Seems like a new crop of VSGers are coming through with questions that pertain to the pyloric valve function.

frisco

 

Frisco- Pyloric Valve Basics-101 (re-post)

  frisco
on 3/5/12 3:44 am VSG on 09/30/09 with Paul Cirangle (COE)  
The Pyloric Valve.....the most not talked about function that will answer a lot of questions.

If you understand the Pyloric Valve function......things will be a lot easier and explain why we need to do certain things.......


Post Date: 10/5/11 5:58 pm 
 

First, I’m not a doctor nor have I ever played one on TV.

This is a level one explanation.....there is more to it....but if you understand this....it will make some sense.

 

This may be old news to some..... But I’ve noticed a lot of people who have had VSG do not have any idea how the Pyloric Valve works.

 

This is my understanding how the Pyloric Valve works.

 

The Pyloric Valve function and how it pertains to your VSG.

 

The function of your Pyloric valve is the single most not talked about important part of understanding how and when you should eat and drink.

 

The Pyloric Valve is just that....It is a valve that is located at the bottom of your stomach/sleeve. This valve is in between your sleeve and the small intestine. The basic definition of a valve is an apparatus that opens and closes.

 

When open this valve it is about the diameter of a dime. When closed it’s opening is closed down to the diameter of the head of a ballpoint pen.

 

Dense proteins and harder to digest foods will cause the Pyloric valve to close to hold the food in your stomach for pre-digestion...... stomach acids breaking down this “Rough” food. 

 

That’s why we are told to eat dense proteins first.....To close the Pyloric Valve so food stays in your stomach/sleeve longer so we have a sense of satisfaction.

 

It takes about 30-60 minutes for the food to clear the Pyloric Valve...... Than it’s OK to drink.

 

That is also where the term slider food  comes into play. A slider food does not close the Pyloric Valve and as the term is intended.....food slides right past an open Pyloric Valve.

 

 

 

So now the other half of the Pyloric Valve function..... You eat a dense protein like chicken that causes your Pyloric Valve to close. Say for example your sleeve has a 4oz. capacity.....and you eat 4oz. of chicken.....your sleeve is full and holding all 4 oz. of chicken for pre-digestion because your Pyloric Valve is closed. 

 

So now try and drink something....where is it gonna go? Up.....Up until it hits another valve of sorts..... the Esophageal Sphincter (valve) and above that is a flapper valve. The function of these two valves is to hold food, bile and stomach acids in your stomach and not backing up into your air way. This is a very high pressure system. Thats why when you eat to much or drink after eating a hard to digest food and your Pyloric is closed.....It hurts cause you pressurized your intake track. Vomiting would be a natural pressure release.

So you can see how learning and understanding how the Pyloric Valve works is important as it pertains to eating and drinking with a Gastric Sleeve.

 

So that was kinda like VSG and the Pyloric Valve 101

 

As you get further a long you will want to use the Pyloric Valve in other ways to keep food in your sleeve longer to stay satisfied longer. 

 

A sleeve empties faster than a stock un altered full size stomach so sometimes it’s beneficial for you to learn what foods stay in your sleeve longer to extend satisfaction.

 

Dense proteins are #1 in closing the Pyloric Valve. Chicken, steak, pork, fish.....in that order seems to be the way it goes for me.

 

Other foods that are hard to digest and help close the Pyloric Valve are foods like:

 

• Broccoli Stalk
• Asparagus
• Celery
• Cucumber with Skin
• Radish
• Cabbage (I’m testing this right now)
• Bell Pepper

 

So I hope you understand my 5 cent tour of the Pyloric Valve and how it effects the way we eat with a VSG and how important it is to work the Pyloric Valve to your benefit.

frisco

 

 

I was thinking about this today, in fact, and was wondering if maybe you know the answer....

The reason behind not eating or drinking for 30-60 minutes after a meal is only to prevent vomiting or will the fluid cause the valve to open before it should and the food to pass on out before it's ready?

Also, what about the 30 minutes before eating?  What is the reasoning?  Obviously I can ask my surgeon next time I see him.  I'm not breaking the rule so an answer isn't urgent.  Mainly, I just like to know the "why".

Question #1

On a higher level than the 101 explanation. Yes to both your points...... in general. Once your pyloric is closed, anything else you put in just goes "up".

And yes, fluids can cause the pyloric valve to open sooner.

Increased duration of satiety happens by keeping the food in your sleeve the longest. I normally don't start fluids again for an hour and a half (90 minutes).

 

Question #2

I drink and even gulp all the way up to my first bite of food. I never really understood the 30 minutes "before".

 

**** As always, cause the peanut gallery...... check with your surgeon when trying anything outside their instructions.

frisco

Thanks.  So far, satiety isn't a problem for me because I'm so early out.  I still have zero hunger or need for food to "stay" longer...so the 45 minutes has been working for me after.  I will keep this in mind as I get further out, though, that I might need to wait longer after eating. 

Thanks for sharing and responding!

Wow frisco... that makes so much sense ... After I eat and if I wait 25 30 mins to drink I get this pain right in the center of my rib cage... and I get a reflux.... ... it sound like what you just explained... I had some chop meat with tomato and cheese  ..and then  about 25 mins later water... maybe I need to wait a bit longer....thanks so much for all that info...  It really helped... especially since I'm a new vsg..

Yup.... your drinking to soon..... best case scenario is to resume liquids after your sleeve is cleared completely of food and the pyloric is wide open.

Takes a while to get used to the sensations.

frisco

I love this post - have read it many times.  Thank you!  My question is - how long do liquids (like water, broth, protein shake) stay in the stomach?  Same amount as food?  At this point, only 5 days out, I'm worried about drinking too much, too fast.  Haven't even introduced cream soups, purees, yogurt into my diet yet.  Just trying to get the liquids in...but don't want to break anything.

An open pyloric valve has about the diameter of a dime.

frisco

Thank you for reposting this!