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Gastric
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Life
with Gastric Bypass Surgery... Unlike solutions centering on diet and exercise, surgical solutions are not about will power. Patients do not have to learn to control their eating - proper portions are really forced on them. Once their tiny stomachs are full they should not feel hungry, and they soon learn it is not wise to insist on eating more; there is no way to force more food down. If you do... well, it will just come right back up. Perhaps not the most pleasant experience, but many patients claim it is this instant negative feedback that they've needed all along to train themselves when to stop. In fact, gastric bypass surgery patients often vomit quite a bit when they are getting used to their new regime. Foods with a lot of fat (like barbeque ribs, for example) and lots of simple sugars (like cookies, cakes, candy, ice cream, sodas, etc.) will usually induce either vomiting or diarrhea - often very violent bouts that come on surprisingly quickly. Bouts of vomiting can be quite severe - with cold chills, chest palpitation, profuse sweating, and delirium; the heaving is quite painful. This phenomenon is call "dumping", and the dumping syndrome is one of the most common and most difficult side effects patients have to deal with. Always looming, the threat of a dumping bout can be a constant source of dread and anxiety. Most patient soon learn their "eating rules." They figure out which foods they can tolerate and which throws them into dumping. However, from time to time they slip or some food they do not expect to cause problems catches them unaware. Some patients build up a resistance to dumping over time and can begin eating at least a few things that caused problems before. However, some also report that they can no longer tolerate foods that once caused no problems. To get a good idea of how patient eat after surgery, you should look through a gastric bypass cookbook. Keep in mind that the key to gastric bypass surgery's success in achieving weight loss is that deviations in the food regimen are not possible - otherwise, dumping ensues. That means patients can never cheat - ever. That's good news... and it's bad. A fine rich meal or a round of margarita's with friends are things these patients must do without - forever. Missing Nutrients Because the surgery so drastically reduces the stomach, it is not uncommon for patients to suffer from difficiencies in essential vitamins and nutrients - even with the use of supplements. Osteoporosis can be brought on if adequate calcium cannot be absorbed. Cases of beriberi, a thiamine deficiency usually showing up in cases of starvation of severe alcoholism, have sprung up among some teenage bypass patients. The possibility of these side effects can be diminished through careful attention to diet, chewing food very thoroughly, and other precautions recommended by doctors. However, some reports claim that up to 16% of weight loss surgery patients develop permanent neuropathy (nerve damage) largely explained by nutritional deficiencies. For a Last Resort, It's a Pretty Good One Still, for someone who has struggled hard enough with obesity, the risks and side effects cannot overshadow the thrill of dramatic weight loss, and gastric bypass surgery delivers there. Patients can enjoy the every-day activities that most take for granted. They can get out and about. They can lead normal lives without stigma and shame. For many, the chance to capture all of this is worth any risk. Up to 77% of patients excess weight is loss in the first year, which tends to be more lasting than regular diets. Health problems related to being overweight - like sleep apnea, high blood pressure,a nd diabetes - can improve very quickly. Clearly, gastric bypass surgery is a good last resort. It comes with risks and side effects - some very unpleasant, but when there is no other solution that works it is good to know such an option is out there if you need it. Even for patients who have elected not to pursue surgery, this can be a source of hope. |
