If you are pursuing weight loss surgery to treat obesity, you may be wondering how you will feel throughout the process. You might be curious about post-operative pain, about digestion and other body sensations, and about how you will feel emotionally, physically and mentally on a daily basis. Of course every person’s journey is unique, but we hope we can provide some information about how patients have felt and how they responded which can help you in your own health journey.
“What do patients feel before surgery?”
Prior to bariatric surgery, there are a lot of emotions and some mental stress during this time. While most every patient looks forward to having a healthier lifestyle and smaller, lighter body, they may also feel afraid of the changes and insecure about their ability to succeed.
While there is very little physical pain involved in the pre-operative period, it can be one of the most challenging parts of the entire journey. Most patients will follow a liquid diet to prepare for the surgery (usually 1-2 weeks). So, mostly what patients are feeling during this time is hungry! It can feel strange to be only drinking nutrition instead of chewing food. Most bariatric surgeons require some type of weight reduction prior to the surgery primarily to reduce liver size and to help ensure the best outcome and to prepare the patient for the habits that come after the surgery. Also, during the liquid diet phases of the bariatric surgery journey, there may be some digestive changes or stomach upset with the change in nutrition. There is also some pre-op testing and labs, but the pain for these tests is minimal.
There is admittedly a lot of vulnerability when a person first decides that they need help treating their obesity, but there’s also a lot of power in asking for help. Having a helping hand along the way can help you feel more confident and less anxious. There will be a mix of emotions like optimism, nervousness, overwhelmed and excited! Overall, the pre-operative period is one of facing new challenges and changing old habits. Embrace the excitement and anticipation of the changes that will come from your efforts!
“What will I feel like right after surgery?”
Since most bariatric surgeries are not “open” surgeries but are rather performed laparoscopically, there isn’t much incisional pain after surgery. After a laparoscopic procedure, there are usually a few small incisions around the abdomen which are generally minimally painful. The patient will feel groggy and possibly some nausea for a while as the anesthesia wears off. Most of the physical discomfort that patients feel after surgery is internal pressure and bloatingfrom gas that inflates the abdominal cavity during the surgical procedure. Most patients receive prescription pain relievers after surgery that can help them feel more comfortable during the first few days. The best treatment for gas pain is to walk and move around as you recover so that the large gas pockets will be dislodged, and pain is alleviated. Many patients will hold a cushion or pillow or wear an elastic abdominal binder for comfort after surgery. Everyone’s experience is different, but most patients report that post operative pain is surprisingly minimal.
Many patients describe feeling NOT HUNGRY for the first time in their lives, so there’s a lot of emotional relief after surgery as well! Other feelings may include a sense of emotional loss for the food they previously used for comfort. So, some people may actually feel some grief for the past food addictions they experienced.
In the first few weeks, feeling some fatigue is common as your body adjusts to reduced calorie intake. But, after the initial adjustment, patients will develop more overall energy as they shed extra weight from their frame.
Most people tell us they love the lightness of their body, the power and strength they are gaining, and feeling healthier for the first time in many of their lives. Sometimes there are also frustrated feelings if their results are not what they expected, but this is very common. Whatever you are feeling, don’t be afraid to share it with the team at New You, who are here to guide you through your journey.
“What will I be feeling long-term?”
As a patient progresses through the post-operative nutritional phases and they are re-introduced to regular foods, sometimes these foods can mean new reactions that were not present before surgery. For instance, a patient may try to re-introduce a previously tolerated food and experience some stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, bloating, pain, and pressure. It’s important to introduce foods one at a time and to keep a food diary to track any specific food symptoms.
Hunger and fullness cues from the body may be different after surgery than they were before. The symptoms of hunger may be subtle like weakness or shakiness and not felt until much later than expected. Fullness cues at the end of a meal may also be very different – a lot of patients experience a runny nose at the end of a meal! If you aren’t sure if what you’re feeling is normal, reach out to your New You providers for some guidance. There is never a silly issue or insignificant question from our patients, because we are here to help!
About 6 months after bariatric surgery when the patient has navigated their way through all the pre- and pos- operative phases, most patients begin to feel a sense of confidence and mastery over their healthy new habits and using their smaller, healthier, lighter body more than ever before in their lives. There may be some emotional feelings and some mental stress than can linger, and there may be some ongoing confusion and ambivalence about their new relationship with food. But an overwhelming majority of our patients express that they feel gratitude for the opportunity to take back control of their lives and they feel proud of themselves for having the courage to take the first step.
We hope this helps you have a better understanding of what it feels like as the patient goes through the bariatric journey. Make the call to the team at New You – it won’t hurt a bit!