In some cases, you may experience nausea and vomiting after weight loss surgery. These are not complications you should expect to have to live with after gastric sleeve surgery, so you should be aware of possible causes and contact your surgeon if the problems arise. Vomiting can be especially dangerous if it’s not resolved quickly.

Nausea and Vomiting after weight Loss Surgery

Nausea

Some people may experience nausea immediately after surgery because of anesthesia or pain medications. In these instances, you may request anti-nausea medication from your medical staff or try replacing your prescription pain medications with liquid Tylenol. Walking around soon after surgery can also help alleviate nausea, as well as relieve any gas pains. Nausea that occurs right after surgery is usually easily resolved and should not be cause for concern.

If you experience nausea in the weeks and months after your surgery, you may be suffering from an obstruction, ulcer, or low blood sugar. Low blood sugar is the easiest problem to resolve, as it’s usually caused by not getting enough calories or waiting too long between meals. An ulcer or obstruction, on the other hand, will need to be diagnosed by your doctor using an upper endoscopy, x-ray, or CAT scan. If you have problems with frequent nausea and have tried adjusting to eating at regular intervals, contact your doctor to see if any of these additional tests are necessary.

In addition to underlying health problems, nausea and vomiting can also be caused by eating too quickly or too much after gastric banding surgery. It’s crucial that you give your body adequate time to digest your food now and that you’re slowly introducing small bites of well-chewed food into your stomach.

Vomiting

Some people believe that vomiting is a common and expected problem after gastric sleeve surgery as you get used to listening to your new stomach and eating smaller amounts. But gastric sleeve is supposed to be a gentle restriction of your eating that should, ideally, cause no vomiting. If vomiting occurs, it’s a sign that there is either a problem with the sleeve or with your eating habits.

In most cases, nausea and vomiting occurs because the patient is eating too quickly, taking too large of bites, or making inappropriate food choices. If you’re experiencing vomiting, make sure that you’re carefully following the post-surgery recommendations. If you’ve made these changes and continue to get sick, contact your doctor immediately.

Vomiting can cause the small stomach pouch to stretch or cause incisions to reopen. In severe cases, frequent vomiting may lead to additional surgeries. Understand that most people who follow the eating guidelines they are given do not experience these problems and that communicating effectively with your Dr. Bagnato can, in most cases, prevent the need for further surgery.

From the Palmyra Surgical Blog

  • Understanding the Glycemic Index
    Understanding the Glycemic Index
    Carbohydrates are one of the six essential nutrients. Despite common talk about avoiding carbohydrates for weight loss, our bodies require them to thrive. Carbohydrates contain sugar. When you eat carbohydrates, your body breaks down that sugar and absorbs it into the cells with the help of a hormone called insulin, where it is then converted to fuel and used for energy.
  • Reasons to Consider Weight Loss Surgery
    Getting weight loss surgery is a choice that can have a major influence on your health and quality of life for years to come. The conversation surrounding weight loss surgery may come up at the advice of a doctor, after seeing a friend who was successful in their weight loss efforts or maybe after a series of frustrating weight loss attempts.
  • Managing Special Occasions after Weight Loss Surgery
    Every time you turn the corner there is another fast food restaurant or bakery loaded with its own temptations, and you do what you can to stand strong and stick to your post-bariatric diet plan.
  • Shop Smart to Lose Weight
    Healthy Shopping Strategies for a Healthy Household
    When one person in a household gets weight loss surgery, it is actually common for other members of that household to lose weight too. This is called a “halo effect.”
  • Making Healthy Food Substitutions after Weight Loss Surgery
    Approximately six weeks following weight loss surgery you’ll start making the gradual transition back to a whole-foods diet. This is an exciting period for many people. After weeks of gaining sustenance through liquids and soft foods, being able to enjoy a regular meal is something to look forward to.