Has anyone stretched their pouch?

[baycoastal 0]

I am 2 weeks postop and I am a little concerned I may have stretched the pouch. There has been 2-3 occasions where I gulped liquids without thinking about it. Then I ate some chicken breast meat and chewed "normally" and swallowed--again not thinking about it. I had some regurgitation afterwards but know nausia or vomiting. I am trying my best to slow the drinking to sips and chew chew chew--but sometimes I automatically react.

If the pouch does get stretched, how can you know, and what are the remedies?

[june09bandit 0]

Good question - I've been wondering the same thing. I have a tendency to gulp Water as well. I think it just flows through, but I'm not sure. I haven't had any discomfort as a result. Hopefully someone knows the answer.

[Jaffa 5]

Fluoroscope, is the only real way to see. But, it is pretty doubtful that you stretched it already.

Slow down....and don't eat until your full, eat until you are not hungry. Or measure your food and stay within you portion size recommended. For most that is one cup of food.< /p>

[Stum-belina 0]

I also wandered if i had stretched mine, however i've never thrown up or bp'd. I have started measuring my food as i'm apparently not capable of judging on my own. I hope i have not hurt mine. I'ts nice to know that i'm not the only one messin up a little here and there. Good Luck

[june09bandit 0]

I haven't thrown up or pb'd either, knock on wood. I just know I've eaten a little more than I should a couple of times. I'm rededicating myself to the food diary today. I think I must be eating something with significant calories that I'm overlooking. Still also adjusting to never feeling "full". Like someone else said, I have to learn to eat till I'm not hungry anymore rather than eating till I'm full.

[RestlessMonkey 7]

WOW Two weeks post op and already cleared to eat solids....especially something like chicken breast! Amazing; I didn't get solids until week 6.

You might tell your doc you "regurgitated" after the chicken...I wouldn't be worried about stretching the pouch nearly as much as I'd be worried about causing the band to slip, esp. that early post op.

[june09bandit 0]

I can have chicken or fish as long as it's blenderized, so I've had chicken breast blenderized with spaghetti sauce to make it more liquidy. It's not great food, but it's way better than a Protein shake.

Restless Monkey, since you have a lot of knowledge, perhaps you know why the guidelines vary so much between doctors. For instance, I was on liquids (any liquid) for one week. Weeks 2-4 are mushies, then full solids. I've noticed others on liquids for 3 weeks. I don't get it. Obviously some doctors think mushies too early can be harmful.

Thanks for sharing all your wisdom and experience!

[RestlessMonkey 7]

I have an educated guess as to why the guidelines vary...(caveat...I don't KNOW, just guessing! LOL)

Lapband has published guidelines for band useage. Surgeons take those guidelines and modify them based on the research and their own experiences. Different patients heal differently, they respond to the band differently, and even surgeons have different "styles" if you will. Some are very conservative with their patients, some more "experimental" (all within legal and moral boundaries of course). My conservative surgeon, for example, fills us slowly, likes us to stay overnight post op, has a conservative pre- and post-op diet. Others are more "let's see how you tolerate mushies". My surgeon has had patients cause slips in the first few weeks by overeating so he's cautious. Apparently yours hasn't had this experience!

I have learned the hard way (through reading here and disregarding my surgeon's orders because of what "other people" were doing) that it's safest to pick a surgeon you trust and then trust him. By all means, question his rationale if you're doubtful...but overall, my surgeon and I are the ones responsible for my recovery and success, not anyone whose posts I read here, no matter how well-intentioned. Your doc should be the final answer for you and if you don't feel comfortable with that, you really need a new doc (and when I say you I mean "a person" lol not YOU specifically)

They interpret what we should do as filtered by their own experiences, in other words.

[june09bandit 0]

That's more or less what I was thinking as well. My surgeon does over 500 lapbands a year (I didn't ask for specific numbers) and he is a "proctor" for lapband (not sure exactly what that means either). I believe he knows what he's doing, he's just lacking in communication skills. His nurses do all the communicating on his behalf. He is on the liberal side of things. I was on the way home within 2 hours of surgery, however, he keeps those with sleep apnea overnight. I'm allowed coffee and carbonation (but I don't like soda, so that part doesn't matter to me).

I just feel a need to "understand" the differences better. It's definitely a learning experience. My stomach gurgles in a new location, and the rest of the intestines are being much more fussy. Now if I can just get my brain adjusted to this new stomach, it'll be a piece of cake!