| 7 Dangers of Weight Loss Surgery |
| Written by Jane Long | |
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Weight loss surgery is nothing to be considered lightly. It is a last resort, when other weight loss measures have been exhausted and your overall health is in jeopardy. Because the surgeon will basically be rerouting your digestive system and placing restrictions on your food intake, it comes with many inherent risks that you should be aware of before undergoing any bariatric procedure. For example, there are at least 7 dangers of weight loss surgery. Before you take the drastic step of bariatric surgery of any type, you will undergo a battery of tests, both physical and psychological to determine if you are truly prepared for a total lifestyle change, as well as the benefits and the risks. As part of the process, you will be made aware of what may go wrong during or after surgery. Pay close attention, because it will be up to you to recognize if something is not working right in your body. UlcersUlcers are possible. Because of a tissue breakdown, you can develop sores in your stomach. You may have pain and also throw up. However, after an upper endoscopy, it is usually treated with an antacid. With such a small pouch to contain your food, it is no wonder that you may have trouble with the digestive juices causing sores. Obstructed BowelBecause you have had abdominal surgery and altered your digestive system, a bowel obstruction is a risk. Scar tissue can grow and cause a blockage in your bowels. If this happens, everything you eat will back up. You will probably be in a lot of pain and vomit. It is a dangerous condition, because your abdomen will become distended. If you do not get help, it can ultimately result in death. HerniasHernias are also a common complication of abdominal surgery. However, because of the type of surgery, you can develop 2 different types of hernias. You may have this malady if part of your intestine passes under another and gets twisted. Likewise, you can also get a hernia if part of your muscle wall separates and creates a hole. Then, other internal parts and organs can slip through and basically get strangled. Unfortunately, it will cause additional surgery to correct. Esophageal DilationIf your chosen weight loss surgery is gastric banding, it can result in your esophagus muscle becoming lazy and not properly propelling food and liquids to the stomach. Upon diagnosis, the doctor can loosen the band. After a few weeks, the esophagus should regain muscle tone. PancreatitisEverything you eat or drink is filtered by the pancreas. So, it is an extremely serious condition. Once diagnosed, you will require intravenous feeding while the inflamed pancreas heals. The condition is painful. If it is left untreated, it could affect other organs as well. It is nothing to be ignored. Liver failureUsually due to the lack of proper nutrition, your liver can fail. You cannot live without this organ. Every six months you will have to be tested for liver function. If it starts to go downhill, it may be necessary to go back in, and reconstruct your digestive system. If caught in time, you will live, but you will lose the benefits of weight loss surgery. NauseaNausea can be a complication for a variety of reasons. After the surgery, you may not be able to tolerate certain foods, even if they have been a favorite in the past. If you eat things that are too sweet or too high in fat, it can actually make you sick. If you get an obstruction or other problem, nausea is often one of the telltale symptoms. |
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