|
Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
Can I get pregnant after surgery?
What will the staples do in my abdomen
after gastric bypass?
Is sexual activity restricted?
Is there a difference in outcome between men
and women?
Will I be asked to stop smoking?
Can bariatric surgery prolong my life?
Can bariatric surgery help with other physical conditions?
How do I access the patient portal or new patient registration?
Will I have to change my medications?
General Nutrition
Is there a problem with consuming milk products?
Is there any restriction of salt intake?
Will I be able to eat spicy foods or seasoned foods?
What if I'm not hungry after surgery?
Why can't I snack between meals?
Will I be constantly hungry after surgery?
Gastric Bypass
How big will my stomach pouch be after gastric bypass?
Will I have difficulty taking medications after gastric bypass?
How can I know that I won't just keep losing weight until I waste
away to nothing?
Will I lose my hair?
Can I eat red meat after bypass surgery?
Adjustable Gastric Band
How small is my stomach after lap band?
Will I have difficulty taking medications
after lap band?
Why can't I eat meat or bread after lap band surgery?
What if I am hungry after lap band
surgery?
Exercise
Why do I need to exercise after surgery?
Will exercise help with loose skin after I lose weight?
General Information
Can I get pregnant after
surgery?
It is strongly recommended that women wait at
least one year after the surgery before a pregnancy. Approximately
one year post-operatively, your body will be fairly stable (from
a weight and nutrition standpoint) and you should be able to carry
a normally nourished fetus. During the first year you are losing
weight rapidly and that environment represents special risks for
a growing fetus. You should consult your surgeon as you plan for
pregnancy.
Top of page.
What will the staples
do inside my abdomen? Is it okay in the future to have an MRI test?
Will I set off metal detectors in airports?
The staples used on the stomach and the intestines
are very tiny in comparison to the staples you will have in your
skin or staples you use in the office. Each staple is a tiny piece
of stainless steel or titanium so small it is hard to see other
than as a tiny bright spot. Because the metals used (titanium or
stainless steel) are inert in the body, most people are not allergic
to staples and they usually do not cause any problems in the long
run. The staple materials are also non-magnetic, which means that
they will not be affected by MRI. The staples will not set off airport
metal detectors.
Top of page.
Is sexual activity restricted?
Patients can return to normal sexual intimacy
when their wounds have healed and they feel physically ready. Many
patients experience a drop in desire for about 6 weeks.
Top of page.
Is there a difference in
outcome between men and women?
Both men and women generally respond well to
this surgery. Men tend to lose weight slightly faster than women
do.
Top of page.
Will I be asked to stop
smoking?
Patients are encouraged to stop smoking at least
two months before surgery. Smoking increases the risk of lung problems
after surgery, can reduce the rate of healing, increases the rates
of infection, and interferes with blood supply to the healing tissues.
Top of page.
Can bariatric surgery prolong
my life?
There is good evidence from scientific
research that if you have Type 2 diabetes (or other serious obesity-related
health conditions), are at least 100 pounds over ideal body weight,
and are able to comply with lifestyle changes (daily exercise and
low-fat diet), then bariatric surgery may significantly prolong
your life.
Top of page.
Can bariatric surgery
help with other physical conditions?
According to current research, weight loss surgery
can improve or resolve associated health conditions.
| Condition |
Percentage found in preoperative individuals |
Percentage cured 2 years after surgery |
| Diabetes or insluin resistance |
34% |
85% |
| High blood pressure |
26% |
66% |
| High triglycerides |
40% |
85% |
| Sleep apnea |
22% in males, 1% in females |
40% |
Top of page.
How do I access the patient
portal or new patient registration?
If you have an ID number to access the
portal, or if you've been asked to fill out your new patient information
online, click here.
Top of page.
Will I have to change
my medications?
Your doctor will determine whether medications
for blood pressure, diabetes, etc., can be stopped when the conditions
for which they are taken improve or resolve after weight loss surgery.
For meds that need to be continued, the vast majority can be swallowed,
absorbed, and work the same as before weight loss surgery. Usually
no change in dose is required. Two classes of medications that should
be used only in consultation with your surgeon are diuretics (fluid
pills) and NSAIDs (most over-the-counter pain medicines). NSAIDs
(ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.) may create ulcers in the small pouch
or the attached bowel. Most diuretic medicines make the kidneys
lose potassium. With the dramatically reduced intake experienced
by most weight loss surgery patients, they are not able to take
in enough potassium from food to compensate. When potassium levels
get too low, it can lead to fatal heart problems.
Top of page.
General Nutrition
Is there a problem with
consuming milk products?
Milk contains lactose (milk sugar), which is
not well digested. This sugar passes through undigested until bacteria
in the lower bowel act on it, producing irritating byproducts as
well as gas. Depending on individual tolerance, some persons find
even the smallest amount of milk can cause cramps, gas, and diarrhea.
Top of page.
Is there any restriction
of salt intake?
No, your salt intake will be unchanged unless
otherwise instructed by your primary care physician.
Top of page.
Will I be able to eat
spicy foods or seasoned foods?
Most patients are able to enjoy spices after
the initial six months following surgery.
Top of page.
What if I'm not hungry
after surgery?
It's normal not to have an appetite for the first
month or two after bariatric surgery. If you are able to consume
liquids reasonably well, there is a level of confidence that your
appetite will increase with time.
Top of page.
Why can't I snack between
meals?
Snacking, nibbling, or grazing on foods, usually
high-calorie and high-fat foods, can add hundreds of calories a
day to your intake, defeating the restrictive effect of your operation.
Snacking will slow down your weight loss and can lead to regain
of weight.
Top of page.
Will I be constantly
hungry after surgery?
Most patients say no. In fact, for the first
four to six weeks patients have almost no appetite. Over the next
several months the appetite returns, but it tends not to be a ravenous
"eat everything in the cupboard" type of hunger.
Top of page.
Gastric Bypass
How big will my stomach
pouch really be?
In the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the stomach
pouch is created at 30 cc (one ounce) or less in size. About six
to 12 months after surgery, the stomach pouch expands slightly but
it will always remain smaller than the normal stomach. Many patients
end up with a meal capacity of three to seven ounces.
Top of page.
Will I have difficulty
taking medications?
Most pills or capsules are small enough to pass
through the new stomach pouch. Initially, your doctor may suggest
that medications be taken in liquid form or crushed.
Top of page.
How can I know that I won't
just keep losing weight until I waste away to nothing?
Patients may begin to wonder about this early
after the surgery when they are losing 20 to 40 pounds per month,
or maybe when they've lost more than 100 pounds and they're still
losing weight. Two things happen to allow weight to stabilize. First,
a patient's ongoing metabolic needs (calories burned) decrease as
the body sheds excess pounds. Second, there is a natural progressive
increase in calorie and nutrient intake over the months following
weight loss surgery. The stomach pouch and attached small intestine
learn to work together better, and there is some expansion in pouch
size over a period of months. The bottom line is that, in the absence
of a surgical complication, patients are very unlikely to lose weight
to the point of malnutrition.
Top of page.
Will I lose hair after
surgery? How can I prevent it?
Many patients experience some hair loss or thinning
after surgery. This usually occurs between the fourth and the eighth
month after surgery. Consistent intake of protein at mealtime is
the most important prevention method. Also recommended are a daily
zinc supplement and a good daily volume of fluid intake. Most patients
experience natural hair regrowth after the initial period of loss.
Top of page.
Can I eat red meat after
surgery?
You can, but you will need to be very careful,
and we recommend that you avoid it for the first several months.
Red meats contain a high level of meat fibers (gristle) that hold
the piece of meat together, preventing you from separating it into
small parts when you chew. The gristle can plug the outlet of your
stomach pouch and prevent anything from passing through, a condition
that is very uncomfortable.
Top of page.
Adjustable Gastric Band
How small is my stomach
after lap band?
The lap band shrinks your stomach size to about
20-30 cc by restricting what you can eat to that amount.
Top of page.
Will I have difficulty
taking medications after lap band?
The band works by providing restriction. Large
capsules or tablets can get stuck in the band. It is recommended
that you crush tablets and open capsules and mix with food. Please
check with your medical doctor or pharmacist to insure this is okay
with your particular medications.
Top of page.
Why can't I eat meat or
bread after lap band?
The laparoscopic adjustable gastric band works
by restricting outflow of food from the area above the band. This
small piece of stomach stretches and you feel full and lose your
appetite. The band only works if this exit is narrow. If you are
properly adjusted, meats or bread will get stuck in the band, causing
vomiting.
Top of page.
What if I am hungry
after lap band?
If your band is appropriately adjusted you will
eat only small amounts of food. That food will stretch your stomach,
resulting in your feeling full and losing your appetite. If you
feel hungry after eating, you probably need an adjustment.
Top of page.
Exercise
Why do I need to
exercise after surgery?
Several studies have shown that regular exercise
helps you build muscle, replacing muscle lost during the period
or rapid weight loss in the first six months after surgery. Patients
who exercise feel better and manage their weight loss better.
Will exercise help with
loose skin after I lose weight?
Exercise is good in so many other ways that a
regular exercise program is recommended. Unfortunately, some patients
may still be left with large flaps of loose skin.
Top of page.
|
