Larger Bougie Size

[VSG_VET]

Did anyone have bougie size 36 or higher and how has your process been. I'm doing my research so I know that some think that it doesn't matter and I'm not asking for a debate on that issue just curious to hear personal experiences from people who had larger bougie sizes.

[JustWantToBeHealthyAgain]

36 is hardly considered a "larger" bougie size. It's actually the average size. 38-40+ would be considered larger.

Mine was a 36 and I definitely feel restriction.

[ximmia]

I'm a 38 and it hasn't been detrimental.

[sunman71]

Did anyone have bougie size 36 or higher and how has your process been. I'm doing my research so I know that some think that it doesn't matter and I'm not asking for a debate on that issue just curious to hear personal experiences from people who had larger bougie sizes.

Curious where the conversation goes. (I had to look up bougie to even begin to follow this conversation.)

[natex14]

I read this before my surgery a few months ago and decided to ask my doctor about it. He looked at me like I was nuts and said no one has ever asked that before and he was shocked that I knew what it even was. He said he planned on using a 36 or a 38, but he said it didn't really matter. That the difference isn't that big between them is so small that when it matures you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. That it would be like a bite more with a bigger size, which isn't going to make you a success.

I'm not sure how accurate all of that is, but that was the conversation that I had.

[traciphipps]

I'm still not quite sure I know what it means!!

[natex14]

I'm still not quite sure I know what it means!!

Here is how I understand it. During surgery they put a tube down your throat all the way through your stomach. They then cut around that tube using it as a guide. That means that the smaller the tube, the smaller your new stomach becomes. Hopefully that makes a little more sense.

[WaywardSmiles]

The average bougie used is 36 or 38. That is a difference of just two millimeters. It is a guide for the surgery. It is inserted into our stomach and then the cauterizing/stapling tool is put against it. Although these are the average sizes, there may be physical (a patient's specific anatomy) that may cause the surgeon to use a larger or smaller size. Think about the difference between a 6'4'' man and a 5'2" woman.

[Lavender]

Mine was a 36 and I have had no problems with any food, healing etc.

[Sleeveless in Seattle]

My surgeon does 40. He said size doesn't matter as much as technique. A loose staple line on a 34 can be the same as butting the staple line tight against a 40 bougie. I'm 8 weeks out on Wednesday and have lost 27 lbs since surgery. Slow but steady.

[Little Verbena]

I want to say that mine was a 36 but to be honest, I have forgotten. I know that I saw others posts about smaller sizes. My doctor told me that he usually goes with the larger size to avoid the overly tight stomach that causes lots of indigestion or throwing up. In my case it really worked. I never threw up post surgery.

[VSG_VET]

This was the info I found and its great to hear from you guys who have 38-40


ObesityHelp - Gastric Bypass, LAP-BAND® System, DS and Other Surgical and Non-Surgical Weight Loss Options.

[jmw]

My surgeon uses a 38 or 40(depends on the patient, used a 40 on me) and sews generously around the bougie(meaning not tight right up against it). At three years out there was ZERO difference in those who had different bougie sizes. The smaller the bougie, the higher the leak risk and reflux incidence, so I asked my doc to use the larger one. I am glad that I did. I can drink all liquids just as easily as I could before(and that started by day 4), can eat about 2 ozs per meal, and have never had reflux or any foods that didn't go down well. I'll take it!

[JustWantToBeHealthyAgain]

I have read several medical research papers that looked at the intake and success post op of patients with varying bougie sizes. 32-40 and even beyond 40.

The conclusions that came from these papers were that patients who had different sized bougies up to 40fr were not statistically different from each other in terms of post op success (excess weight lost).

There are some higher risks associated with having a smaller bougie size (32, 34) in terms of having GERD/reflux and I found a research paper that supported this.

I had GERD prior to surgery. My surgeon explained to me that smaller sizes = increased risk for reflux post op so he likes to use 36. I'm happy he did that on me.

But you know what the difference is between them? Mere millimeters or centimeters. What is truly going to determine your success here is not your bougie size, but if you stick with the program, do your best to eat well (get your protein/water in) and remain active.

If I have a moment when I get home, I'll look up links to the actual studies I looked at and share them here so you can see for yourself.

[snugglebug]

Mine was a 40 and I have actually wished a time or two that it had been smaller. I'm sure that what the other posters have said is true and that it doesn't make a huge difference but even if it would have given me the smallest extra advantage I would have taken it.