Weight loss, non-scale victories and new eating habits. These are just a handful of things you might expect before having bariatric surgery, right? You know you gotta work hard to get your protein in. And drinking your water isn’t a walk in the park either.
But what about the things you wouldn’t see coming? In this blogpost, you get a quick introduction of 3 things that might happen after bariatric surgery.
#1 No bubble bath involved: The foamies
The first thing that comes to mind when you read the word “foam” might be a nice warm bubble bath. But nothing is farther from the truth!
You see, there’s nothing cozy about the foamies. Let’s explain why.
The “foamies” (or foamy mouth) is the regurgitation of mucus and (partly) undigested small food particles that move back up from your stomach back into your mouth.
The foamies can happen when:
- you eat too fast
- you don’t chew thoroughly
- when food doesn’t sit well in your stomach
And what anatomically happens is this:
The opening between your stomach and your small intestine (called the stoma) is temporarily hindered by the food that’s already in your stomach – which makes it difficult for food to pass through.
As a result, your stomach produces more mucus “hoping” that the food will pass, but the exact opposite occurs: the food and mucus regurgitates.
The best way to prevent the foamies is to eat slow, chew well and be incredibly mindful while eating.
#2 Not unknown but not pleasant either: Constipation
You might have heard about constipation after bariatric surgery before. But perhaps you didn’t know how exasperating constipation would be for some when (newly) post-op.
(it can literally have you either yearning for that first poop or dreading it).
Sidenote: if you’re suffering from constipation, don’t hesitate to check in with your (bariatric) care team for personal advice.
We hear you thinking “why does constipation gets triggered after bariatric surgery?”.
Well, there could be different reasons for that, such as:
- lack of fiber: smaller portions and food intolerances might hinder sufficient fiber in your diet.
- lack of hydration: water nausea, restriction and separating solids from liquids make hydration a strenuous task.
- lack of movement: mobility might be decreased in the recovery stages.
- use of specific medications
- use of iron supplements
Once you’re able to add a wider variety of foods to your diet, including vegetables and complex carbohydrates (yes, they contain that much needed fiber), more liquids and more physical movement – symptoms can improve. However, this isn’t always the case. If constipation doesn’t resolve on its own, your doctor might prescribe a dietary fiber supplement.
#3 An unforeseen “side effect”: signs of body dysmorphia
When you lose a significant amount in a relatively short period of time, it might be hard for your brain to grasp this new reality.
Have you ever looked in the mirror, not entirely recognizing your new physique? Or have you ever find yourself picking apart every inch of your body? Constantly comparing your body to other people’s?
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) isn’t to be taken lightly. BDD is a DSM-5 disorder which can only be accurately diagnosed by a specialist, like a psychiatrist.
Other things that are related to signs of body dysmorphia are:
- Obsessively comparing yourself to others
- Avoiding mirrors; or being overly stimulated to look in the mirror, all the time
- Needing constant validation from others about your appearance
- Not being able to accept compliments about your appearance from others
- Constantly hiding (parts of) your body
The term “body dysmorphia” is often used within the bariatric community, because some of the signs are so striking. But remember: having signs of Body Dysmorphia doesn’t automatically mean that you have body dysmorphia.
But that doesn’t take away from how you feel and how you perceive yourself. You’re not alone. And again, if you’re struggling: there’s absolutely no shame in asking for help.
Therapy, using visuals to prime your brain how you truly look like (before-and-after pictures for example) and allowing yourself time – can be helpful to deal with this baffling effect of losing weight.
Final words about what can take you by surprise
You can’t predict every single detail of your post-op life. You learn as you go, right? Talking about the struggles you’re facing and relying on your bariatric team to guide you, is invaluable. And we hope that by raising awareness and holding space to talk about the good, the bad and the ugly – there will be more room for self-compassion and self-understanding.
Tackling the hurdles after bariatric surgery can be lonely (especially when you’re dealing with judgment from “friends”, family or co-workers). Heck, the stigma surrounding bariatric surgery still exists. But you know what? You’re brave for taking this huge leap of faith. And we’ll be cheering you on, every step of the way.
Hey, you’re not alone!
In fact, there’s a whole community right here in front of you that’s ready whenever you’re ready to join us (yes, we’re talking about our free community platform with 6000+ members from all over the world).
But there’s waaaaaaaaay more to explore in this dazzling community.
Don’t know what to eat? Check out our free bariatric recipes here.
Wanna dive into what might be thrown your way after bariatric surgery? From weight stalls to pouch stretching, read our mini-guides AKA our blog to find out!
In need of a free nutrition guide? Sign up for your freebie here!
And if you really wanna get the most out of your journey, then our bariatric book collection might be just what you needed all along (spoiler alert: there’s one for every part of your post-op journey!).
Bariatric surgery isn’t the easy way out. It’s just easy to say it is.
Finally. A book that helps you make sense of your journey!
Wouldn’t it be so much easier if you had one resource that captures all common obstacles after bariatric surgery? In “The Bariatric Blueprint” you get 21 no-nonsense chapters to take away the stress dealing with the challenges thrown your way. Now LIVE on Amazon. Tap here to learn more!
Resources:
- Sarwer D.B. & Fabricatore A.N. Psychitric Considerations of the Massive Weight Loss Patient. In: Clinics in Plastic Surgery (2008); 1-10.
- Roberts, C.A. Physical and Psychological Effects of Bariatric Surgery in Obese Adolescents: A Review. In: Frontiers in Pediatrics (2020)
- Afshar, S. et al. The Effects of Bariatric Procedures on Bowel Habit. In: Obesity Surgery (2016); 2348-54.
*Disclaimer: The information on our Instagram page, website, blogposts, e-mails and other (social) media platforms and channels as well as the community challenges we provide have been prepared solely for general educational purposes and should not be construed or relied on, nor is intended to be used or substituted for medical diagnosis, advice, or treatment. It should not be used to replace that of your surgeon, your dietitian, your therapist or other qualified medical professional or healthcare provider. Each individual and situation is fact-specific and the appropriate solution in any case may vary; therefore, these materials may not be relevant to your particular situation. While every attempt was made to ensure that these materials were accurate at the time of publication, errors or omissions may be contained therein, for which any liability is disclaimed. Should you have any health care related questions please contact your qualified health care provider as soon as possible. Never disregard medical advice or delay seeking advice because of information you have read or listened to on our websites and social media accounts. Communication on any of our platforms including comments, emails, the community challenges and direct messages does not constitute a therapeutic relationship.