"Know it... Feel At Ease" Reducing Risks After Bariatric surgery

 

 

     While bariatric surgery for weight loss can effectively treat obesity-related diseases, side effects can still occur after the operation, as the body takes time to adjust to a new equilibrium. It's important to be aware of these potential issues to feel more secure and reduce risks post-surgery. If symptoms become severe, a consultation with a doctor is advised.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Side Effects After Surgery

• Swelling or bruising at the incision site
• Pain or discomfort
• Numbness, itching, or sharp pain around the incision
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation, dehydration, and bloating

 

1. Nausea

     Severe nausea can lead to insufficient fluid intake and may require hospitalization. Nausea can lead to vomiting, and continuous vomiting can result in dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and kidney damage.

 

 

Causes of Nausea

• Insufficient chewing of food
• Feeling of fullness
• Certain pain medications
• Prolonged fasting
• Dehydration

 

Addition: In the first few days post-surgery, nausea can be treated with prescribed medication.

 

Remedies of Nausea

• Understand your body's fullness level to reduce the chance of bloating. Initially, eat slowly to avoid overloading your stomach.
• If drinking water is difficult due to nausea, try caffeine-free tea without milk or sugar, or hot/cold water mixed with lemon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.  Vomiting

     Vomiting often results from eating incorrectly or the body’s inability to adjust. In the early stages, patients may only eat 3-4 spoonfuls per meal. Various factors can cause vomiting post-gastric surgery.

 

Causes of Vomiting

• Eating dry or too quickly
• Not chewing food sufficiently
• Overeating in one sitting
• Drinking liquids during or immediately after meals
• Using a straw
• Lying down after meals
• Consuming foods that don’t agree with your body

 

Remedies of Vomiting

• Follow your doctor's dietary recommendations.
• Choose moist foods and chew thoroughly (at least 30 times).
• Eat small amounts; if feeling full, stop. If wanting to continue, wait 15-30 minutes.
• Avoid drinking liquids during or immediately after meals.
• If vomiting persists, stop solid foods and sip fluids like protein drinks or water.
• If you have trouble swallowing, feel abdominal discomfort, or vomit continuously for over 24 hours, see a doctor.

 

 

 

3.  Dehydration

     Dehydration can occur due to insufficient fluid intake, leading to fatigue, dark urine, dizziness, nausea, and a coated white tongue. If you experience these symptoms, seek medical attention to check blood and assess dehydration severity, which increases the risk of urinary tract and kidney infections.

 

Remedies of Dehydration Post-Surgery

• Carry a reusable water bottle and sip water throughout the day.
• Drink at least 1.5 to 2 liters of fluid daily.
• Increase intake if sweating heavily.
• Avoid caffeinated drinks, as they act as diuretics and increase water loss. Unsweetened tea is acceptable.
• If nausea makes it hard to drink water, try sucking on ice cubes.
• Contact your healthcare team if you experience severe dehydration, as you may need intravenous fluids.

 

 

 

 

4.  Constipation

     Bowel habits can change significantly post-surgery, leading to unusually foul-smelling or differently colored stools. Sometimes, stool may be dark if iron supplements are taken, but this usually normalizes as the body adjusts.

 

Remedies of Constipation After Surgery

• Consult a doctor if diarrhea persists.
• Since patients often consume less fiber after surgery, consider taking fiber supplements to help maintain regular bowel movements.
• Avoid dairy products if you start reacting poorly to lactose post-surgery.
• Steer clear of high-fat foods that may cause diarrhea.
• Keep a food diary to identify foods that disrupt normal bowel movements.

 

5.  Bloating

     Bloating results from gas in the digestive tract, which comes from two main sources: swallowed air and gas produced during digestion. After gastric bypass surgery, shorter intestines may lead to more odorous gas, often from high-carbohydrate foods like pasta, rice, bread, beans, whole grains, dairy, or sorbitol.

 

Gas Reductions

• Eat slowly and chew food thoroughly.
• Eliminate all dairy products to prevent lactose intolerance (yogurt may be okay).
• Avoid chewing gum, candy, and using straws.
• Consider probiotics, natural chlorophyll, and simethicone for digestive support (under medical supervision).

 

More detail: Bariatric surgery: A Weight Loss Option for Better Health