I will have a sleeve the size of 15 cc's. He sounded so sure of himself that I didn't question him any further. Originally I said I wanted gastric bypass, but he convinced me to go with the sleeve. So he said because I wanted gastric originally that he was going to make my sleeve the same size as he makes his gastric patients' pouch, which is 15cc's. So what exactly would that be in Bougie terms. I'm lost.

I just get so nervous in the Surgeons office that I fumble around with what I want to say. If anyone knows anything that could help me I would appreciate your feedback.

[reallyrosy 161]

Well, now I'm confused, too. 15 cc is the volume tht your sleeve will hold. I was under the impression that bougie size referred to the size of the opening of the new stomach. Please clarify. I meet my surgeon on the first and want to 'look' like I know bwhat I'm talking about....

[emily_0192010 168]

The bougie is a straw shaped (and pretty much sized) tool that the surgeon uses as a guide to form the pouch. The anesthesiologist puts it down your throat into your stomach and then the surgeon cuts along it. The size ranges from a 28 french to a 42 (and maybe higher) french.... it sounds like a lot of difference but we are talking millimeters so the difference is really minimal.

My surgeon used a 42 but he said it was a "tight" 42, meaning that he literally goes right up against the bougie and then he over-sews the staple line on the top and bottom.

It sounds like your surgeon was telling you how much your stomach would hold overall, not the size of the tool he uses. 15 cc's is about the size of a tablespoon. I would definitely not worry about it being too big! I cannot say which bougie that is, because it isn't only the bougie that determines how much you can eat. It also depends on how long your stomach is naturally. No matter what though it is going to be tiny!

[reallyrosy 161]

Thanks so much for that clarification! Makes sense, too. But why does the size of the bougie determine the acid reflux complication?

[emily_0192010 168]

Thanks so much for that clarification! Makes sense, too. But why does the size of the bougie determine the acid reflux complication?

I have never heard of this before, however it kinda makes sense to me. The smaller your stomach the more problems with acid you will have. Our sleeves produce more acid than there is room for, so if someone has a 28 bougie they may have more problems than someone with a 42. That being said, I am pretty sure acid problems are the most common side effect for sleevers. I know my surgeon automatically prescribes antacids to everyone of his sleeve patients.

[reallyrosy 161]

Thanks again for the response. Is asking my surgeon how he will attempt to minimize th complication a reasonable question? I don't want hi to kick me out of his office....

[emily_0192010 168]

Thanks again for the response. Is asking my surgeon how he will attempt to minimize th complication a reasonable question? I don't want hi to kick me out of his office....

I would word it more like "is there anything that can be done to prevent acid problems?" And he isn't going to kick you out of his office!! My first appointment with my surgeon he said "well I have no questions for you, do you have any for me?"... I literally handed him a sheet of paper with like 15 questions on it. He looked surprised but answered them all.

[Tiffykins 673]

That's only 1/2 ounce, and that is definitely not what your stomach will end up at after healing and swelling.

There is no bougie size that is even recommended that small. I have a 32fr bougie stomach, and I'm short so my stomach isn't too long, and I can eat 4-6oz of dense Protein depending on the meat type, slider foods/soft foods/puree consistency I can fit in about a cup. I can eat about 3-4 medium to largish sized sushi rolls.

So, I can't even give an educated, or guestimated answer to this one even with all the research out there.

[RickM 1,747]

I don't know what bougie size my doc used (if he used one at all,) but he told me that my stomach was about 2.5 oz when he leak checked it in the OR, His DS stomachs are usually on the order of 4 oz.

I/2 oz sounds awfully small for a sleeve (I'm not sure if they can make them that small, and if they could, I'm not sure that I would want one that small.)

[Norman 1]

My doc does not use a bougie. He said he eye balls it.

[Felicia 28]

Okay so I am going to call my Surgeons office and specifically ask what Bougie size he will use on me. I said "what size will my stomach be". That was my misunderstanding. I thought the bougie size was the general size our new stomachs would be.

I am not worried about my stomach being too big, not at all lol. I actually measured out 15 cc's today and almost pee'd my pants. It was a bit intimidating to say the least. But it did not deter me! I am still going for it!

I actually have GERD and heartburn so I am wondering how bad it will be after the surgery, right now I am on Zantac and Dicyclomine but I don't take them. I have been dealing with it my whole life and didn't know I had anything wrong until they did an Upper Endoscope and found it.

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm still new to all of this. Plus this is all moving so fast. I had my Consultation on 9/26/11 and Doc told me today he estimated I should be getting the surgery between Mid-November and Mid-December. No definite date yet but I'm still so excited!!

Thanks everyone.

[reallyrosy 161]

Good luck, Felicia. I hope I can share the sense that things are moving rapidly.

[lml32937 65]

My doc uses a 40 and says anything smaller is really looking for a lot of potential side effects...

[Sassygirl06 962]

a tip for communicating with the doctor is to write down everything that you want to talk to him about prior to your appointment. everyone gets frazzeled when you go to the doctors and then ends up forgeting half the stuff you want to ask. pull out that list and ask away. he wont mind because he doesnt want you going in blind. my bougie size is 32 and as far as i have heard that is the smallest they ususally go. at first i had trouble with acid reflux, but for the past month no problems and i dont take any ppi any more.

[emily_0192010 168]

a tip for communicating with the doctor is to write down everything that you want to talk to him about prior to your appointment. everyone gets frazzeled when you go to the doctors and then ends up forgeting half the stuff you want to ask. pull out that list and ask away. he wont mind because he doesnt want you going in blind. my bougie size is 32 and as far as i have heard that is the smallest they ususally go. at first i had trouble with acid reflux, but for the past month no problems and i dont take any ppi any more.

About the list.. I did that and I literally just handed it to my surgeon! He was great about it though and answered each one! This is definitely a good idea.