Conflicting Stories from Doctors

[auntyc 14]

Hi Everyone,

I recently had to do a biometric testing for my work and when I had to talk with one of the 'counselors' because my BMI was out of the normal range (duh!)I mentioned that I was contemplating getting the sleeve. He apparently was a doctor or nurse who had done them in the past. I mentioned that I was concerned about the fact they were going to be taking out 3/4 of my stomach and if something should happen down the road and I needed the stomach I was screwed. He then said "Well, the stomach can be stretched out again. This is how the majority of people regain the weight they have lost.". I was like WTF?!? My doctor and the psychologist I saw both said that the stomach that remains cannot be stretched. It is because you eat the wrong things that you regain the weight. So basically now I am completely confused. While I trust my doctor, I am completely baffled. Has anyone else heard anything like this?

[Andi 78]

From what I've seen about it, your stomach is not so much stretching as relaxing over time. You will be able to take in more food eventually. I don't believe that it will be the same amount as in the past, but you'll be able to get more in there. Weight gain seems to usually come from unhealthy choices & habits coming back.

As I see the surgery, it was an opportunity to hit a reset button. A chance to lose weight & build new healthier habits (and a lifetime commitment to keeping up those new habits).

[lilbearzmom 584]

I think people who regain a lot of weight back after the sleeve are mistaking eating the wrong things for "stretching" of the sleeve. I am able to eat a lot more at almost 5 months out than at 1 month. As my sleeve has healed, the swelling has gone down, and I can fit more in there. I also know that when I eat dense Protein, I feel much more restriction than if I eat, say, tortilla chips or crackers. As we are able to tolerate more and more things, some people might become complacent and forget how to "work the sleeve". It is, and will be WORK for the rest of our lives, not just the first year out from surgery. Even doctors can be misinformed and ignorant about VSG.

[kari61 128]

I specifically asked my surgeon that question, "If the sleeve can stretch"..His response to me was absolutely.He said it is still your stomach, it's not a fake stomach they put in that could never stretch, so if you were to overeat, over time, it will stretch..

[bigsleeve56 266]

It can stretch and it will stretch if abused over time by overeating.

[girlrfriday 71]

I have done quite a bit of research on this topic, because it was the biggest worry deciding to go with the sleeve! YES! your stomach and "Relax" or "Stretch" to some degree but never to its original size. The stomach you have remaining is mostly muscle, and the strchy part is what was removed, so it will be much more difficult for it to stretch than before. I think my big worry is Slider foods, and I think that attributes to weight gain for many. But overall, I know that I have to cherish and protect my little sleeve I want it to serve me as long and as well as it can!

[Ms.AntiBand 2,984]

I don't have any scientific facts that it stretches or relaxes or whatever, but I do know anyone can eat all the wrong things and gain weight. I'm five months out and could easily do it right now. If I wanted too I could eat empty calorie slider foods all day long. I don't have the desire nor will I allow myself to discover the truth about my stomachs ability to enlarge. No sir...eee. I'm done with the unhealthy fat me.

[HatheryOnHerWay 603]

I personally feel that there is a lot of misinformation being spread by well-meaning counselors, nurses, and even doctors. The gastric sleeve is a fairly new procedure in the grand scheme of things, and I think a lot of the "cautionary tales" people like to spread are actually referring to gastric banding or gastric bypass.