According to Dr Ratcliffe, it is important that patients make the necessary psychological changes before and after surgery so that they are better prepared to negotiate the adjustments and achieve their goals, as well as helps normalise some of the issues that they might experience. Bariatric myths Before having surgery, speak to your surgeon about the possible benefits and risks of the procedure.

Absorption of thyroxine may be reduced after bariatric surgery, however weight loss may result in improvement of hypothyroidism (and hence a decrease in dose). Observational studies suggest most patients will need either no change or a reduction in thyroxine doses. Although many women reported negative thoughts and health issues after weight loss surgery, none of them said they regret undergoing the procedure. Oral contraceptives may not be reliable after bariatric surgery. This is due to lower absorption and bioavailability after gastric bypass and concerns about effectiveness following all types of bariatric surgery. 4, 9 Alternative contraceptive methods should be considered, in particular long-acting reversible contraception. Coulman KD, et al. (2020). Patients’ experiences of life after bariatric surgery and follow-up care: A qualitative study.

Follow a specific diet for several months: Your insurance company may require you to undergo a medically monitored diet for 3 to 6 months before your surgery. Doses will often need to be reduced or stopped quite soon after surgery, and sometimes even in the preoperative (VLED) phase. A smaller stomach means you must make changes to the way you eat and drink for the rest of your life. You start with puree foods for 4 weeks and then gradually introduce normal textures. Within 12 weeks you will be eating 3 main meals, side plate size and 2 Moreover, she stressed that it is important that patients think about actively managing mood issues, such as depression and anxiety, either before or alongside surgery. These are not necessarily factors which should prevent people from having surgery, she added, but it is vital that patients are aware so they are able to anticipate, recognise and manage themselves after surgery. By identifying these issues and how they are linking to eating, healthcare professionals can then help patients develop strategies and coping mechanisms, so patients can manage their issues in a different way rather than defaulting to their usual patterns. Managing expectations

Gastric bypass may result in the most significant weight loss when compared to other bariatric surgeries. But it’s also the most complex of all the types of bariatric procedures. Heartburn/reflux/coughing at night – this may respond to simple PPI medication but should be investigated if persists. Groven says that while previous research suggests that patients can avoid testing their eating limits after surgery by following dietary advice, the reality is much more complicated. Then, the surgeon cuts the small intestine and sews part of it directly onto the pouch. Food goes into this small pouch of stomach and then directly into the small intestine sewn to it, bypassing most of the stomach and the first section of the small intestine. Instead, food goes directly into the middle part of the small intestine.Interviews were chosen as the method of data collection for this study due to the sensitive and complex nature of living with bariatric surgery, and to allow individual participants’ experiences to be explored in detail. Interviews were semistructured to provide some consistency in topics discussed between interviews, while allowing flexibility to adapt each interview to the participant. Thirteen participants were interviewed in their homes, four in a private research room at one of the two participating hospitals, one in a private room at the University and one over the telephone at their request. Interviews lasted between 44 and 110 min. Confirm date and type of procedure, pre-surgical weight, lowest post-surgery weight, and current weight Be cautious with drugs with a narrow therapeutic index. These will require close monitoring and titration especially following gastric bypass. When possible, monitor serum concentrations and the effects of these drugs e.g. anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, lithium, digoxin.