- Vomiting. If you do not chew your food well, your small stomach will be overly stretched by food particles, which may result in vomiting.
- Nutritional deficiencies. Because gastric bypass operations cause food to skip the duodenum, where most iron and calcium is absorbed, risks for developing nutritional deficiencies increase following weight loss procedures. Anemia may result from malabsorption of vitamin B12 and iron, and decreased absorption of calcium may cause osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease. Patients will be required to take nutritional supplements that usually prevent these deficiencies.
- "Dumping Syndrome". This occurs when ingested food or liquids move too rapidly through the small intestine. Symptoms include nausea, weakness, sweating, faintness, and, occasionally, diarrhea after eating. Patients may become so weak and sweaty that the patient must lie down until the symptoms pass. Dumping syndrome happens frequently when patients ingest carbohydrate-rich or fat-rich food. It is regarded as a beneficial side effect for the first year after surgery. This syndrome usually improves with time.
- Follow-Up Operations. Approximately 30 percent of patients require follow-up operations to correct complications, such as abdominal hernias after open bariatric procedures or gallstones. Gallstones are clumps of cholesterol and other matter that form in the gallbladder. Rapid or substantial weight loss increases the risk of developing gallstones. In addition, erosion of the band, breakdown of the staple line, or leakage of stomach juices into the abdomen may occur and require surgical correction.
- Infection or death. In a very small number of cases (less than one percent) infection or death from complications may occur.
To help you deal with these potential challenges, your physician and surgeon will collaborate to recommend resources to help you adjust to your new body. These resources may include nutritional counseling or exercise coaching and monitoring.
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