Reading about Star Jone’s and her admitting or sharing about her decision to undergo Gastric Bypass Surgery caught my attention. I have a genuine friend from High School who decided he needed to under go gastric bypass surgery – literally to save his life! From that point forward, I for some reason believe gastric bypass surgery was “sorta” like a last dish measure for people desperate to loose weight – or ELSE type of situation.
Gastric bypass Surgeries are procedures to moral any of a group of similar operations dilapidated to treat morbid obesity-the severe accumulation of excess weight as fatty tissue-and the health problems it causes. The Wikipedia website informed me which basically reconfirmed my view of why a Gastric Bypass Surgery would even be considered.
With Star Jones and many other people it now appears that the procedure is quickly becoming looked upon no different than liposuction, face lifts, tummy tucks etc., yet gastric bypass surgery isn’t your simple run of the day surgery. It has quite a bit of risks involved simply for the benefit of looking more attractive. The risks common to all surgeries for weight loss include an infection in the incision, a leak from the stomach into the abdominal cavity or where the intestine is connected (resulting in an infection called peritonitis, and a blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism)
About one-third of all people having surgery for obesity develop gallstones or a nutritional deficiency condition such as anemia or osteoporosis. About 3 in 200 (1.5%) people die after surgery for weight loss. Let’s all hope Star Jones is well beyond this frightening statistic.
This information was taken from the website WebMD that also explains that Gastric bypass surgery makes the stomach smaller and allows food to bypass portion of the small intestine. You will feel paunchy more snappily than when your stomach was its original size, which reduces the amount of food you eat and thus the calories consumed.
How Well Does It Work? For Star Jones it obviously is working fantastic! Star Jones looks fantastic!
WebMD supports that most people who have gastric bypass surgery speedily begin to lose weight and continue to lose weight for up to 12 months. One observe noted that people lost about one-third of their excess weight (the weight above what is considered healthy) in 1 to 4 years. Some of the lost weight may be regained. The laparoscopic approach showed similar results, with 69% to 82% of excess weight lost over 12 to 54 months so Ms. Star Jones may be even smaller the next time we sight her.
For someone desperate to loose weight these might look like miracle numbers, and I do understand everyone’s metabolism is a little different. Yet, if we really scrutinize at how Gastric Bypass Surgery works, it simply reduces the amount of food you eat because you don’t feel hungry… So of course you don’t eat as powerful.
Sit down so you won’t fall down when I tell you that is splendid much what a high fiber diet does! Learn that you can devour literally all foods while maintaining a healthy diet, the YOU CAN’T EAT THIS OR THAT WHILE DIETING IS A MYTH that has been distinguished years ago.
My point is this, Star Jones in my conception, though she looks fabulous in her new half self, she took a huge and I believe an unnecessary risk when she chose Gastric Bypass Surgery over getting committed to a better eating habit filled with good- to-nature exercise and fresh foods. It’s been proven that a proper healthy and fiber filled diet along with consistent and moderate exercise can get you the same miracle results and do so in a totally righteous manner.
Even though the draw has some enormous benefits I for one unexcited believe that Gastric Bypass Surgery should be kept as a last step measure. Star Jones is one who came through the procedure without any complications. Not everyone who has undergone Gastric Bypass Surgery can say the same. In this case, the easy way can be deadly the deadly way – Why challenge the risks!
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Filed under Gastric Bypass by on Feb 4th, 2012. 
Nausea is a fairly common complaint after a gastric bypass. There are a number of things that can cause nausea after a gastric bypass, and the best procedure to deal with the nausea may depend on the cause. Here are some general things to watch out for and some things you can try to feel better.
In the first few days or weeks after a gastric bypass, nausea is quite common. You’ve just had major surgery on your stomach, and it’s not uncommon for it to feel upset. Sometimes it’s just caused by the very fact that you had surgery and there’s no way to prevent it. In this case, try to make certain you drink plenty of fluids (even though it can be hard to drink much if you’re feeling nauseous) and wait for it to pass. Peppermint or ginger tea might wait on. A lot of people like to drink Sprite or Seven-Up or something like that for an upset stomach, but you shouldn’t do this right after a gastric bypass. The carbonation can hurt your tummy.
You need to drink at least 64 ounces of fluid per day, but it can be hard to get this much down in the first few days after a gastric bypass. Your tummy is now quite tiny, and it’s likely pretty sensitive, too. However, dehydration can cause nausea. If you’re not drinking enough and you’re feeling nauseous, that is a likely cause. Do your best to increase your fluids. If you can’t, you may need a visit to the ER for some IV fluids.
It’s also important to acquire enough protein after a gastric bypass. You’ll need a minimum of 60 grams of protein per day. In the first days and weeks after your surgery, though, it may be hard to get this distinguished. Your tummy is tiny, and in the beginning you’ll just be on liquids. That’s when you really need to drink your protein shakes. Not getting enough protein can cause severe nausea (which in turn makes it harder to eat or drink, making it even harder to get the protein in).
After the first few weeks, your stomach should decide down. It will be easier to get your protein and fluids in. However, your stomach may quiet be sensitive at times. Eating too much, eating too fast, or not chewing your food well enough can all cause nausea. Also, there may be some foods you just don’t tolerate well anymore. It’s not uncommon for people to invent lactose intolerance after a gastric bypass, which may cause stomach upset if you drink milk or eat dairy products. Many people are unable to tolerate sugar after a gastric bypass. It causes something known as dumping syndrome, which includes nausea and vomiting among other symptoms. Some people are also unable to tolerate fatty foods, and there might be other foods that bother you, as well. Pay attention to how you feel after eating different foods, and you’ll soon learn what you can tolerate and what you can’t.
You should learn fairly speedily how to adjust your diet in order to befriend manage nausea. However, there are some problems that may arise down the road that can trigger nausea anew.
First of all, gall bladder problems are common after a gastric bypass. In fact, they are so favorite that some bariatric surgeons routinely steal the gall bladder when performing a gastric bypass, but not all surgeons do this. Upper abdominal pain is the most common symptom of a poor gall bladder, but nausea can also occur. Nausea may be worse after eating a fatty meal, but can occur all the time. An ultrasound of your gall bladder can swear your doctor if you have a problem with your gall bladder. If so, your gall bladder may need to be removed.
Another accepted problem that can cause nausea is an ulcer. Ulcers usually cause pain as well as nausea, but not always. There are several different tests that can diagnose ulcers. If you have an ulcer, it can usually be treated with medication.
While you’re dealing with your nausea, whatever the cause, there are a couple of medications that can help. Phenergen is one commonly-prescribed medication for nausea. Zofran is another. Ask your doctor if you need something to help you with nausea.
Sources:
West Shore Endoscopy Center. http://www.endowsec.com/pated/edtgs22.htm. Gastric Bypass Diet.MedScape Today. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/471952_5. Gastrointestinal Complications of Bariatric Surgery.Medline Plus. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/gallbladderdiseases.html. Gall Bladder Disease.Information from Dr. Dirk Rodriguez, Cincinnati, Ohio.
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Filed under Gastric Bypass by on Nov 29th, 2011.
With obesity on the rise today, many are looking at surgery as a quick means to lose weight and to take care of health problems related to being overweight. Gastric bypass surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, is a drastic surgery done to encourage support obese people in weight loss. Since new technologies for this surgery has been developed, making it less painful, and cutting healing time in half, this surgery has increased in popularity. Surgery increases were 450% between 1998 and 2002, going from 12,775 to 70,256. In 2004 the number of surgeries were estimated to be about 171,200.
Gastric bypass surgery is done laproscopically, in most cases. The physician creates a small pouch at the top of the stomach and adds a bypass around a segment of your small intestines. Your stomach is then stabled across the top, sealing it off from the rest of your stomach. The end result of the recent stomach pouch is about that size of a walnut and can hold about an ounce of food.
This surgery is not for everyone, nor does everyone seeking this drastic surgery qualify. It is only for the extremely obese. There are certain criteria that a person must meet in order to get the gastric bypass surgery done. Some of the criteria for surgery are: 1. You must have a body mass index of 40. 2. You must have a body index of 30 or higher. 3. You must be 90 lbs overweight or more. 4. You have been obese for at least 5 years. 5. You have tried all other methods to lose weight.
There are advantages to having this surgery, the most distinct is losing weight and feeling healthy. Before many have the surgery they are usually plagued with a number of health issues from high blood pressure to diabetes. Many are on several medications to control these illnesses. After surgery many seek a major improvement with their health problems. 80% of patients, within 2-3 months after surgery, will develop normal cholesterol levels and lower blood pressures. 90% of patients, who had type-two diabetes, will obtain excellent results within a few days after surgery. Some patients will even become medication free.
There are health risks as well when having gastric bypass surgery. Lung problems can occur by lack of motion of the chest wall. Deep breathing and lung exercises can prevent this. Another risk would be leakage of bowel connections. This happens when the connection of the bowel to the unusual stomach does not form a complete seal. This can become a serious complication. Everyone takes a risk, but the outcome to be thinner and healthier outweighs the risk for most people.
I was able to interview Jennifer who under went gastric bypass surgery about a year ago and here is what she said:
Dawn: Have you always had weight problems?
Jennifer: I have been overweight since I was 7 years old. Got worse when I hit puberty and kept getting worse!
Dawn: What diets/pills have you tried? Did they ever work?
Jennifer: I was on Weight Watchers when I was in junior high and did ok on that. I also took phen/fen and lost weight with that but then it was pulled because of causing heart problems and I ended up with some problems from taking that. I also would go on Atkin’s Diet and would lose some, but not much.
Dawn: Did you have any medical problems before surgery that were directly related to weight?
Jennifer: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Sleep Apnea, Hypertension, Edema in my feet and ankles, Infertility, Insufficient Aortic Valve, Mitral Valve Prolapse.
Dawn: How did you learn of gastric bypass surgery?
Jennifer: From the news on TV at first, then researched it on the Internet.
Dawn: Did you research the pros and cons of gastric by-pass?
Jennifer: I researched it on the Internet, through other people that had had it…I read a lot of online journals and joined some online support groups, and then did more research through my doctor.
Dawn: What finally lead you to the decision to pick up the surgery done?
Jennifer: It was getting harder and harder to maintain up with 2nd graders and I wasn’t as good of a teacher as I had been…didn’t have enough energy and my feet and ankles would swell everyday. I also want to have a baby and knew that I couldn’t get pregnant at that weight and wouldn’t be able to care for a baby at that weight…no energy.
Dawn: What emotions were you feeling the day of surgery?
Jennifer: I was very scared…it was my first surgery ever…never had a broken bone, stitches, or been in the hospital before, but I was a woman on a mission. When I look support on it, I was given strength by God, that is the only way I can explain it because I don’t view how I went through with it if God wasn’t there making it happen…if that makes sense.
Dawn: After your surgery did you have any complications? How long did it take you to heal?
Jennifer: After my surgery the worst thing that happened was a horrible period that lasted about a week…super painful…worst cramps ever, but since then, my periods have become less painful and a lot lighter and shorter. I haven’t really had any side effects. I can’t take aspirin, steroids, or anti inflammatories anymore so that is hard because I can’t take Advil when I was used to taking a lot of that. Those meds can cause stomach ulcers, which is why post ops can’t grasp those meds. It took about 7 days for my stomach to stop feeling tender. I still have scars where my incisions were, but no pain at all. I have to take vitamin supplements daily to help me with nutrition.
Dawn: What foods can you eat and not eat?
Jennifer: I have a hard time with bread because it is so soft. I also can’t eat a lot of sweets and ice cream makes me sick. Pecan pie on Thanksgiving made me extremely ill. Carbonated drinks make me feel yucky. I can drink sweet tea ok, but usually drink water. I had inconvenience with chicken for a while but now can eat that. I do well with soups, moist meat, fruit, vegetables, crackers, chips, beef, and seafood. I haven’t found anything that I can’t have impartial a small amount of it. I have done really well since the surgery.
Dawn: What was your starting weight before surgery?
Jennifer: 313 lbs
Dawn: How much weight have you lost?
Jennifer: 100 pounds
Dawn: What is your goal weight?
Jennifer: 150-ish
Dawn: Would you recommend this surgery to others?
Jennifer: YES! And I would recommend my doctor…Dr. JK Champion at the Videoscopic Institute of Atlanta. He does surgery at Emory Dunwoody Hospital.
Dawn: If you had to do it again, would you?
Jennifer: In a heartbeat!
If you are thinking of getting gastric bypass surgery, understand the pros and cons of having it done. Research and weigh the risks. Talk to others who have had it done as well as a bariatric surgeon. In the end it’s up to the individual and what is going to make them happy and healthy.
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Filed under Bariatric Surgery by on Feb 8th, 2011.
A large piece of the American population either is overweight, or in some cases, may be obese. There are many ways in which a person can fight obesity, but there are only a few successful treatments that help someone achieve a healthy weight in a relatively short time. These treatments are bariatric surgeries, and they are specific procedures that treat obese individuals. One such procedure is called Gastric Bypass. The goal of this surgery is to form weight loss by limiting the amount of food a person is pleasurable of though-provoking. There are many negative aspects of Gastric Bypass, which include the cost, bad side effects, and postoperative hospitalizations; however, tremendous weight loss, the impact on other diseases, and a higher self-esteem are all positive results that Gastric Bypass can have.
In the Gastric Bypass procedure, a small pouch of the stomach is created by separating it from the rest of the stomach. This is done by using staples. After surgery when the patient eats, the small pouch acts as the patient’s whole stomach (Steinbrook 1075). Since the pouch is microscopic, the amount of food the patient is able to eat is small. The patient will then be eating less food after the surgery which helps to produce weight loss.
One of the downsides to this operation is the cost. Typically, gastric bypass surgeries range from about $20,000 to $50,000, depending on the type of health care company that the patient has (Steinbrook 1075). A major factor that depends on if a health insurance company will conceal the surgery is the patient’s medical condition. If the patient has many other health risks and problems besides obesity, than the patient’s chance of getting approved for the operation is low. Frequently, obese patients do have more than one type of health scrape, so this limits the accessibility of gastric bypass to certain patients.
Another downside to this operation is linked to the experience of the surgeon. Within the past decade, Gastric Bypass procedures have seen an annual increase from 16,000 to more than 100,000 performed in the United States (Steinbrook 1075). Certainly, the risks and complications that occur after the surgery are associated with the experience of the surgeon performing it. If the doctor has performed many Gastric Bypass surgeries, then the risk of problems during or after the surgery is performed is low. However, the opposite is true; if the surgeon is quite new to the operation and has done very little training in performing the surgery, then the risks increase (Steinbrook 1076).
One negative aspect that follows the surgery is the restrictive diet. For twenty-four hours immediately following the operation, Louis Martin reports, a meal plan aloof of “a clear liquid diet not to exceed 60mL per hour” is imposed. If that is successful, the person can then move to a diet that is detached restrictive and involves sugarless, high protein, pureed food and drinks. Because this diet is so restrictive, the intake of vitamin and protein tablets is required. Complications can occur if the patient fails to continue to take the vitamins for various reasons, thus leading to nutritional deficiencies (Martin 265). Complications can also occur if the patient fails to adhere to the diet altogether.
Other risks that one has following the operation are gastrointestinal leaks and internal hemorrhaging. Gastrointestinal leaks are contents and liquids that escape from the puny pouch. According to Benjamin Schneider et al, this usually occurs along the stomach line where the staples have been placed (248). The leaks may occur because of staple failure, and also from the lack of experience that the surgeon may have. Following the surgeon’s performance of the first hundred gastric bypass surgeries, the risk of gastrointestinal leaks is reduced by about 1.6% (250). Also, as mentioned before, internal hemorrhaging can also occur. In fact, much of the mortality rate involving the gastric bypass map can be linked to either internal hemorrhaging or leaks from the staple line (247).
Post-operative hospitalizations are also approved in patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery. In their explore of patients, Zingmond, McGory, and Ko report that “20.2% were readmitted in the year after RYGB [Gastric Bypass],18.4% in the second year after RYGB, and 14.9% in the thirdyear after RYGB” (1918). Readmittance to the hospitals can, and probably does occur following that three year period. Most of the occurrences happen because of surgical complications like infections or gastrointestinal leaks (1918). However, the chances of hospitalizations following the surgery decrease with each passing year.
Another common side effect of gastric bypass surgery is a sickness called the dumping syndrome. The dumping syndrome is essentially a severe case of influenza, and is caused by the patient’s intake of sugar. The syndrome is often associated with profuse sweating, nausea, tremors, diarrhea, and a high fever. This negative side effect, however, can possibly be viewed as a positive one, because it reinforces the sugarless diet that the patient is supposed to adhere to (Martin 264).
Just as there are many negative outcomes of gastric bypass surgery, it is also important to focus on the positive outcomes of this surgery. An overall significant lifestyle change for the better and an improvement of the patient’s health is possible for those who undergo this operation. In Flancobaum and Choban’s research, the patients that they studied reported that the amount of their physical activity increased after the surgery. Other conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea improved remarkably in these patients (229).
Weight loss, the main goal of the surgery, is a tremendous outcome for those people that follow the doctor’s orders. Martin says that during the first month following the gastric bypass surgery, the loss of five to fifteen percent of the total body weight can be expected (164). Additionally, Schneider et al reports that in their case studies of patients in the twelve months following gastric bypass, excess weight loss of sixty-eight percent occurred (251). The amount of weight and fat loss that follows the surgery is a fantastic result for those patients. In fact, over eighty percent of the cases that adhere to the restrictions, diet, and orders from the doctor are successful (Martin 352).
There are also several diseases that will be improved, or be cured, as a result of the surgery. They include type two diabetes, coronary artery disease, and gout. Type two diabetes is mainly caused by obesity; therefore, the surgery will more than likely reverse the disease. In fact, the findings of Schneider et al confirm this: type two diabetes in obese patients is completely reversed in eighty-two to ninety-eight percent of the cases studied (253). Because insulin levels fall rapidly after the surgery, and in most cases, stay at a normal level, patients are not required to have insulin injections (Martin 354). Coronary artery disease and gout also improve following the surgery. In his book Obesity Surgery, Louis Martin tells us that the American College of Cardiology’s findings are that significant weight loss reduces the risk of coronary artery disease (356). Therefore, the weight loss produced through gastric bypass will prevent those people from being at risk for this disease. The other infection, gout, involves the over-production of uric acid levels and is worsened by obesity in patients. Weight loss can control the amount of the effects that gout has, making the surgery a positive outcome for this disease also (356).
Another important effect that gastric bypass surgery has on patients is the execute on their self-esteem. Frequently, obese people are looked down upon and sometimes seen as inferior or incapable of being successful. This usually leads to low self-esteem, feelings of worthlessness, and sometimes severe depression as well. After the surgery and weight loss has been induced, “depression caused by obesity is cured by weight loss” (Martin 359). The patient should no longer have any reason to feel shame because he or she is obese. Indeed, if he or she loses body fat then that should give him or her more reason to feel proud and be confident.
Both the negative effects and the definite effects of gastric bypass surgery have been indicated. Clearly there is a substantial amount of evidence for both sides. The cost of the surgery, restrictive diet following it, and all of the complications that can come from the surgery certainly can discourage a person from pursuing this type of treatment. However, after reviewing the many positive side effects that can result from gastric bypass surgery, it is clear that pursuing the surgery would be not only beneficial but also vital to one’s well being. One has to consider the following: What are the possible positive outcomes for me in this type of operation, and are the certain results worth having the negative side effects?
Works Cited
Flancobaum, Louis, and Choban, Patricia. “Surgical Implications of Obesity.” Annual Review of Medicine. 1998: 215 Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Paul Laurence Dunbar Lib., Wright State U. 22 January 2006. (http://epnet.com/).
Martin, Louis F. Obesity Surgery. New York: McGraw-Hill: Medical Publishing Division, 2004.
Schneider, Benjamin, et al. “Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass Surgery: Outcomes.” Journal Of Laparoendoscopic and Advanced Surgical Techniques. Aug 2003: 247-255. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Paul Laurence Dunbar Lib., Wright State U. 22 January 2006. (http://epnet.com/).
Solomon, Caren, and Dluhy, Robert. “Bariatric Surgery- Quick Fix or Long Term Solution.” The New England Journal of Medicine. 23 December 2004. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Paul Laurence Dunbar Lib., Wright Site U. 22 January 2006. (http://epnet.com/).
Steinbrook, Robert. “Surgery for Severe Obesity.” New England Journal of Medicine. 11 March 2004: 1075-1079. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Paul Laurence Dunbar Lib., Wright State U. 22 January 2006. (http://epnet.com/).
Zingmond, David, Marcia McGory, and Clifford Ko. “Hospitalization Before and After Gastric Bypass Surgery.” The Journal of the American Medical Association. 19 Oct 2005. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Paul Laurence Dunbar Lib., Wright Space U. 19 January 2006. (http://epnet.com/).
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Filed under Bariatric Surgery by on Jan 23rd, 2011.
Roux-en-Y (often abbreviated as RNY) is generally considered the “gold standard” for weight loss surgery and has been performed in various forms for over 40 years. The surgery process usually begins 2 weeks before your surgery date with a prescribed liquid diet. These 2 weeks leading up to your surgery date will be both mentally and physically challenging. The week after your surgery will be challenging simply because you’re healing from major surgery and the 2nd week after surgery is challenging because you’re learning a new way of eating which can be very difficult.
I’ll go into more detail about each of these 3 stages based on my own experience during the first month of my gastric bypass life. I had laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery on November 13, 2007 and in the first month (2 weeks pre-op plus 2 weeks post-op) I lost 27 pounds.
TWO WEEKS PRE-OP - Most surgeons now require patients to follow a strict 2 week liquid diet before gastric bypass surgery. Not all bariatric programs have this requirement, but more and more surgeons are adding this requirement. Many ask why such a strict diet. The reasons are twofold. First this strict diet will help the patient lose weight before surgery. Any weight you can lose before surgery will make you that much healthier and allow for a safer surgery. Secondly a liquid diet will shrink your liver. Your liver is located right in front of your stomach and in morbidly obese patients it is often enlarged due to overeating of complex carbohydrates. By losing weight and restricting food intake to a basic liquid protein diet, the liver will shrink and be less cumbersome for the surgeon. This will help to reduce the risk of complications or a “nicked liver” during the surgery. During the 2 weeks before my surgery, I lost 15 pounds.
Although I haven’t read this next reason in any medical research, my own experience proves it to be upright. This strict liquid diet is to launch to train our brain to eat in a different way. I was limited to 3 small protein shakes, 1 cup of broth/soup and 1 fiber drink per day with the addition of 64 ounces of water. The first three days were brutal and I had more cravings for food than I ever opinion possible. I believe I was dealing with sugar and carb withdrawals. The fourth day seemed to begin the easier phase of the diet, after my body became accustomed to the fact that I could survive on so few calories while still getting the nutrients I needed. Even though the food cravings were still there, I was able to deal with them mentally and emotionally during those first 2 weeks. Because I was able to face the craving demons before surgery, I believe it has made my post-op eating easier to adjust to.
THE WEEK OF SURGERY – For most Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients the hospital discontinue is 2 to 4 days. People who have their surgery laprascopically they can expect 2 to 3 days. People who have an originate incision may be in the hospital an extra day. While in the hospital your surgeon will have you taking damage medication to minimize any discomfort you may feel. If the pain medication you are given is not working properly or is making you nauseous, be sure to let your doctor know so they can make an adjustment. This happened to me while I was in the hospital. I was given a morphine pump to control my injure, however, the morphine made me sick to my stomach. So my pain medication was quickly changed to Nortab and I was given anti-nausea medicine to decide my stomach.
The first day – the day of your surgery – you will likely not be able to drink anything including ice chips. This will allow time for your new stomach/pouch to heal. The following morning you will be taken for your “swallow test” to check to see if there are any leaks in your newly formed digestive system. This involves swallowing some barium and having x-rays taken of your abdomen. The hardest part of this test was standing fair and peaceful for the 5 or 10 minutes the test takes. Once you pass this test you’ll be given water or Crystal Light to sip. Usually it is served in a 1 ounce medicine cup and you’ll need to sip that water for 15 minutes, then refill the cup and start over. This will help to boom you to take very tiny sips of liquid and take your time drinking. Later that day you may graduate to a larger variety of liquids like gelatin, broth, hot tea or protein shakes. You’ll remain on a liquid diet while in the hospital.
Once you get home from the hospital you will probably remain on a liquid diet for the remainder of the first week. Some programs require patients to remain on a clear liquid diet for the first week of gastric bypass surgery. Some programs allow patients to include “tubby liquids” such as yogurt, cream soups and cottage cheese. When I came home from the hospital I was on full liquids and was required to drink 3 protein shakes per day. I was also required to take in 64 ounces of water each day. Even though it is expected that in the first week or two it will be nearly impossible to meet the water and protein goals – you are expected to try your best during this time. You’ll be eating about 1 to 2 ounces of food (full liquids) at one setting during this early stage.
TWO WEEKS POST-OP - I was amazed at how well I felt after just the first week of recovery. I was able to net around just fine and was healing expeditiously. But the eating share of the recovery process was still a challenge. Depending on your surgeon’s requirements and nutritionist guidelines, you may continue to be eating full liquids one week after your gastric bypass surgery. Some patient progress to soft foods at this point. No matter what your guidelines are, be distinct to follow what your doctor mandates. They have developed your nutritional program based on years of experience and helping hundreds or thousands of other post-op patients. By now you’ll be eating about 1 to 3 ounces of food (full liquids) at one setting.
I was on full liquids this second week after surgery until I had my follow-up appointment with my surgeon. Because of scheduling conflicts, my normal 2-week follow up appointment ended up happening just 8 days after my surgery (which also happened to be the day before Thanksgiving). At this appointment I was told to inaugurate the next phase of my eating plan which included soft foods such as egg salad, pate`, hummus, peanut butter, refried beans and soft or melted cheese. I was also allowed to add up to 1 tablespoon of a “side item” which included either vegetables or a grain (from a very limited list that was basically crackers). This allowed me a little bit more of a variety of choices at Thanksgiving.
The biggest challenge during these first couple weeks after surgery is the struggle to adapt to your new way of eating and figuring out a schedule for meals, snacks, protein shakes and water intake. Not to mention trying to figure out when to occupy your medications, vitamins and supplements in between all the meals and water. Instead of being obsessed with food, I quickly became obsessed with watching the clock and trying to stay on schedule with my eating. Because at this early stage we don’t have true hunger pangs, you need to rely on the clock to ensure you’re eating enough to withhold your body nourished.
Other people who have gone through this journey before me keep saying that the first month is the hardest fraction of the whole RNY gastric bypass surgery process. Once you pass the 6 week price, things get easier and the variety of food you’re allowed is worthy greater. So hold on during these first weeks and know it’s going to glean better soon.
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Filed under Bariatric Surgery by on Nov 29th, 2010.