Why You Shouldn’t Eat Solids Right After A Gastric Bypass

You must follow a specific diet plan to ensure a safe recovery after a gastric bypass procedure. And this plan includes avoiding certain foods right after the surgery. If you want to know why you shouldn’t eat solids right after a gastric bypass, read...

What Is Gastric Bypass Surgery?

When performing a gastric bypass procedure, a surgeon creates a small pouch at the top of the patient’s stomach to significantly reduce the amount of food it can hold. In addition, the small intestine is connected to the pouch so that calories and nutrients bypass the rest of the stomach and directly enter the digestive system. Essentially, reducing the amount of food the stomach can hold makes patients feel fuller faster while eating less.

Risks Associated With Eating Solid Foods

After any bariatric surgery, you must adhere to a new diet to help you recover and lose weight safely. And one major aspect of the change in diet is following a specific meal plan directly after the procedure. The gastric bypass meal plan varies by patient; however, you can expect an initial plan to include liquids, pureed, and soft foods. You shouldn’t eat solids right after a gastric bypass because you risk the chance of dumping syndrome or stomach pouch blockage.

Dumping syndrome occurs when too much food enters your small intestine at one time. When this happens, you may experience nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.

Solid food can also lodge at the opening of your pouch, causing ongoing nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. To avoid these problems, it’s critical that you follow the post-surgery diet plan.

What You Should Eat After Gastric Bypass

Diet recommendations and plans vary by the individual patient. However, you can expect to be on a liquid diet right after surgery. You will drink clear liquids for the first few days and then transition into other fluids (unsweetened tea, skim milk, broth). After a week of tolerating fluids, you can eat pureed food that has the consistency of a smooth paste or thick liquid. Then, with the permission of your gastric bypass doctor, you can add soft (and eventually solid) foods to your diet.

Slim Vegas Bariatric and General Surgery is ready to help you achieve your weight loss goals. If you’re interested in gastric bypass surgery or other bariatric procedures, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today!