Did My Pouch Stretch?

So I'm just short of 6 months out from my surgery and I've lost 100lbs.  

I feel like I am able to eat more than I should at this point.  Today I was able to eat 3/4 of a chicken salad sandwich without feeling stuffed.  

I know there is some natural stretching that will occur as time goes on but I'm worried I might have gone too far.  I have not over stuffed myself even once.  I have been very careful not to eat more than I should.

Also am considering to go back to liquids for a week or two to help my pouch to shrink again.  I know for a fact that some doctors recommend doing this once every 3 - 6 months to prevent the pouch from stretching. 

Has anyone had success with this?


 

Sounds about normal to me.  I think it would be pretty unlikely to stretch the pouch so early out.

How would going back to liquids for a week or two every three to six months prevent the pouch from stretching?  I mean, if you overate in between periods of liquids, it would still stretch, right?  And if you never go back to liquids but do not overeat, it would not stretch, right?

Kelly

No overeating ever!

What I'm saying is that they suggest you go back to liquids to allow the pouch to relax and not have any normal stress on it to prevent future stretching.

 A mature pouch can be 9-11 ounces.

It's quite early for you to tell.

"Shrinking" the pouch doesn't happen, you sort of just regain control over your eating by reverting to a "diet" plan for a couple days.  It might feel tighter on the days just after that -- but soon -- you have your original capacity back.

You cannot 'shrink' your pouch by returning to liquids....you may feel like you do..but the moment you eat any food volume it will resume it's original shape and size. The more important structure is the stoma....and chronic overeating will cause the stoma to widen to the point that it won't contain your pouch contents for very long....leading to hunger more quickly. The other issue with liquids only at any point under two years out is that you will set your metabolism back.....as starvation levels of calories will cause the body to shut down...at a point when you want to keep your metabolism maximized. If you are concerned.....measure you food and stop when the portion size you believe you should be having is reached. Susan

Congrats on 100 lbs lost!  There is so much variation from person to person on capacity.  I was worried because I could eat 4 or 5 ounces of solid protien at about 6 months out and my surgeon did not feel it was a concern. I've noticed that some friends that have had surgery seem to get full more quickly than I do.

What I find odd is the amount that makes me full can vary greatly even when I haven't eaten for several hours.  I think my intake is often similar to smaller eaters who haven't had surgery.  On other occasions. just a few ounces of something makes me feel super full.

I've never tried the liquid diet shrinking method. I think it can be easier to drink more calories that you eat so I've never been a huge fan of liquid diets.