How to Take Care of Yourself After Sleeve Gastrectomy?

Advancements in medical science have revolutionized medical procedures, medications, and methods to speed recovery. It is leading to the provision of comfort and better health status for individuals, resulting in a comprehensive upgrade of quality of life.

Surgical interventions are highly effective in terms of instant and, in some cases, lifesaving treatments. However, to get the maximum benefit from surgical methods, it is crucial to take good care of yourself in various ways. Bariatric surgeries are significant due to their profound effect on the whole digestive system and, hence, overall health.

Obesity or overweight conditions for which diet plans or exercise remain ineffective can lead to the deterioration of an individual’s life. Sleeve gastrectomy or sleeve gastric surgery is a surgical procedure that assists patients with comprehensive weight loss via controlling appetite. What are the possible outcomes of surgery? Are its benefits dependent on what you do after it? All questions are crucial and must be answered before undergoing surgery. Let us try to learn about sleeve gastrectomy and how to take care of yourself later.

Knowing About Sleeve Gastrectomy

The digestive system constitutes a series of organs that process food, extract nutrients, and dispose of waste from the body. The stomach is the critical organ of this system, and it performs numerous functions. Appetite or hunger is strongly associated with hormonal secretions of the stomach. People suffering from obesity and dismayed by dietary adjustments and physical therapies can find sleeve gastrectomy an unavoidable solution. It is so because surgery results in considerable changes in stomach size and, hence, hormonal discharge.

• Mechanism

Surgeons remove a specific part of the stomach during surgery, which makes the stomach shorter in size. It becomes approximately the size of a banana or the form of a sleeve that reduces its capacity to hold food quantity. Moreover, it is not just about the reduction in size; surgeons make sure that the removed part is responsible for the discharge of the hormone ghrelin. It stimulates and controls feelings of hunger and craving for food.

• Outcomes

After undergoing Sleeve gastrectomy, the patient feels better control over appetite and quantity of food taken at one time. As surgery results in a slim stomach, the patient feels fullness even after taking small amounts of meals. Moreover, hormonal change also aids significantly in managing reasonable diet intake that assures weight control. Consequently, patients can have an improved quality of life by getting rid of obesity and its related medical conditions.

Points To Ponder After Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Although sleeve gastrectomy has numerous advantages, including the prevention of various medical conditions, it contributes to the psychological health and emotional well-being of patients by relieving the stress of being overweight. However, to take care of yourself after surgery is not an ignorable factor. Numerous things should be considered seriously to enjoy the health outcomes of surgery. They include

Following your surgeon’s instructions

Your surgeon is the person who entirely knows about your health status before and after surgery. For fast recovery and desired upshots, follow the instructions. These include

• Medication
• Body Posture
• Required period to avoid physical activities
• Diet plans
• Monitoring complications (fever or redness)
• Follow-ups

Taking care of all the above areas interprets that you are comprehensively taking care of yourself.

Hygiene and care of the wound

The significance of hygiene for a healthy life is no longer a secret. It becomes more crucial if you undergo any surgical procedure. The recovery rate depends upon the hygiene conditions and care of the wound in terms of medication, as well as avoiding any pressure or stress on the wound. Any negligence can lead to infections that can delay the recovery process as well as be dangerous in the presence of any other medical condition, such as diabetes.

Dietary changes

Dietary changes play a vital role in healing and having long-term advantages of surgery. It can be summarized as

• Nutritional Guidance

Just after surgery, the diet of the patient must be according to the surgeon’s advice. It often shifts gradually from liquid intake to soft food and then reintroduction of solid food. In addition, for a better care option, a professional nutritionist can resolve numerous problems and contribute to managing weight conditions and overall health status.

• Chew thoroughly

Chewing food thoroughly lessens the burden on the stomach and promotes the excellent absorption of nutrients as well. Hence, making a habit of proper chewing can be beneficial to digestive health.

• Avoid carbonated beverages

A slim stomach is an easy target for carbonated beverages to produce gas and discomfort. Hence, try maximum to stick to water and avoid such drinks that can damage your digestive function.

• Vitamins and supplements

Undergoing surgery can lead to various deficiencies in a patient’s body. Moreover, after healing, less capability of the stomach for food intake can cause weakness. Hence, taking suggested vitamins and supplements can help to maintain energy levels.

• Stay Hydrated

In order to take care of yourself staying hydrated is of great importance. After surgery, dehydration can lead to severe medical problems. Hence, it is necessary to drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Physical activity

Physical activities have a direct effect on the abdominal area and, hence, the stomach. Therefore, the intensity of physical activities must go up gradually. Starting from light to heavy, according to surgeons’ instructions, is preferable. Moreover, if any activity is a longstanding harm to the health, patients must avoid it.

Long-term lifestyle changes

Long-term lifestyle changes are mandatory to retain the beneficial outcomes of surgery and avoid complications. These changes must be in terms of dietary routines, physical exercises (only suitable), and avoiding unhealthy habits such as the use of alcohol or smoking. Moreover, constant monitoring of weight enables you to make the necessary changes accordingly.

Stress Management

Stress can interfere with the performance of the stomach in various ways. Hence, stress is a dangerous enemy that can make you unsuccessful in getting the required results of surgery. Adapting methods like meditation or yoga to relieve stress can be helpful in this regard, leading to astonishing health results.

Avoid the persistence of medical conditions

Any longstanding medical condition, such as hypertension, may lead to disturbing surgical upshots. Hence, it is crucial to take care of yourself by taking immediate notice of any medical issue and its possible treatment. It not only promotes the health benefits of surgery but also general health improvements.

Emotional Support

Healing from surgery can be challenging. In such situations, the emotional support of friends and family can be of great help. Motivation and encouragement to be successful in acquiring an excellent healthy life can fasten the recovery and other betterments.

Wrapping Up

So, living with an unsatisfactory body image due to excess weight is no less than a disaster. It not only imparts health damage but is also harmful to mental health. Thanks to the evolution of medical science, we can avail the option of surgical interventions. Sleeve gastrectomy comes with the solution of obesity when it remains unresponsive to diet and exercise. However, how much surgery suits you depends upon how you take care of yourself after surgery.

Listening to your surgeon concerning medication, diet, and other care options is just like a treatment for healing your medical problems. Making short-term as well as long-term dietary changes, adopting a suitable intensity of physical activity, and protecting yourself from other medical issues are of great importance. Furthermore, having a positive approach leading to stress management and availing the emotional support of family and friends can produce astonishing changes in your health status. Consequently, compliance with all the ways will lead you to a progressive life.