1. Restrictive procedures to reduce the size of your stomach, 2. Mal-absorptive procedures alter the flow from your stomach to your intestine, and 3. Combination procedures that involve the characteristics of both of the above procedures.
This article will be focusing on the first option.
Gastric bypass surgery is one type of weight loss surgical procedures that can be used, and is actually commonly used, to cause significant weight loss for a patient that is exceedingly obese. Gastric bypass surgery is designed to reduce the body's intake of calories. Calorie reduction through this surgery is accomplished in two main ways:
1. After the surgery, the patient's stomach is actually smaller than it was. This means that the patient will feel full faster and it will be easier for the candidate to learn to reduce the amount of food that he/she consumes.
2. Part of the patient's stomach and small intestines are literally bypassed in the food consumption process so that fewer calories are absorbed by the candidate.
Prior to any successful weight loss operation, the patient's doctor will give the patient a complete medical examination to evaluate the patient's state of overall health. A psychological evaluation will also be undertaken. If at the conclusion of the consultation and evaluation, the doctor does not feel the patient is ready, then the surgery will not be recommended. Should the doctor recommend the procedure, then the patient will receive extensive nutritional counseling before (and after) the surgery.
Gastric bypass surgery is always performed under anesthesia. There are two basic steps to the surgery:
1. The first step in the surgery makes the patient's stomach smaller. The surgeon divides the stomach into a small upper section and a larger bottom section using staples that are like stitches. The top section of the stomach will hold any digested food.
2. After the stomach has been divided, the surgeon connects a section of the small intestine to the pouch. This ensures that the food bypassed the lower portion of the stomach.
Gastric bypass surgery can be performed using a laparoscope. This technique is actually far less invasive than traditional surgery. The incisions are much smaller and therefore are a little less painful and a lot less noticeable, which lowers the risk of large scars and hernias after the procedure. Once the small incisions are made in the abdomen, then the surgeon passes slender surgical instruments through these narrow openings, as well as, a camera so that he or she can see the maneuvering of the instruments.
If you have gastric bypass surgery, then you will usually need to stay in the hospital for 4 to 5 days after the doctor performs the surgery on you. Your doctor will approve your discharge to go back home once you are able to do the following:
1. Move without too much discomfort, 2. Eat liquid and/or pureed food without vomiting it back up, and 3. No longer requiring pain medication to be administered by injection.
You will remain on liquid or pureed food for several weeks after the surgery. Even after that time, you will feel full very quickly. This is because the new stomach pouch initially only holds a tablespoonful of food. The pouch eventually expands but will generally allow you no more than one cup of food.
If you are considering weight loss surgery, specifically gastric bypass, do you know about dumping syndrome? What is dumping syndrome? What are the signs and symptoms? How can you avoid it? Whether you are a weight loss surgery post-op, use the theories of sugar and dumping syndrome to work for you.
As a post-op RNY Gastric Bypass Patient myself, I'm asked numerous times about dumping syndrome. Dumping syndrome has been an advantage because it is a deterrent of eating sugary food choices. I've provided some details about dumping syndrome as it relates to RNY Gastric Bypass, and how the function of it can benefit non-RNY weight loss surgery patients and non-weight loss surgery weight loss.
Under normal physiologic conditions, the stomach and pylorus (the opening of the stomach into the small intestine) control the rate at which the gastric contents leave the stomach. That is, the stomach, pancreas and liver work together to prepare nutrients (or sugar) before they reach the small intestine for absorption. The stomach serves as a reservoir that releases food downstream only at a controlled rate, avoiding sudden large influxes of sugar. The released food is also mixed with stomach acid, bile, and pancreatic juice to control the chemical makeup of the food that goes downstream and avoid the "dumping syndrome."
Early dumping syndrome happens when the lower end of the small intestine (jejunum) fills too rapidly with undigested food from the stomach. Patients can develop abdominal bloating, pain, vomiting, sweating, rapid heart rate, stomach cramps, fatigue, light headedness or diarrhea.
Since with the RNY Gastric Bypass the majority of the stomach is not being used and a new, small pouch that directly connects to the small intestine is created, there may be dumping. Early dumping syndrome is due to the rapid gastric emptying causing bowel distension plus movement of fluid from the blood to the intestine to dilute the intestinal contents. These symptoms usually occur 30 to 60 minutes after eating.
Late dumping is related to the blood sugar level. The small bowel is effective in absorbing sugar. The rapid absorption of even a small amount of sugar can cause the glucose level in the blood to rise quickly. The pancreas responds to this glucose challenge by increasing the insulin output. Unfortunately, the sugar that started the whole cycle was such a small amount that it does not sustain the increase in blood glucose, which tends to fall back down at about the time the insulin surge starts. These factors combine to produce hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) which causes the individual to feel weak, sleepy and profoundly fatigued. Essentially, the person crashes from the highs and lows of the blood sugar and absorption factors Restricting simple carbohydrates (fruit juice, rice, pasta, potatoes and other sweet tasting foods) and eating more protein can reduce the symptoms of dumping.
There are some RNY post-ops that do not experience dumping syndrome. Just because you may not experience symptoms of dumping syndrome, the impact of blood sugar rise and crash along with weight regain eventually by eating unhealthy foods. Not all weight loss surgery procedures result in dumping syndrome. However, the foods that cause dumping syndrome aren't good choices in losing weight, whether you have weight loss surgery or not. Simple carbohydrates, sugary, fatty foods are not healthy choices for any weight loss surgery patient and anyone wanting to lose and maintain their weight.
Healthy choices benefit us physically. You benefit psychologically by making healthy choices. By exercising your muscle of making healthy food choices, you GAIN physically and psychologically and LOSE weight.
Both Lana Hampton & Cathy Wilson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Lana Hampton has sinced written about articles on various topics from Health, Vitamin and Mineral Supplement and Fitness. Lana Hampton is the publisher of "177 Fast Weight Loss Tips" (http://www.177fastweightlosstips.com). Visit to subscribe to her free newslet. Lana Hampton's top article generates over 6600 views. to your Favourites.
Cathy Wilson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Lose Weight and Fitness. Cathy Wilson is a weight loss life coach. Cathy lost 147 pounds six years ago. Her passion is helping clients achieve their weight loss and life goals. Cathy works with clients to create a weight loss life plan that is customized to each client. Cathy is. Cathy Wilson's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.