I read and write a lot about weight reduction surgery, and moreover, LIVING after weight loss surgery. Recently I received an email from a disappointed post-surgical weight loss patient. This patient had only lost 10 (ten) pounds. She was discouraged and anxious. And she was 7 (seven) days post surgery ready to supply the 5 Day Pouch Test a go since “the surgery did not work for her.” How sad and annoying for her and me. She doesn’t need to feel just like failing and my words of “show patience, allow surgery work” felt trite. There are several myths about weight loss surgery that lead to disappointment.
As weight reduction surgery becomes an increasingly popular treatment for morbid obesity misconceptions abound. Patients who undergo gastric bypass or gastric banding surgeries are often stressed out and disappointed after surgery because they believed the popular myths. Because patients find out about the joy and boundless energy loved by others after surgery they suppose these feelings happen immediately.
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- Lack of nutrients
- Maintain a food journal,
- 1 medium orange = 4 grams of dietary fiber
Joy is felt after massive weight reduction, not after surgery. Actually, for many patients the first six weeks out of surgery are emotionally draining as they grieve for food and feel fatigued and disoriented. We read that the laparoscopic technique used for 85 percent of most surgical weight loss methods is minimally invasive needing little recovery time. In truth this technique bruises the intestines, ribs and liver.
The surgery is painful and recovery is not as rapid as most patients expect. Patients express emotions of failing when they may be sore and worn out from surgery. For most patients weight loss happens efficiently. True to dieting tradition when patients reach goal weight they tend to get back to “normal” disregarding the high-protein low-volume diet.
Weight gain results. Unless patients follow the stringent WLS rules daily they restore weight. Surgical weight loss does not guarantee happiness. Actually, patients describe feelings of anger commonly, bitterness, resentment, self-loathing and stress as they lose weight. They express happiness also, satisfaction, pleasure, delight and self-love. The pendulum of emotions swings wide. Having WLS exposes one to attacks from other people who feel eligible for criticize the gluttonous sloth that we could not lose weight by eating less and exercising more often.
Not all people, including spouses, siblings, friends and parents will support your choice for WLS. Weight loss surgery is a lifetime commitment to an exceptionally restrictive lifestyle that if used successfully will allow a former morbidly obese person to keep a wholesome weight and diminish the co-morbidities of obesity. It should never be considered the “easy way out” or a “quick fix.” It really is a lifetime dedication with no returning to normal.