Its pretty common to have doubts and
concerns before and after weight loss surgery, so we asked to our
patients their most frequent concerns related with surgery..
For more doubts or
questions, contact us! 1 888 349 4769
- Why
have I been requested to lose weight prior to surgery?
A: It’s not that you have to lose weight the pre-op diet
that we provide is focused to reduce your liver size and prevent any risk
during surgery, also it helps you to have a better and faster recovery.
- How
long will I be in the hospital?
A: The hospitalization is typically
3 days and 2 night stay. The
recovery period varies, but some patients return to work within a few weeks
after the operation. Their only restriction is no heavy lifting for six weeks
after the operation.
- How
often will I come back for checkups?
A: Unless you live close by every six months if not do
general blood test every six months just to check that your levels are normal.
We also recommend patients stay as
connected to the program as possible by attending support groups regularly. So
stay in touch on our Facebook group.
- What
should I do if I am feeling nauseous?
A: First look at your eating behavior. You may be eating too
much and/or too fast. It is also very important to keep food records to see if
this is related to certain foods. Also contact us or our nutritionist if issue
continues.
- Why
is protein so important?
A: Protein is essential after
surgery to help the healing process, and preserve your lean body mass
(muscles). Meeting your protein goals is essential, and you also want to EAT
YOUR PROTEIN FIRST!
A: Vomiting is not an uncommon
occurrence, however it can be controlled. If you are vomiting, there are some
things you should be looking out for:
- Are you eating your food too
quickly?
- Note the texture of the food. Is
it too dry? Most often you will find meats difficult to tolerate. Make sure
your meat is moist. If you are still not tolerating them, you can make
substitutions for these foods. Leave them out of your diet for a few weeks and
try them again at a later date.
- Are you chewing your food well?
Enjoy, feel, and taste every bite.
- Remember to drink fluids
separately.
- Do not eat and drink at the same
time. Wait approximately 30 minutes before and after a meal to drink liquids.
Most often liquids fill you up and may cause distress, making you feel like you
need to vomit.
- Alcohol and coffee create an acid
environment in your stomach and can produce vomit.
- Dinner after 7 pm also is
important to be aware of.
A: It is important to maintain fluids intake of about 64
ounces or more per day. This will help maintain the appropriate body levels of
fluids and replace the losses from weight loss. You need to take small slow
sips of fluids throughout the day.
Fluids should have minimum calories,
no caffeine and no carbonation. To help meet both nutrition and fluid goals you
need to keep fluids separate from meals by at least 30 minutes.
- What
is the size of my new stomach or pouch?
A: About 1 ounce, which is
approximately the size of a small shot glass
- Will
I experience some hair loss?
A: This happens on rare occasions it's more common on the
gastric bypass. Sometimes after surgery patient will complain of hair loss. It
can be related to not getting enough protein or vitamins in your diet. This is
often the body’s response to rapid weight loss. Hair loss is usually not
permanent and re-growth typically occurs 3-6 months after it starts falling
out. Talk to your dietitian if you are experiencing this.
- What
should I do if I am having a problem with constipation?
A: You may need to increase your
fiber and fluid intake. Food records will help you quantify how much you are
actually drinking. Adding a fiber supplement may help. If increasing fiber
doesn’t help, you may try milk of magnesia, prune juice or stool softener.
- What
do I do if I have gas and bloating? What if I have some diarrhea?
A: Some patients may experience
these symptoms due to sugar found in milk products called lactose. If you
are intolerant to lactose, it may cause cramping, gas bloating, and/or
diarrhea. Switch to lactic products or soy products.
Also make sure you are not eating
too much or too fast. Slow down your eating, take small bites and chew well... If
you get a severe dehydration you need and IV, got to the ER to have it applied
by a nurse or a doctor.
- What
if my weight loss slows down?
A: Your weight loss may seem like a
staircase. You are also going to experience “plateaus” and this is normal.
Everyone will lose weight at a different rate, so please do not compare
yourself to other people. If you hit a plateau (not losing weight for longer
than 2 weeks), continue to keep food records and track your exercise. You may
need to adjust your diet or exercise to help with your weight loss. If a
plateau last longer than 4 weeks call your dietitian.
- What
is the Honeymoon period?
A: Often you may experience a lack
of appetite after surgery. In turn this often causes patients to skip meals,
depriving themselves of the nutritional needs. You will need to plan to have
4-6 small meals per day to meet your nutrition goals and have a successful
weight loss.
A: Almost flu-like symptoms (nausea,
vomiting, sweating, bloating, diarrhea, etc.) that usually occur after high-fat
or high sugary foods.
The symptoms typically last about ½
hour. However, not everyone experiences dumping. To avoid these symptoms, you
should select foods that have 14 grams of sugar or less per serving and 3-5
grams of fat or less per serving.
- Why
should I take vitamins?
A: Being compliant with your
vitamins is key for your health, meeting your nutrition
goals, and preventing deficiencies. We will test your labs
periodically to help prevent and/or treat any deficiencies you may develop.
- Will
I be able to take my prescribed medications after surgery?
A: Small pills or capsules can be
taken as before. Larger medications may be broken or crushed, or alternate
medications may be prescribed. Check with the medical team or your prescribing
physician's.
- What
could be causing me to feel a tight feeling in the middle of my chest
while I am eating or right after I eat?
A: A tight feeling when eating is
usually a warning sign that there is something about your eating behavior or food
consistency that is not right. You may be overeating or eating too fast. Time
yourself when you sit down to a meal. Remember it should take about 10 minutes
to eat 1 oz food. Make sure that your food preparation methods and food
consistencies are appropriate for your diet stages.
- When
am I allowed to drive after my surgery?
A: You are allowed to drive when you
are no longer taking narcotics and have enough mobility to drive safe.
- When
can I return to work?
A: You may return to work as soon as
you feel able as long as you are not required to do heavy lifting as part of
your job. Typically 2-6 weeks for most desk jobs, and 6-8 weeks for manual
labor jobs.
