Coping with gastric bypass side effects

Gastric bypass surgery is a surgical operation that is sometimes deemed necessary for the health of an individual. It’s a known medical fact that the average obese person has a lifespan that is between thirteen and twenty years shorter than someone with average body fat levels.

To that end, many choose to get the surgery to beat their weight loss problem. The surgery is not without its drawbacks, however, and in this article, we’ll discuss some of the common side effects that occur in gastric bypass surgery and what you can do to minimize the effect that they have on your life.

One of the most common side effects that occur after a gastric bypass surgery operation is the occurrence of nausea and vomiting. For the first few months after your surgery, your body may need to adjust to the new changes, and may do so while causing you much nausea and discomfort.

Common causes for this problem are drinking liquids too fast, drinking while eating, or eating too fast. It can be tough to adjust your eating habits to meet the needs of your newly formed stomach but it is a step that you are going to have to take if you wish to keep in good health. Trying new foods may also be troublesome when it comes to nausea and vomiting, so if a food seems to give you trouble, try it again a few days later to ensure that your body wasn’t just getting used to the food.

Dehydration is another problem that is faced by those with gastric bypass. Since vomiting and diarrhea may occur rather often while you are getting used to your new eating habits, it’s very important to maintain your fluid levels in your body by drinking water between meals. Be cautioned not to drink too much too fast, however: the average stomach pouch can only hold between three and four ounces of water.

One side effect that is often caused by gastric bypass surgery is known as ‘dumping syndrome’. Dumping syndrome occurs when the food that you eat passes into your small intestine too quickly. When this happens, you may experience a wide range of symptoms including nausea, diarrhea, cramps, and weakness.

If dumping syndrome appears to be happening to you on a regular basis, one of the most recommended things to do is to cut down on your intake of sweet foods. Sugary foods are largely responsible for dumping syndrome so it’s important to avoid them if you are victim to this side-effect.

Food intolerances can also arise when your new stomach is adjusting. You may find that the foods that you used to eat without any trouble can really make you feel sick. If you suspect that you may have become intolerant of some foods as a result of your operation, your best bet is to speak to a dietitian about your problem so that they can determine the source of it.

Now that you know how to curb the symptoms of some of the more troublesome side-effects of gastric bypass surgery, you can be more careful with the foods that you eat, causing you less trouble.