Gastric bypass complications often occur even though the surgery provides patients with a fast and effective way to lose weight. The surgery provides astounding weight loss results to the majority of patients that receive the procedure, though many struggle with severe underlying issues. In the most extreme cases, patients must receive additional surgical procedures in order to reduce the risks of enduring additional harm from the bypass.
Risk Information
Generally, gastric bypass gets looked down upon as the more complicated, higher risk procedure compared to those that use bands to shrink the stomach. Traditional bypass methods actually cut and trim parts of the stomach tissue while some do not. One procedure known as the Roux-en-Y method does not alter the stomach through tissue removal.
Potential Complication #1: Nutrient Deficiencies
Gastric bypass surgery helps patients lose weight become the stomach gets bypassed for a near direct route to the intestinal track. Although most patients do see dramatic weight loss because of this process, these individuals also see large decreases in nutrient absorption.
The stomach allows the human body to intake calories and the vitamins and minerals contained within the food energy source. Since the stomach gets completely bypassed for a smaller, surgically formed pouch, patients must pay close attention to their nutrient consumption.
Gastric bypass surgery has shown connections with iron and B vitamin deficiencies. Patients generally purchase and regularly inject vitamin and mineral supplements to compensate for the major and potential losses.
Potential Complication #2: Developing Lactose Intolerance
A study in 1994 showed that a range of 30 to 50 million people across the world have some degree of lactose intolerance. Those who suffer from this problem do not develop enough lactase, an enzyme that breaks down dairy sugar, lactose. Symptoms include stomach and abdominal cramping plus diarrhea.
Since the stomach gets bypassed after the gastric bypass surgery, patients will have less of a chance to break down the lactose sugar found in dairy products. Dietitians recommend that these bariatric surgery patients eat dense forms of dairy products such as yogurt and some cheese. Foods like milk tend to pass through the smaller stomach pouch without getting fully digested.
Potential Complication #3: Ulcer Formation
Ulcers have the potential to greatly damage stomach or tissue lining within the body. After the gastric bypass surgery, patients have a higher chance of developing ulcers due to weakened tissue. Patients will receive information regarding diet and lifestyle techniques that decrease the chances of ulcers forming inside the newly formed stomach pouch.
Patients generally follow a step by step recovery process ensuring that the internal tissue fully recovers before enduring major activity.
Potential Complication #4: Unhealthy Weight Loss
The gastric bypass procedure undoubtedly helps patients lose weight. However, some individuals who receive the procedure lose healthy muscle tissue rather than excess fat deposits. When this occurs over an extended period of time, patients grow weak and lose the ability to perform physically demanding activities.
In order to avoid losing muscle mass, patients follow a high protein diet while limiting their consumption of fat filled, sugary food choices. Muscle function gets preserved through proper dietary practices assigned by professional dietitians.
