There are many comments and misinformation on both social media and the internet about the general rules, the process or the changes in daily life after obesity surgery. This situation can negatively affect many patients who are at the decision-making stage before surgery.
First of all, it is worth noting that each patient goes through their own process and each patient's post-operative reactions are different. In addition, the surgical technique applied directly affects the postoperative process. For example, if a person states that he/she experienced vomiting for months after gastric sleeve surgery, the stomach diameter was probably excessively narrowed during the surgery. This does not mean that all those who have or will undergo sleeve gastrectomy will vomit for months after sleeve gastrectomy.
Let us briefly remind you of the general rules and misconceptions that should be taken into consideration after obesity surgery.
Liquid Food Consumption After Bariatric Surgery
It is wrongly written or said that liquid nutrition will last for a month or a lifetime. This is absolutely wrong. Liquid food consumption is only possible in the first week after bariatric surgery.
At least one liter of water should be consumed daily for the first seven days to protect the kidneys. After the first week, grain soups and partially thick foods are started. Starting from the third week, at least one and a half liters of water should be consumed daily.
Solids and liquids should not be consumed together for at least one year, especially after stomach reduction surgery. Fluid intake should be done either fifteen minutes before feeding or at least thirty minutes after feeding. Otherwise, fainting spells called dumping syndrome may occur.
Your feeling of thirst will decrease as less food is consumed after obesity surgery. For this reason, you should always carry water with you throughout the day and drink liquids in small sips. Otherwise, you may experience intense fatigue. The most common cause of fatigue is insufficient fluid consumption.
Do not consume carbonated drinks and sodas, alcoholic beverages, fruit juices with additives and coffee for the first month.
Solid Food After Obesity Surgery. Consumption
Your post-operative feeding time should be at least twenty minutes. You may experience an intense feeling of fullness, especially the week you switch to purees. You are likely to get it. For this reason, you should definitely wait between bites, and if necessary, get up from the table, walk around a bit, and try again. Otherwise, you may experience nausea and vomiting.
You should chew solid foods in your mouth at least twenty-five times and soften their consistency.
The moment you experience the feeling of fullness is your new saturation limit. If you push this limit, you are likely to experience nausea and vomiting.
Let us remind you again that you should not take solids and liquids together.
Daily Life After Obesity Surgery
Leaving the Hospital You can shower on the day you leave or on the first day at home. During the bath, you can cover the stitches with refrigerator stretch or a dressing material called opsite to prevent them from getting water. If you get wet, you will need to renew the dressing. When you are discharged on the fourth day, you should walk around the house and participate in daily activities. In this way, your risk of embolism will decrease. Sitting or standing still for a long time after surgery is a negative behavior. Instead, you should walk and lie down.
After the first week, you should go outside and take a walk. In this way, your weight loss will increase and your bowel order will be maintained. You can easily use stairs after the surgery.
You can drive on the tenth day after obesity surgery.
You can cool off in the sea or pool in the first week after the surgery. You must wait fifteen days to swim. The problem of sagging after obesity surgery is minimal in people who swim regularly. You can start regular sports one and a half months after your surgery. We always provide plates, etc. to our patients. We recommend that they do indoor sports.
Problems and Solutions That May Be Experienced After Bariatric Surgery
Nausea and Vomiting After Bariatric Surgery
Post-operative nausea and vomiting are among the most common problems that may occur when you exceed the saturation limit and stomach capacity. In addition, it may also develop due to odors, poor nutrition, and insufficient fluid intake. If it continues for more than a day, it can be corrected with medication. If you are within a month after surgery, you should stop eating for about two hours and then try again. Again, by switching back from solids to purees or from purees to liquids for a few days, this complaint is resolved. You can get rid of it.
Change in bad taste after obesity surgery
Since there is much less nutrition after obesity surgery, you are likely to feel the mucus structure produced in the gastrointestinal system much more. This situation continues for a few months and then resolves itself. You can minimize this feeling by consuming lemon tea or herbal teas.
Low fluid consumption and weakness after obesity surgery
Weakness, dizziness, palpitations, sleepiness as a result of insufficient fluid consumption. It is possible that you may experience dizziness or even fainting. In this case, you may need to receive fluids intravenously. To avoid such situations, you should constantly consume water in small sips, even if you are not thirsty, especially in the summer months. It should also be remembered that fruit juices or other liquids do not replace water.
Dumping Syndrome After Obesity Surgery
Consuming foods such as high-sugar ice cream, high-sugar desserts, or eating solid liquid foods as a substitute. Consuming it occasionally causes dumping syndrome. Symptoms include abdominal cramps, nausea, diarrhea, facial flushing, feeling faint, loss of consciousness, and cold sweats. This syndrome can be protected by eating a protein-rich diet and not consuming solid and liquid foods together.
Constipation After Obesity Surgery
Constipation may occur in people who have problems with this issue, especially before surgery, as a result of insufficient fluid intake. This problem can be solved by increasing the consumption of fibrous food, probiotic yoghurts, kefir and liquids and, if necessary, with the help of medications.
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