What will my weight loss journey be like following gastric sleeve surgery?
After surgery, most people have a minimal appetite, and get full very quickly. After a few weeks, your appetite may start to return, but this is typically stunted and you will still be full off smaller portions. During this time, you must be careful, as overeating can easily occur. When this happens, your body will display signals such as bloating, reflux, hiccups or indigestion. You must pay attention to these signals, and you can then easily learn when you’ve had enough.
How long will it take to recover from gastric sleeve surgery?
Typically, we advise to take minimum 2 weeks to recover, however this can vary depending on your employment. You’ve just had major surgery, and everyone heals differently. Resting is very important, as if you do too much too quickly after surgery, you will feel unwell, and it may take longer to recover. Patients are able to drive 1-2 weeks following surgery.
How do I prevent Portion creep?
Portion creep can compromise your weight loss efforts and leads to more calories being consumed. To avoid this, you should stick to your dietary guidelines and the protein-before-carbs rule. We recommend purchasing a “Portion Perfection Plate”, which keeps you accountable and ensures you maintain your portion sizes. If you are experiencing symptoms of reflux, bloating and cramping after eating this suggests your portions are too big.
Can I exercise?
Yes! Exercise is a vital part of losing weight and keeping the weight off. You should regularly take gentle, short walks even while you are in the hospital. The key is to start slow and always listen to your body, building slowly over several weeks, and take care not to swim until your wounds are fully healed.
When can I get pregnant after surgery?
Toggle content goes here, click edit button to change this text.You are much more fertile after surgery, even with the weight loss. Birth control pills do not work as well in patients that are overweight, and are not reliable during this time, as your weight is changing. For this reason, having an IUD or using condoms is recommended with all intercourse. Menstrual periods can be very irregular, and pregnancy can be unexpected. It is recommended to wait 12-18 months after surgery before choosing to get pregnant.
Will I lose my hair after bariatric surgery?
Some hair loss is common between 3-6 months following surgery, with the reasons why not fully understood. We recommend taking all recommended supplements, even though some hair loss will be noticed. Adequate intake of protein, vitamins and minerals will help to ensure hair re-growth and avoid longer term thinning.
Can I go off some of my regular medications after surgery?
As you lose weight, you may be able to reduce or eliminate the need for many of the medications you take for high blood pressure, heart disease, arthritis, cholesterol, and diabetes. If you have had a gastric bypass, or sleeve gastrectomy, you may even be able to reduce the dosage or discontinue the use of your diabetes medication soon after your procedure.