Written by Dr. Alapati
Making the choice to undergo gastric bypass operation needs that you understand what you are getting into. Sure, you will lose weight, and there are many possible advantages after that. However, there are also several grave risks. Also, there is a possibility of having very unlikable side-effects.
In general, more or less 5% the patients who undergone gastric bypass operation experience some sort of complication. 10% of the patients experience some sort of problem that needs medical attention.
Nearly all have some of the unlikable side-effects also listed here.
Nobody can foretell whether or not you will experience any of these complications.
Nearly everyone experiences some of the unpleasant side-effects also listed here. Even complications that are considered rare can still occur to some patients. And that could be you. So you need to know a lot about these things. Learn that this is an extremely major thing before you choose to have gastric bypass.
Understanding what the possible risks are, and being ready for the potential complications, will make you more apt to succeed should you choose to have a gastric bypass operation.
The following are the most common complications of gastric bypass operation:
- Breathing problems
Patients who experience this complication could turn out that it could have been associated to sleep apnea. As you got up after the gastric bypass operation, you may feel that it was extremely hard to breathe, and when you sleep your oxygen sensor alarm would turn off. If you have any respiratory problems let your surgeon and anesthetist be informed before the gastric bypass surgery and precautionary measures can be performed.
- Intestinal and Stomach Contents Leakage
You must be assessed very carefully before you are permitted to eat or drink any liquid or food. Usually, they take you on the X-ray room and make you drink unpleasant liquids that can be seen on X-rays, and then they can see if anything is leaking out anywhere. If, however, this is not performed or leaks are failed to spot it is extremely grave and can lead to further surgery as necessary.
- Infections
Infections can happen from any surgery. About 2% to 3% of patients experiences infections of the incision area.
- Opening of the incision site.
This complication is extremely rare.
- Blood clots
Blood clots usually develop in the legs and goes to the lungs. This condition is called pulmonary embolism. This is uncommon and risk is reduced by the application of specialized stockings or inflatable boots that enhance circulation throughout surgery.
- Obstructions on the bowel movements
Obstructions on bowel movements can happen from any kind of abdominal operation. Scar tissue obstructs the opening through the bowels. It is painful, harmful and luckily very uncommon. It happens in less than 1% of the patients.
- Ulcers
This complication can be extremely painful. Taking ibuprofen or other NSAIDS might cause the ulcers, so as much as possible avoid taking them. In general, less than 1% of gastric bypass patients get them.
- Gallstones
Gall bladder removal can happen because of this complication. Statistically, 1/3 of the gastric bypass patients will have gallstones. The gallstones formation is caused by losing weight so rapidly. Gallstones are extremely painful and will make you weep and ask God for mercy. Initially, it is a stable, extreme pain on the right side of your stomach probably extending to your back. Nevertheless, in some cases it can appear constantly in the middle near at the bottom of your sternum. It becomes painful while eating, and once it starts even the softest of foods will be like glass going through your stomach. If you have gallstones, choose to have your gallbladder remove immediately as the doctor suggest it. Do not suffer for long.
- Lack of vitamins
Since the gastric bypass has malabsorptive abilities, this is the most possible and most severe of the serious complications. It is something that you should be watchful about. Take your vitamin supplements daily and have your blood tests performed as usual as possible.
- Reactive Hypoglycemia
This complication occurs when your body discharges extra insulin after eating. The symptoms are a little similar with dumping syndrome, although it is much severe. Dizziness, fatigue, headaches, palpitations, sweating, nervousness, depression, irritability – all of these are manifestations of reactive hypoglycemia. It is very uncommon.
- Kidney stones
A study revealed that there is an increased chance of having kidney stones after gastric bypass operation. It also revealed that the possibility starts immediately – as immediate as 3 months following surgery.
- Internal Hernias and Twisted Bowels
This one occurs to more or less 3 to 5% of all the patients. When the original gastric bypass operation is performed, the bypassed small intestines are stapled in place to the adjacent fat tissues. Then, eventually you lose 100 and more pounds and at times the fat tissues your intestines were stapled to, vanishes. This leaves your small intestines free to move around. This is extremely painful. It needs surgery to repair the complication. Thankfully, after the surgery it will be as if it never happened. Unfortunately, up to 40% of gastric bypass patients who suffer from this complication die from it. Also, it can occur at any time following surgery.
Additionally, the following list will be about the common unlikable side-effects of gastric bypass surgery:
- Dumping
Almost every patient suffers this complication to some extent at some time. It can be brought about by foods that are excessively high in sugar, fat or oil. You can suffer from nausea, sweating, and/or hot flashes. It can make you dizzy, make your pulse pound in your temples, cramps, and eventually give you diarrhea. It is the best restriction to eating foods that are high in sugar, fat and oil again any time soon.
- Vomiting
Once more, the majority of gastric bypass patients will experience vomiting at some point, but it is not essentially a daily occurrence. Sometimes if you will eat excessively than the small stomach pouch will tolerate, you will vomit that food. It is not the same as feeling sick. It simply comes back up similar to burping. If you do not chew your food thoroughly, however, it can actually hurt before you vomit. On the other hand, if you eat too rapidly or eat food that is very dry you will get this acidic vomit and it is disgusting.
- Clogging
Clogging or food obstruction can be brought about by eating too rapidly and not chewing food thoroughly so that it can pass through the opening to the small intestine. You simply have to pass the time. It is painful and sometimes you may vomit the food you eat.
- Constipation
To prevent constipation you need to get more fiber or you could take Metamucil as the doctor prescribed. A stool softener can also be taken as prescribed and sometimes stool softener works better that Metamucil.
- Gas
Gas is brought about by swallowing air with the food you eat or the fluids you drink, along with other factors. To prevent this burp while you eat or drink. Take beano or gas-x as prescribed and you need to learn how to hold the gas since it is possible. Avoid eating or drinking dairy products such as milk, ice cream and cheese. Also, avoid sodas and carbonated drinks, chewing gum and using of straws.
- Intoxication
You must not drink alcohol for the first year after gastric bypass surgery at least. Then, you will experience the intoxication effects of alcohol faster as it passes to your small intestine much quicker. However, those alcohol effects may disappear faster too.
- Hibernation Syndrome
Mostly, it takes time for your body to cope with the nutrition deficiency following surgery. You will be tired, maybe even sad for few weeks. Then, all at once, you have been used to it and you will eventually have more energy.
- Loss of hair
One of the major concerns of a lot of patients – particularly women – regarding having this operation is hair loss. It can be extremely traumatic to find clumps of hair in the shower drain. Particularly since a lot of patients really love their hair even before the surgery.
It is normal for human beings to lose hair every day. However, after gastric bypass, our bodies are obligated to live on a very low number of calories. To cope with the lack of calories, all the left over calories are given to the organs that required most to function. And human hair is not one of those organs. For this reason many of the patients start losing their hair.
To prevent hair loss, patients must eat a lot of high-protein foods since protein will make the hair healthier.
- Problems with menstruation
Women may observe their period becoming irregular, and it may happen right away after surgery.
- Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance may be brought about by the natural sugar found in the dairy products.
- Weight regain
Weight regain after a weight loss surgery is possible. As you live following the operation, you will learn methods on how to live adjusting to the small stomach pouch to be able to get more food inside. You may not develop the behaviors you need immediately, or stop your bad habits such as snacking, not exercising, drinking sodas, grazing – all of these things will eventually lead to gaining weight. The farther out you are from gastric bypass surgery, the more your small stomach pouch becomes a mean that you are in control of using.