Undergoing gastric bypass surgery requires a significant lifestyle change and does carry a risk of failure. To ensure you have the best chance of it working for you there are several things you should and shouldn’t do.
Do find new ways of enjoying food in a way that is friendly to post-surgery eating needs. In the early days as your stomach heals and adjusts, liquid and soft foods can seem bland. Find soups, purees, and smoothie recipes that you enjoy and make use of specialist bariatric meal replacements for variety. Readjusting your relationship with food and learning to make the best choices for your new stomach will take time, but it doesn’t mean losing the enjoyment in food.
Don’t keep up with your fizzy drink habit. Carbonation after gastric sleeve surgery is not recommended for at least the first year, though it can cause long term issues as well. The carbon dioxide released by the bubbles expands and fills up the stomach cavity, putting pressure on the scar site which can be incredibly painful. Eating little often is essential after bariatric surgery, and when the stomach is filled up with gas, you’ll be too full to eat. This will leave you feeling hungrier, missing essential nutrients and potentially suffering flatulence and heart burn.
Do get support to help you through this difficult period. Before you even get your surgery, you’re putting together a support team as you must have the support of your doctor to get started. Build on this support by getting family and friends on board for both practical and emotional support. Immediately after surgery you’ll be in a lot of pain and less able to do day-to-day things and going forward having a shoulder to cry on for the difficult days is essential.
Don’t ignore your doctor’s advice. They want the best for you and advise you accordingly, so if they tell you to eat puree consistency food for several weeks, eat puree food. The consequences of ignoring the set guidelines and doing your own things will result in pain and other uncomfortable side effects. And long term there is the possibility of the procedure failing to help you lose weight.
Do enjoy your new body shape and increased energy levels. You’ve worked hard to get here, and you deserve to enjoy the rewards. If you find you’re struggling to accept your new size, consider a course of therapy or counselling. Deep seated issues that that cause weight gain don’t magically disappear when the weight goes, so invest in dealing with them to improve your overall happiness and mental wellbeing.
Don’t be put off by how difficult it may seem. There is a lot to consider when deciding whether bariatric surgery is the right option for you or not. If all other options have been exhausted and you’re sick of being overweight, out of breath and chronically sore, it can be a positive step. Change is scary, it also brings many good things into our lives.
Although there are many rules to follow when undertaking gastric bypass surgery, the positives make following them well worth it.
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