Once an individual becomes obese or morbidly obese, it is the wisest thing to go for a weight reduction surgery. Being the surgical method, it is the most effective solution for the significant weight loss. The use of laparoscopic approach for the same makes the process even more effective, as it overcomes several drawbacks of traditional open surgery technique.
However, just like any other surgery types, bariatric surgery has few guidelines to follow as well. Though there are not many major ones, sticking to them is quite important to ensure that the procedure yields the best results.
Let’s have a look at the guidelines…
Regular Exercise
Since the lack of physical exercise usually is a major contributing factor for obesity itself, there is no point repeating the same mistake after the surgery. Thus, exercising regularly is the best way to keep the new body in shape. However, exercise, under no circumstances means that doing heavy weight lifting and running for hours on a treadmill after being released from the clinic. In fact, it is advised to start with simple stretching and warm up exercise.
Dedicating as little as 20 to 30 minutes will not only keep up the spirit but also will contribute towards the effectiveness of the procedure.
Dietary Changes and Supplements
After the surgery, the doctor will allow and encourage the consumption of water to keep the body hydrated. In few days, clear liquids and sugar-free drinks are allowed, followed by pureed food and eventually back to the solid diet.
Making little changes can lead to effective weight management. For example, changing into salad plates instead of dinner plates will help to further limit the food proportion. Also, an individual must chew food thoroughly and slowly. Also, including a high amount of protein helps towards a better health. And since consumption of unhealthy diet is often the prime reason for obesity, predominantly the fat and eating in larger proportion, no point starting yet again the same food. And this is applicable for sugar-laden drinks as well.
Often reduced food portion and diet change does not bother much or cause starvation because due to the reduced or restricted stomach size leads to lesser secretion of hunger hormone ghrelin. Even the little amount of food makes the person feel full and adapting to a new diet is the matter of adaptation.
Though one can challenge this new set up and start eating heavily again, it should not be practiced because this will gradually lead to stretching the stomach and thus, make the entire procedure of no further use.
Since after the procedure, there is a slight change in the diet and due to restriction for certain food, the body needs some additional nutrients that can be fulfilled by supplementary of multivitamins, calcium, vitamin D and B12 and iron.
Activity
Though there is absolutely no restriction on any routine activity, resuming them immediately is not a good idea. Especially activities like driving, which needs constant vigilance and alertness, should be avoided for at least next 48 hours until the dose of anesthesia wears off.
Also, the individual must wait patiently for about two weeks (or as per doctor’s consultation) to resume swimming, vigorous sports, etc.
The Myth of Compulsory Dumping Syndrome
Dumping syndrome is a medical condition in which the food (especially sugar) is processed too quickly and moves to the bowel. This ranges from two to three hours to as quickly as 10 to 30 minutes post eating. It is often characterized by diarrhea and abdominal cramping. Though several people believe it is inevitable after bariatric surgery, in reality, it affects only a small proportion of patients and is mostly fixed with diet change.
