The bariatric surgery It is a surgical intervention that allows treating the most serious cases of obesity. It is not a magic solution, since work and patient care are essential before and after the operation. The patient has to follow a series of guidelines and the recovery process can take up to a year.
The patient loses between 10% and 40% of the initial weight during the first year, being a more accelerated process during the first 6 months. The psychological preparation before and after it is essential for the results obtained and, in general, the entire recovery process to develop efficiently.
During the first month, the patient will experience abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting, especially after consuming food. For this reason, it is a priority that the specialist’s instructions be followed to the letter, mainly on issues related to diet, the consumption of a multivitamin food supplement for bariatric surgery and the return to daily routine.
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Before the surgery
In general, prior care is focused on the patient’s conditions in matters related to blood values and other important issues for the proper development of any surgical intervention of this magnitude. In addition, the medication consumed by the patient will be monitored, being necessary to avoid aspirin and steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Also, the patient will have to be psychologically prepared to face the challenges that will arise in the recovery process. The operation is only one part of the process, since the preparation is carried out by an interdisciplinary team made up of a nutritionist, a pulmonologist, a cardiologist, a endocrine and a psychologist, Besides of surgeon in charge.
After surgery
The recovery process after bariatric surgery it is slow and complex on some levels, mainly from a psychological point of view. The operation drastically reduces the size of the stomach, considered as the second brain, for which the adaptation process is aggressive and it is necessary to be prepared for the definitive alteration of eating habits.
On a physical level, it is necessary to carry out daily cures on the wounds until the moment in which the stitches are removed, which usually occurs around the 21 days. It is important to monitor symptoms such as pus, fever, bleeding or suppuration of any kind, a sign that there may be a problem with the healing process.
One of the most common symptoms is vomiting and nausea after eating, especially when food is eaten very quickly, food is not chewed properly, or liquids are ingested with food. One of the initial recommendations is to eat four meals a day, following the guidelines established by the nutritionist.
The bowel rhythm will undergo a change after the surgery. It is necessary to take care of the type of food that is ingested to promote intestinal functions. For example, if constipation occurs, it may be due to a poor intake of fiber and fluids in the diet. Walking 30 minutes a day and increasing your fluid intake is one of the recommendations.
When nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation occur and persist for many days, even making changes to the diet, it is necessary to contact the medical team, so that a more specific treatment is evaluated and the situation is closely monitored. The intake of vitamin supplements.
Physical activity and return to the usual routine
The physical exercise It will start one week after the surgery is completed. However, it is a slow process and must be closely watched, since the effort can be negative for the proper healing of wounds. Regular physical activity will allow the patient to lose weight in a more accelerated way, thanks to the consumption of calories it produces.
Some of the recommended activities are walking and going up and down stairs. These simple exercises have the ability to improve intestinal transit and promote weight loss. After two weeks of rest, the patient can resume their usual routines, return to work, walk, cook and fulfill most of their daily tasks.
It will be important that the patient does not lift weight or perform sit-ups during the first month after bariatric surgery. Regarding pain, it will be normal for abdominal pain to be constant during the first weeks, for which the doctor will prescribe paracetamol or some other kind of analgesic.
On some occasions, and depending on the technique applied during surgery, the patient will have to use a Abdominal girdle support you and help reduce discomfort from injuries. If the discomfort lasts too long, it is important to go to the specialist to receive the appropriate care.
Immediately after leaving the hospital, the patient will feel vertigo and, as the days go by, some symptoms related to psychological anxiety appear, as well as anguish and fear. This is normal and none of these symptoms will be permanent, they are only associated with the expectation of the new stage that is beginning.
When should you go to the doctor?
If the patient complies with the care established by the team of specialists in charge of the procedure, no inconvenience should occur. However, it will be necessary to consult the surgeon urgently in case of any of the symptoms or situations described below:
- I vomit every time I eat food, even when the recommendations related to the amount of food and times indicated by the nutritionist are followed.
- Diarrhea or poor bowel function two weeks after bariatric surgery.
- Not being able to consume any kind of food because of the intensity of the nausea.
- Fevers that exceed 38 degrees.
- Dressings with yellow liquid and that give off an unpleasant smell at the time of daily cures.
- Sudden shortness of breath, sudden abdominal pain, or excessive tiredness.
- Poor tolerance to medication.
- Get pregnant.