The good news after bariatric surgery often comes on the scale.
Bariatric surgery describes a number of different procedures designed to help morbidly obese people lose weight after regimens of diet and exercise have proven ineffective. The gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and Lap-Band procedures are different types of bariatric operations. The changes that come with bariatric surgery are many and include new responses to food and exercise, and also include new emotional responses. For spouses and other family members living with the bariatric patient, these new responses pose a challenge.
Instructions
1. Prepare yourself and your family members for problems that the bariatric patient in your family may experience when eating. Even eating at what had been a normal rate before the surgery may lead to difficulties. For example, if he was in the habit of swallowing large bites without chewing, that food can lodge in the smaller stomach area, leading to a gastric blockage. This can cause vomiting. Greasy foods can move into the intestines without being fully digested, leading to "dumping"; nausea, cramping and diarrhea can follow. Episodes of gas can occur during and after mealtimes, as well.
2. Keep an eye on your loved one for some physical problems that may develop as a result of the nutritional changes associated with bariatric procedures. Because she is eating significantly less food, her blood sugar levels may plummet. If she responds by eating a high-carb meal, about an hour afterward, she may feel dizzy and break into a cold sweat. Have some skim milk or watered-down fruit juice on hand to calm the situation. This reaction is called "reactive hypoglycemia." Another possible problem is the formation of gallstones, which can form when you are losing weight rapidly. If she experiences bloating or nausea after eating or pain on the right side of the abdomen during meals, gallstones are definitely a risk, so seek medical attention.
3. Keep "problem foods" out of the kitchen. Juice with pulp, pasta, homemade bread, rice, skin on sausage or poultry, and any fried foods can give your bariatric patient digestive problems. If he enjoys vegetables with a lot of fiber -- such as corn, have a blender on hand to chop them up.
4. Get ready for depression -- on your end and on hers. You may need to reach out to a therapist beforehand to prepare yourself for the new woman coming home from the hospital.
If you have also suffered from weight problems, her newfound confidence with her weight loss may make you feel bad about yourself. The good news is that if you take up similar dietary changes, you will lose weight too -- although not as quickly in most cases.
She may be extremely low on energy starting about a month after the operation because her body is simply getting much less fuel. This is called "hibernation syndrome," but she can overcome it. When she feels like doing nothing at all, encourage her to exercise -- her body will now burn fat more efficiently.
She may also be very nervous about her body, particularly if she starts to get flaps of loose skin after significant weight loss. Go to the gym with her -- weight training will help tone some of it and, if the problem gets extreme, plastic surgery is an option, too.
