if your sleeve is done wrong, as in on the stretchy part of the stomach you bet it can stretch. Pick your surgeon with care. As I said if your surgery is done correctly it should not stretch. the going from eating close to nothing to about 250ml is NORMAL it is meant to do that. It is not oh my gawd my sleeve has stretched, it is the swelling has all gone and the stiffness has relaxed.

Trust me if I was a surgeon I would put THAT disclaimer on there as well hehehe

The reality tho is in all cases of anything much beyong about 10% weight regain that I have heard of in the last 4+ years ALL have been grazing snacking and bad food choices. The sleeve will NOT fix those things and you can with effort work around the sleeve.

Every single person I have spoken to who has SCREAMED my gawd my sleeve has stretched, oh my gawd i am eating so much has when actually questioned and asked to tell exactly what they are eating at a single sitting before being full is not going much beyond 250ml. They have all been under this illusion that the sleeve would only allow them to eat 100ml for the rest of their lives and that their digestive system wouldnt heal and they wouldnt be able to eat again a LOT faster than they did straight after surgery.

applesauce

My surgeon has a list of advantages and disadvantages of the sleeve on his website.

Top of the disadvantage list is:
� Possible long term weight regain if tube stretches

My doctor must think the stomach can be stretched. On his website is this:

Issues with Tube gastrectomy

1. Stomach tube may stretch up over time leading to late weight regain. The extent of this is currently unknown

2. The amount of weight reduction is in the region of 40-60% of excess wt lost over the first 1-2 years.

3. It is a good option for people living in remote areas because it is a "set and forget" operation which requires little post op follow up or nutritional supplements

4. There is no malabsorbtion to nutrients

5. If weight is regained the second stage of the BPD the intestinal bypass can be added... often laparoscopically as well.

Apple's right, Claire.
And don't forget that as the swelling goes down, you'll be able to fit more in, too - so don't panic about it.
Good luck with the mushies!

Thanks Applesauce, your words of wisdom were just what I needed to read.

sometimes I just can't believe that it is all so easy to lose the weight after the op, and then start to think of all the potential ways I could ruin it all. The nasty downside of having anxiety issues!

if your surgery is done correctly it cant stretch. everybody heals at different rates this means the swelling and the scar tissue produce an unnatural tightness. over time this settles to a stomach of about 250ml. this is normal and ment to happen. now the ability to drink clear liquids is to do with the valve at the bottom of your stomach how easily it empties. this doesnt change with surgery but has no impact on how little you can eat.

applesauce

Does anyone know how easy it is to stretch your stomach after being sleeved?

I seem to have developed a fear that I am stretching it, I think it is because I can tolerate quite a lot of fluids now and am finding things are going down a lot easier.

I am moving up to pureed foods tomorrow and am actually quite scared I am going to overeat and stretch.

any words of wisdom would be greatly recieved!

Claire.