:(I have noticed the past month i have been eating more and have ate to much 3 times and i was afraid i may have streached my pouch. how do you guys measure your portions. thanks rjb

Your doctor should have instructed you to eat 1/2- 1 cup of food per meal. When was your last fill? Are you have any other issues such as heartburn, sore throat or back pain? I would recommend going in for a fill if it has been awhile. Have your doctor check your pouch under fluoroscopy if possible. Then they can see if you have stretched your pouch or caused a slip. Best of health!

:embarassed:hi, i have not had any other issues and my last fill was in january and its was my 4th fill the first that gave me good restriction. I will make an appointment as soon as possible. I have went from 177 to 180 in amatter of 3 days, i think i maybe because i have not been drinking water. thanks for your info, i am going to start measuring my food by using a small saucer form my meals. I dont want to cause any complications. thanks rjb

I'm so worried about this. I'm glad you posted the topic RJB. I have my first fill next week but my appetite is increasing. I still do not eat as much as I use to which now seems volumous but with each week I can seem my appetite returning. Can't wait for that fill.

What happens if the pouch is overstretched and how would you know?

Lap dancer-You haven't had any fills so please don't worry about a stretched pouch. Without a fill it's just like not being banded so you can eat whatever you want cause there is no restriction.

RJB-You properly need a fill. As you continue to lose weight the fatty area around your band lossen causing you to need another fill, therefore, allowing you to be able to eat more. You are very fortunate that you've only had 4 fills & the last one was in January. Please see your doctor, he/she is the only one that could tell you if your pouch is stretched but I doubt it.

Lap dancer-You haven't had any fills so please don't worry about a stretched pouch. Without a fill it's just like not being banded so you can eat whatever you want cause there is no restriction.

RJB-You properly need a fill. As you continue to lose weight the fatty area around your band lossen causing you to need another fill, therefore, allowing you to be able to eat more. You are very fortunate that you've only had 4 fills & the last one was in January. Please see your doctor, he/she is the only one that could tell you if your pouch is stretched but I doubt it.

@ NaturalBeauty Thank you! You took a weight off my shoulders.

My fill nurse says that about 90% of folks stretch their pouches. I don't think that's your problem, but it's pretty common. I suspect mine is stretched. She didn't say what to do about stretched pouches, but she does say it's a common problem. My problem is I can't tell when I'm really full. It's been a year since I got my band, and I can eat pretty much if I go slowly. I think I need that food to operate my body even though my weight loss has come to a screeching halt. I may try a new plan soon -- lots of veggies and fruits since they are in season. But I do eat meat to get my protein. Alas, I don't know what to do.

bitteroldhag-When your pouch is stretched the doctor normally recommends you go on total liquids for a certain amount of time, 2/4 weeks, depending on the doctor. This gives the body the time it needs to heal without chewing or digesting anything solid, therefore, bringing the pouch back to normal.

I'm not surprised that 90% of patients do this because we all sometimes bush ourselves to overeat with the band & that's not always good but thank goodness there is a solution for us to get back on track.

Anyway, follow what your doctor is saying becuase he is the expert & he also knows your body.

I didn't keep good restriction until my 3rd fill, and then it felt right. Thern all of a sudden I could eat huge amounts. I went for a fill and found out that I had stretched my pouch. (She compared old and new fluoroscope pics). I was on fluids for 3 days and my pouch went back to normal. If that hadn't happened, she would have done a partial unfill to let the pouch rest. The only thing I can think of that stretched it was that I'm very restricted in the mornings and I was gulping down shakes that just sat in the pouch too long before going down. I'm fine now.

I'm glad you're doing better now Betsy.

From what I'm reading here, it's possible to have the pouch "shrink" just by going on pure liquids for 2-3 weeks? I didn't know this, but I haven't been able to see my doc in about 3 yrs.

2-3 DAYS for me.

Why can't you see your Dr??????

Thanks, NB.

2-3 DAYS for me.

Why can't you see your Dr??????

Thanks, NB.

He is in Port Huron, I now live in the UP about 500 miles away. I'm self-employed, I don't get days off with pay. I do PT and I'm a rehab director, so if I'm not there the patients don't get PT, and most are medicare which means they have to be seen for treatment for 5 days each week. I don't take much if any, time off.

OK I was banded 2/16/07. I had my first fill mid March 1cc in 4cc restriction was pretty good. Lost about 35lbs in 6 weeks without any side effects. So of course my second fill appt. The doctor said she did not think I needed a fill. Against my better judgement I agreed and did not get a fill. Lately I have noticed my appetite increasing and I am hungry all the time. This has been going on for about a month. So I know I need a fill. But how do I know if I have truly stretched my pouch or not. Because I have really been eating more than I should. I just put myself on a liquid diet until my fill appt next week. Should I request a fluroscopy with fill to make sure its not stretch. Please advise

im not sure exactly how this stretching works but i would ask your doctor... they would know what is best for you and ur band:)

Somewhere I heard, that if you have not had your first fill you can not strech your pouch, is this true?