[BOOTS]

I Know Im Paranoid Like Alot Of The Newbies Here But What Does It Really Take To Stretch You Pouch Or Do Damage, Etc????

[BOOTS]

Or How Do You Know If You Did Stretch It Out?

[armywife2aerial]

i wanna know to please I'm very interestied in this question.

very good question BOOTS

[fr1endly2]

HONESTLY at the early stage both you ladies are at...
you wouldnt stretch or damage your pouch now.
BUT you can rupture your staple line which can be
dangerous.
DONT worry and relax...follow the eating rules
and all will be fine.
I never had full sensations.
I was hungry alot.
YOUR tool will work.
JUST be easy on it early out so the staple
line of the new pouch heals.
OUR pouches over time are supposed get bigger
we cant live forever on the small size it is early post op
or we would get completely malnourished. ITS a gradual
process.
SO my view is right now you would tear open your pouch
if you were eating to much verse stretching it out right now.
OVER time the side of it will increase its all part of this tool

[Kenyar]

yeah i dont think the stretching comes into play until later

[armywife2aerial]

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! i feel soooo much better know. BUT im still ganna worrie BECAUSE im a worrie wort

[Kenyar]

i am sure doc will come in and explain at some point, but i dont think you could possibly eat enough regularly at the point you are at to stretch it, you'd most probably puke before it got to that point lol! relax guys. this is the time where you get to sit back and enjoy the ride. dont worry yet lol. save that for later

[DocSanae]

The most likely serious complications that can happen, especially early out.
1) stricture
2) bowel obstruction
3) breakage of staple line
4) ulcer along the staple line

It takes 3-4 months for you and your pouch to heal completely.
In the beginning, both the membrane of your pouch, and the staple line is swollen, so there is actually less space than the 15-25 ml( just under 1oz) that the pouch is supposed to be. Once all the swelling goes away, and the inflammation around the staple line also goes away, there will be more space--the 1oz or so space that the pouch was origingally constructed with. This will make you feel as if your pouch stretched, because you will be able to hold more food in your pouch.

Also, as the healing is completed, the pouch will regain the ability it naturally has to stretch a little to accomodate food--like the rubber ball that stretches a little if you fill it up with air. Now, the portion of the stomach that the pouch is made of, is the part that stretches least of the stomach. The part of your stomach that is stapled off can stretch about 2-2.5 times the size it is at rest, when full with food. The portion the pouch is made of, can't stretch that much, but even if it could stretch to twice its size, it will still be less than 2oz.

Our body has the natural ability to regain lost functions to some level. So, pouches can stretch, too, but never to the original stomach size it was--if that happens, it means that the staple line broke...and it takes at least several months, more likely a year or more for it to stretch to the level that will cause weight regain, if it ever should stretch.

The most likely culprit that will damage your pouch are medications, so be careful to avoid medication that you are instructed to avoid, or if you have to take something that is normally considered harmful to the pouch, then take it under close observation of your surgeon or PCP.

Use your tool as your surgeon instructs you, follow the pouch rules once you are able to eat solid food, and you will do fine.

[BOOTS]

Really Medications Can Do That To Your Pouch? Like What Kind?

[Kenyar]

theres a list somewhere. (i can never find it) of stuff you cant really take anymore...i think aspirin, motrin, pamprin, advil, aleve and a BUNCH of other stuff.