Casco Bay Surgery

Bariatric Surgery Program
Post-Operative Nutrition Handbook (Gastric Bypass)

Introduction

Gastric Bypass surgery is a “tool” for you to use to help you lose weight. Most people who use the “tool” well can expect to lose about 75% of their excess body weight over about 18 months after surgery. It is one of the most effective means of losing weight and keeping it off. But in order to make it successful, you must know how to use this tool.

The operation works in several ways that make it easier for you to stay on a healthy diet:  

1. First, the surgery creates a small “pouch” from your stomach, which allows you to feel full after eating a small amount of food.  Overeating after surgery usually causes discomfort, which you may feel as a painful pressure below your breastbone, or a gassy sensation with burping. Overeating may cause you to vomit. 

2. Secondly, the surgery causes malabsorption. This means that not everything you eat is absorbed, including some of the calories your body would normally get from your food.  On the other hand, it also means that your body does not absorb all the needed vitamins and minerals you take in. You will need to take vitamin and mineral supplements forever after gastric bypass surgery.

3. Another way the operation works is by causing some patients (but not all) to feel sick with what is called “dumping syndrome” if they eat processed sugar. Dumping can include any of these symptoms: nausea, sweating, light-headedness, rapid heart rate, cramping and diarrhea. It can help you avoid eating sweets and taking in too many calories from sugar, but we prefer you not to find out whether or not you get dumping syndrome - just avoid the sweets. 

4. Your new pouch needs to heal during the first month after surgery. It's important to follow a diet very restricted in texture. You will need to be on a blended diet for one month, followed by a transition diet for several more months. There may be some foods you will never be able to comfortably eat again. You will need to avoid eating and drinking at the same meal permanently, since mixing solids and liquids causes your pouch to empty quickly enough to make you hungry again too soon. But these diet changes also help you lose weight and keep it off.

Because you will be eating very small amounts, it is important for you to focus on eating healthy foods so that you do not become malnourished or fall into habits that can cause you to later regain your lost weight. 

The Bariatric Surgery Center
12 Andover Road
Portland, Maine 04102
(207)-761-5612
Toll-Free: (866)-268-9274
Fax: (207)-253-6073

These pages were created and are maintained by Casco Bay Surgery, PA
Last updated 6/5/06