Why is it called a 'pouch'?

[lmd2070]

Searched around and have been reading a lot. I notice everyone refers to their stomach as a 'pouch' after the surgery. I realize its a lots smaller than it was, but to me it seems to signify that it no longer functions as it used to. (I understand the change in Ghrelin levels)

For example, talk about avoiding foods that are hard to break down. Does that mean that the new pouch doesn't have the same ability to break down foods that it did?

And.. whats this I read about chewing very well or food can get 'stuck'. I assumed that the input / output 'holes' to the pouch were still the same size the only thing that I thought changed was the capacity. Or does 'getting stuck' refer to something else that occurs within the pouch.

Sorry if this is covered somewhere else, if so please just point me to the link. I have searched a bit and haven't found an answer so far.

[niamh]

I've not really heard people talking about a pouch in relation to gastric sleeve - that's a term usually used in relation to bypass, where they don't remove the stomach but they create a pouch at the top, and then re-route digestion from there directly to the lower intestine. Occasionally people on here refer to the 5 day pouch test but that's just because it was first developed/used by bypass patients.

Most people here talk about their small tummy or new tummy or baby stomach or something like that, if anything.

Re things getting stuck - that's mostly something I experienced in early stages of post-recovery when your stomach is swollen and still getting used to having food again. You do need to chew well when you're transitioning to solids - the stomach is sensitive for quite some time post surgery. From a number of months down the track I've not had any problems with stuff getting stuck - just very full quickly, or sometimes some food feeling that it's sitting oddly or heavily in my stomach.

Some people do have strictures as a complication surgery, where there can be a narrowing at some point which makes it difficult to swallow food into the stomach. I understand it's most common with people who've had scarring due to GERD or similar.

Hope this helps.

[LisaI]

I don't call it a pouch, and have not heard too many sleeve people refer to it that way...I agree, technically a pouch is for bypass patients.

[LisaI]

And.. whats this I read about chewing very well or food can get 'stuck'. I assumed that the input / output 'holes' to the pouch were still the same size the only thing that I thought changed was the capacity. Or does 'getting stuck' refer to something else that occurs within the pouch.

No, the opening that leads in to the new tinier stomach is not the same size at all...a long sleeve is cut off the stomach from end to end, and the opening at the top is smaller after the cutting and stitching. You have to chew thoroughly or take smaller bites because food can get lodged. its not permanent or dangerous for the most part, but it is VERY uncomfortable. we learn to deal with it....every person is different, many cannot ever eat anything without it being pulverized to nothing before swallowing, others like me, do fine as long as it's chewed into small pieces.

[lmd2070]

" ....many cannot ever eat anything without it being pulverized to nothing before swallowing, others like me, do fine as long as it's chewed into small pieces.

Are you serious... some people NEVER? Not sure that is something I would be willing to accept as a possible side effect. More reading to do... grrrr

[LosingMissLisa]

I think most rny patients call it a pouch because thats what they create....a small pouch. However sleeve patients such as myself refer to it as a sleeve because that is what is created for us. The opening is much smaller so if your food is too large it won't fit thru the opening....this is what they mean when they say 'stuck' and why you have to chew your food thoroughly. I don't think its the normal outcome to not be able to ever eat solid food, but it can happen. I wouldn't let that be a deciding factor tho! Also, the stomach does still have the same ability to break down foods as it normally would. The main difference is that it just simply fills up faster so that it controls how much you can eat at a time. Of course there are other factors, like what you should eat.....like it is always protein first because you need protein and its the only thing you can't get in vitamin form.

[niamh]

No information that I've ever been given suggests that the opening from the oesophagus into the stomach is smaller. All of the diagrams etc that I've been shown or seen show that the stomach is cut off from the side where the stomach swells into a balloon.

Happy to be corrected but can either of you provide a reference to some information suggesting that the opening to the stomach becomes smaller?

[Rox]

I've seen the drawings of the surgery and don't see where they touch the esophogeal/stomach opening.

[lmd2070]

Found the document I was reading that caused me to post the original question, It has nothing to do with hospital I am dealing with, was just googling for info and found this lengthy guide. (I can' post URL cause it says I need to do 15 posts before url's are allowed.) However the doc is on peachtreebariatrics.com and its the Gastric Sleeve Patient Manual.

Here they call it a stomach pouch and on page 25 it mentions "Baked, broiled, barbecued chicken (without skin), turkey, fish, shellfish. REMINDER:
Chew, chew, chew so that they can pass through small stomach opening."

Which lead me to believe that something was done to openings. I know you can't believe everything you read on the net, but considering it was from a medical facility it did bother me a bit. Probably just poor wording... which is why I was asking here for clarification. If I read something elsewhere again that doesn't sit well with me, I will put URL in my post so you all can see what I mean right away.