Can the sleeve stretch?

[Hawk7775 54]

I have seen things that say it can stretch from over eating, from drinking too fast and from drinking carbonated beverages. I have also seen things that say the part of the stomach that stretches has been removed and at most it can only stretch 5%. I am hoping to get input from others as to what you were told by your providers or what you have learned and where you learned it. Thanks in advance for responding.

[blondebomb 580]

Yes it can stretch. I had to go thru several preop classes an my surgeon told me if u go back to old behavior, over eating, high calories during a day, carbonation, grazing ur tummy will stretch. That's why there's some who end up putting weight back on. In fact I had a friend who had wls 18 yrs ago. An bc she didn't address her eating addiction she started eating Luke her preop behavior she stretched an ended up putting it all back on plus...that's why it stretches. .it takes a total behavior an mental change. Baby the new baby tummy: )

[Chelenka 827]

I am 18 months post-op and the stomach tissue left after surgery is still elastic like it was pre-surgery but not nearly to the same capacity. Also there are some foods that dissolve quickly, known as sliders, ( chips, popcorn, ice cream to name a few) and it is easy to overeat this type of food. The surgery doesn't change your brain but it does give you a fighting chance. You have to start working at it eventually.

[Hawk7775 54]

I am 18 months post-op and the stomach tissue left after surgery is still elastic like it was pre-surgery but not nearly to the same capacity. Also there are some foods that dissolve quickly, known as sliders, ( chips, popcorn, ice cream to name a few) and it is easy to overeat this type of food. The surgery doesn't change your brain but it does give you a fighting chance. You have to start working at it eventually.

Thanks. I know about slider foods and am dealing with the whole head hunger stuff. I asked the question because I have seen conflicting things and because at 6 weeks out there have already been a couple times where I had to estimate portion size rather than measure. every time this has happened I assumed I estimated wrong, ate too much and am stretching my sleeve and dooming myself to failure.

Its so funny to me that before surgery I found every way to cut corners on diets to allow myself to eat more and now I freak out about possibly eating 1/2 to 1 oz too much in a meal.

[bikrchk 1,313]

For me, I CAN'T, (physically can't) eat a 1/2 oz too much during a meal. I learned early on that the price was too painful and learned not to do it even if I can't measure. I'll eat 1/2 of my mini portion and wait... and wait. if I get a few more bites, I do, but often, I'm just "done". That said, grazing and slider foods are a WHOLE different challenge. I'm very aware that these can put me back where I came from in a big hurry, so if I can't measure them, I don't eat them. I'll do chips on occasion, but they go on a plate or tiny dish, never out of the bag, and ice cream, only if it's in a Weight Watchers bar. Portion controlled. Whatever I take in, I work it into my day nutritionally and calorie wise. Everything gets recorded in MFP so there's no guilt as long as I'm within daily goals.

Edited August 27, 2014 by bikrchk

[Hawk7775 54]

For me, I CAN'T, (physically can't) eat a 1/2 oz too much during a meal. I learned early on that the price was too painful and learned not to do it even if I can't measure. I'll eat 1/2 of my mini portion and wait... and wait. if I get a few more bites, I do, but often, I'm just "done". That said, grazing and slider foods are a WHOLE different challenge. I'm very aware that these can put me back where I came from in a big hurry, so if I can't measure them, I don't eat them. I'll do chips on occasion, but they go on a plate or tiny dish, never out of the bag, and ice cream, only if it's in a Weight Watchers bar. Portion controlled. Whatever I take in, I work it into my day nutritionally and calorie wise. Everything gets recorded in MFP so there's no guilt as long as I'm within daily goals.

It is just amazing how we can all have different experiences. Maybe its just because I am only 6 weeks out but I am fairly certain I could over eat by an oz or 2 if I wasn't careful. The example I can think of is that last weekend I got into a social situation where we ended up at a restaurant. I ordered some baked fish. Like I said I am fairly certain I over estimated and other than feeling fuller I didn't experience anything negative

[Chelenka 827]

@HAWK7775: it is true that everyone's experience is different. When I was 6 weeks post op if I over ate I had pain in my chest and would slime like crazy. That'll stop you in a hurry. You may still have some nerve deadening from the surgery and thus can't feel the tight sensation most of us get when we are full. So my advice is to be careful and measure your portions.