Living With Gastric Bypass
What was one of the first things you noticed after gastric bypass surgery?
One of the first things I noticed after surgery was that I wasn't hungry, ever, which was very interesting. To this day, I have no hunger. I've had this conversation with my surgeon, and typically, for the first year, you're in your honeymoon phase. I may never get my hunger back whatsoever. It affects people differently, and I have not shown a sign of hunger whatsoever. And that can be very difficult, because I have to remind myself that I need to eat.
How soon after gastric bypass surgery did you start to lose weight?
I began to lose weight probably a week after the surgery because you lose a lot of water weight as well. So that's obviously, you know, right after surgery you'll lose weight. Actually when you leave the hospital you can sometimes gain weight because of all the fluids they pump into you so I don't recommend weighing yourself right after surgery whatsoever. But it took me about a week and a half before I started at least seeing on the scale the numbers drop.
What medical complications were there after gastric bypass surgery?
I experienced a couple complications after Gastric Bypass Surgery, one was a small bowel obstruction. When you don't chew well, it can be dangerous, because the food you are consuming is no longer going into your football shape stomach, where the job is to attack it ,and basically act as a food-processor. Now I have a small little pouch and everything I eat sifts through it. So you have to be very cognisant of that, and really chew, and sometimes you forget that and that led me to the E.R where they pump fluids into you and really monitor it, because it can get very dangerous. Small bowel obstruction can be extremely dangerous and life-threatening. Another complication, it's not really a complication, but it's a change in your chemistry, is your blood sugar levels. You have to make sure you are on top of your blood sugar, because you are not absorbing the same elements, the same vitamins, the same minerals as you would be before surgery, so if you get dehydrated, or if you are not eating as much as you should be, because you are not hungry, or because you are physically restricted, you can actually get into a danger zone. I actually was in a situation where I hadn't eaten and I was actually in line at a restaurant with friends to eat dinner,and my blood sugar had dropped so much, I actually fainted. You know I hear from friends who had Gastric Bypass Surgery say "well this happens more often than we would like," and I think it only takes it one time happening, that you truly make it part of your creed to make sure you carry a protein bar at all times, you are drinking water and really make sure you are keeping your body healthy. '
What activities could you no longer do after gastric bypass surgery?
Once you're recovered, you can pretty much return to a regular everyday lifestyle. I wouldn't recommend boxing or putting yourself in any situation where anyone can cause harm to your new anatomy, so, low risk behavior. But again, you can't overeat, which is an activity. You can't overeat. You can't go to the buffet; you can't do the pie contest. But, you know what, I don't miss that.
