Undergoing gastric sleeve surgery is a life-changing choice. While the surgery is an effective treatment for weight loss, it also requires certain lifestyle changes. The surgery reshapes your stomach, which means you need to change your eating and drinking habits.
To get long-term success and to heal properly, there are some things you should avoid. In this blog, we discuss 9 major things that you can’t do after gastric sleeve surgery. So, let’s begin!
What Is Gastric Sleeve Surgery?
Gastric sleeve surgery, or sleeve gastrectomy, is a bariatric procedure that removes 75-80% of your stomach. This helps reduce food intake and decrease hunger hormones, which helps patients lose weight effectively. Because the stomach is permanently changed, patients need to follow guidelines after their surgery for safe healing.
Things You Can’t Do After Gastric Sleeve
Bariatric aftercare is not universal; programs differ. To heal properly and to make your treatment successful, there are certain things you should avoid after gastric sleeve surgery, such as:
Drink While You Eat:
Drinking during meals might flush food through the stomach more quickly, which can make you feel hungry sooner. It can also cause pain or vomiting.
Taking Large Gulps:
Sipping slowly is important. Taking big gulps can bring extra air into your stomach. Because your stomach is much smaller, the extra air can cause gas pain and bloating.
Drinking Carbonated Drinks:
Drinking beverages like soda, sparkling water, and beer can create gas bubbles in your stomach. These bubbles can cause pain, pressure, and even stomach bloating over time.
High Calorie Foods:
Eating foods or snacks that are high in calories, such as chips, crackers, and pretzels, can pass quickly through your stomach and don’t make you feel full, which can make you eat more without realizing it. This can slow down or stop your weight loss.
Skipping Daily Vitamins:
After your surgery, your body needs nutrients differently, which is why taking daily vitamins like vitamin B-12, iron supplements, calcium supplements, and vitamin D is important. Skipping the vitamins that your healthcare expert prescribed to you can cause serious health problems.
Eating Too Fast:
If you were eating fast before your surgery, you might have to change this habit. After surgery, eating quickly can cause the food to get stuck, which can cause pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Drinking Alcohol Early On:
Alcohol has different effects on your body after a gastric sleeve. Your tolerance becomes low, and even a small amount can make you feel intoxicated quickly. Most surgeons recommend avoiding alcohol for 6-12 months (varies by surgeon/program).
Ignoring the Fullness Signals:
After your surgery, it is important to stop eating as soon as you feel full. If you continue eating even after being full, you might feel vomiting or pain. It can also stretch your stomach over time. It is important to listen to your body for long-term treatment success.
Staying Inactive:
To continue your weight loss journey, you need to stay active. Relying only on the surgery is not healthy. You need gradual physical activity to improve your overall health after consulting with your surgeon.
Final Thoughts
You do not have to let go of everything that you enjoy after your gastric sleeve surgery. It is about making yourself healthy and more energetic. By following the important guidelines given by your healthcare professional, you protect your health and get lasting results.
For expert consultation and bariatric procedures, you can contact Nova Bariatrics & General Surgery. Get in touch with us to schedule your visit today!
