fact or fiction?

DangerGirl
on 10/4/12 7:03 am - Toronto, Canada

RNY on 08/17/12

Ok - I've heard a few things over the last few days and I would just like some help sorting one of them out ...

The one that most got me thinking was ... "You can't stretch out your pouch with liquid."

Under the assumption that our "lil'buddy" pouches work like a funnel, this does make sense to me. "Thin" liquid like water or tea or such, slowly poured (on in our case sipped) down a funnel will just flow right through. The thicker the liquid, the more the funnel might get backed up.

I'm just wondering if this is clear logic or if I've totally missed something. Like most people early in the journey there is a small but constant fear that scratches the back of my brain worrying that I'm going to stretch my pouch out all to crap and blow this chance I've been given.

Thanks

Annie_Anaba
on 10/4/12 7:54 am

RNY on 08/27/12

Ok, my NUT told me that liquids will stretch it. But I too have read posts that say it will not and......I read posts that say it doesnt stretch the pouch at all it may stretch the stoma. So I am as confused as you are. Please enlighten us vets and ty.

poet_kelly
on 10/4/12 8:42 am - OH

RNY on 11/04/08

On October 4, 2012 at 2:54 PM Pacific Time, Annie_Anaba wrote:

Ok, my NUT told me that liquids will stretch it. But I too have read posts that say it will not and......I read posts that say it doesnt stretch the pouch at all it may stretch the stoma. So I am as confused as you are. Please enlighten us vets and ty.

Did your nutritionist explain how liquids could stretch the pouch? It's simply not possible and if she doesn't understand how the basic anatomy of the pouch better than that, she should not be working with gastric bypass patients.

Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.

Cicerogirl, The PhD
Version
on 10/4/12 10:32 am - OH

RNY on 08/27/07

Neither liquids of any kind nor carbonation will stretch the pouch OR the stoma. With an opening at both the top and bottom, there is no way for liquid or carbonation to build up enough pressure to stretch anything. If you drink too much too fast, the liquid will simply back up into your esophagus. BTDT a number of times. It is a very odd feeling, but there is no mistaking what is happening. If you just wait literally a minute or so (I recommend staying upright unless you want to throw it up rather quickly!) the fluid level will go down.

Lora

14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained

You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.

poet_kelly
on 10/4/12 8:24 am - OH

RNY on 11/04/08

While a thick liquid might run through the pouch a little bit slower than a thin liquid, it's still going to run though pretty quickly. It won't really get backed up.

The pouch is not very easy to stretch. It can happen but not easily. If it was really easy to stretch it, then this surgery would not be very effective and insurance companies would not be willing to pay for it, right? The pouch is made from the least stretchy part of the stomach and the stomach is made of muscle, which means it is naturally able to stretch a bit and then go right back into shape.

Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.

DangerGirl
on 10/4/12 10:05 am - Toronto, Canada

RNY on 08/17/12

Thank you Kelly! You are always a brilliant voice of wisdom.

Misty Morgan
on 10/4/12 8:28 am - Goshen , OH

RNY on 04/24/13

My surgeon and NUT both told me that drinking carbonated beverages can stretch the pouch though. It's all very confusing to me as well. You wouldn't think carbonated drinks would either since it would kind of run right through.

poet_kelly
on 10/4/12 8:41 am - OH

RNY on 11/04/08

On October 4, 2012 at 3:28 PM Pacific Time, Misty M. wrote:

My surgeon and NUT both told me that drinking carbonated beverages can stretch the pouch though. It's all very confusing to me as well. You wouldn't think carbonated drinks would either since it would kind of run right through.

Carbonated beverages can NOT stetch the pouch. They do run right through, plus with openings at both the top and bottom of the pouch, there is no way for pressure from the gas to build up. I really hope your surgeon and nutritionist don't think carbonated drinks can stretch the pouch, because they should definitely know better. One surgeon actually said that some docs just tell patients that to try to scare them into not drinking soda because they think soda is not healthy, which I find highly unethical. Doctors should not lie to patients to try to scare them into doing what docs think they should do.

Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.

wmamey
on 10/4/12 4:34 pm

RNY on 06/18/12

I am really trying to understand this, not all carbonated beverages are soda. I agree that this is very unethical of doctors since the patient could be drinking sparkling water NOT soda. Isn't the physician making an awful big assumption?

DangerGirl
on 10/4/12 10:06 am - Toronto, Canada

RNY on 08/17/12

I've never heard that they can stretch it but have heard that they might irritate it and cause issues that way.

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