Why Do I Throw Up After Bariatric Surgery?

Gastric sleeve surgery has several potential health advantages beyond apparent weight loss. Patients undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) often report improvements in diabetes control, cardiovascular health, and other diseases connected to obesity.

Although laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is a safe and effective procedure for weight loss, it is not without potential risks. After gastric sleeve or gastric bypass surgery, nausea and vomiting are possible side effects.

In this post, we’ll look at why throwing up after bariatric surgery happens to some people and what may be done to keep it from happening to you.

After Effects of Surgery

The usual adverse effects of bariatric surgery include nausea and vomiting. There is no known direct reason for postoperative nausea and vomiting. However, several factors have been identified.

Many factors, such as general anesthetics, pain medicines, and physical discomfort, can influence nausea and vomiting. A movement that is too fast or too vigorous too soon after surgery can also trigger nausea and vomiting.

Medical professionals administer a series of drugs to patients to prevent them from becoming nauseous or vomiting after surgery to minimize the severity of the symptoms and protect the surgical incision.

Rapid Consumption

The term “mindful eating” has been thrown about recently, but what does it entail? Practicing mindful eating encourages paying attention to the types and quantities of food and drink you consume. You can have nausea and vomiting following gastric sleeve or gastric bypass surgery if you eat too soon.

Taking at least 30 minutes to enjoy a meal is the standard guideline. But that depends on your diet and how far along you are after your weight loss surgery.

Using smaller utensils is one strategy for encouraging slower eating. This not only helps you take your time when eating, but it also acts as a mindful reminder to savor every bite. As a bonus, when you eat more slowly, your body has more time to process what you’ve eaten and create the right amount of stomach acid and digestive enzymes.

Food Intolerances Following Bariatric Surgery

Postoperative food intolerances, including lactose intolerance, are frequent following laparoscopic gastric sleeve surgery. Surgical procedures alter food digestion. If you have a smaller gastric pouch, foods and liquids will go through your digestive system more rapidly, and digestive enzymes like lactase will have less time to break down the lactose in dairy foods. As the body adjusts and recovers following weight reduction surgery, some people may be intolerant to certain foods.

According to studies, foods that aren’t strictly necessary but are heavy in fat or sugar tend to be the most intolerable. Intolerance to red meat is another common food allergy. The key to success after metabolic and bariatric surgery is introducing foods one at a time to determine tolerance.

Not Enough Chewing

Overeating and the nauseating sensation of food “getting stuck” may be avoided by chewing food thoroughly before swallowing. You must chew food, and the enzymes in saliva must begin to break it down to start the digestive process. Make an effort to chew your food thoroughly before swallowing. The brain’s ability to register satiety is aided by chewing food thoroughly.

Sleeping Directly After Consuming a Meal

Post-op acid reflux or heartburn is a possibility following bariatric surgery. Too soon after eating, lying down raises pressure, which can cause acid to rise into the esophagus and cause nausea and vomiting. Don’t go to sleep for at least an hour after eating.

Overeating

One of the most common triggers for nausea and vomiting following metabolic and bariatric surgery is overeating. Preparing meals with proper portion control is essential. After bariatric surgery, it’s imperative to stick to the calorie and quantity limits set by your dietician. The texture of food is also crucial. The stomach can empty liquids more quickly than soft or solid meals. Therefore, to slow down stomach emptying, avoid drinking during meals.

Speeding Up the Process

After having gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgery, patients need time and patience to adjust to eating normally again. The suggested diet after surgery is broken down into stages that gradually reintroduce food at a consistency and volume that the stomach can handle. Eating solid meals too soon after bariatric surgery might cause nausea and vomiting due to digestive discomfort.

Liquids Following Weight Loss Surgery

We are aware of the significance of avoiding dehydration following bariatric surgery and the sneakiness with which it might occur. It’s important to remember that drinking hastily or while full might raise stomach pressure and trigger vomiting. When you’ve undergone metabolic or bariatric surgery, your stomach size is drastically decreased, and your body has to adjust. Most medical professionals advise patients to avoid water for at least 30 minutes after a meal.

Obstruction

Stricture, often known as an obstruction, is another reason patients have bariatric surgery and still experience vomiting. Intestinal or stomach scarring is possible near the surgical incision. The formation of scar tissue between the digestive tract and the small intestine can reduce the diameter of the passage, preventing food from passing through. Anytime following surgery is a risk for a stricture to develop.

Supplements and Medicines

Vitamin or drug intake on an empty stomach can cause nausea for many individuals, including those who have undergone weight reduction surgery. Depending on the kind of multivitamin used, insufficient absorption may occur, and stomach lining discomfort may occur due to the changes in the stomach and digestive tract. Some supplements, such as chewable bariatric vitamins or liquid supplements, may be easier to take with food than others. The patient should always follow the advice of their bariatric surgeon or other trained healthcare experts.

How to Prevent Throwing Up After Bariatric Surgery?

You can try to avoid throwing up after bariatric surgery by keeping in mind these tips:

• Chew food well.
• Avoid dry food.
• Eat in moderation. 

Stop eating solid foods and try to stick to liquids like protein shakes and water if you’re experiencing continuous vomiting. Call your bariatric surgery team if you have trouble swallowing or keeping meals down.

If you’re throwing up, your stomach may have trouble digesting your food. You should notify your bariatric surgery team if vomiting lasts longer than 24 hours. Keep in mind that severe dehydration brought on by vomiting requires medical attention.

Summary

The prevalence of obesity and its accompanying health problems is increasing at an alarming rate. The results of metabolic and bariatric surgery can be life-altering.

Some patients develop issues from bariatric surgery years after the initial procedure, although complications from metabolic surgery can arise at any moment.

Maintaining communication with your healthcare physician is essential following gastric bypass or sleeve surgery, as vomiting is a typical side effect.

Please consult your surgeon promptly if any of the abovementioned symptoms continue for more than a few days.