Obesity is the highest it has ever been in the United States with more than one-third of Americans being affected. Obesity can be a source of severe and potentially life-threatening diseases. It can lead to stroke and heart disease, and it has also been linked to breast and colon cancer. Obesity can also have a negative impact on the person’s quality of life and can trigger depression.
There are numerous weight loss procedures to counter obesity. If you are thinking of getting weight loss surgery Houston, you must weigh the risks and benefits. Understanding the risks helps patients make better decisions. Here are a few risks associated with Gastric Bypass Surgery.
Stomal stenosis
After gastric bypass surgery, there is a risk that the new connection between the small intestine and the stomach pouch might get narrow and can get blocked by a piece of food. It is referred to anastomotic stenosis. Stomal stenosis is caused by a number of factors including:
- Scarring
• Lack of enough blood flow to the area
• Sores often caused by smoking and taking aspirin
• Use of staples rather than stitches
Stomal stenosis has been known to affect one out of five patients. Symptoms include vomiting of undigested food right after eating and trouble swallowing. To avoid Stomal stenosis, you should cut food into smaller pieces and chew thoroughly.
Dumping syndrome
It occurs when food gets dumped from the stomach pouch into the small intestines before it has been fully digested. One can either suffer from early dumping or late dumping. Early dumping ocuurs anywhere between 10 and 30 minutes after eating while late dumping occurs between 1 and 3 hours after eating. Its symptoms include lightheadedness, fast heartbeat, cramping, and diarrhea. Dumping syndrome affects 3 out of 20 people who have undergone weight loss surgery.
Gallstones
Gallstones are small stones made of cholesterol that form in the gallbladder. They affect about 50% of patients who undergo weight loss surgery Houston. However, gallstones are harmless, but about 15% need surgery to have their gallbladder removed. Symptoms of gallstones include sudden intense pain in the abdomen, low blood sugar, vomiting, jaundice, and nausea.
Malnutrition
Malnutrition is a potentially life-threatening complication after undergoing weight loss surgery that develops months or even years after the surgery. Malnutrition is well known and should be part of the pre-operative education patients undergo. The patient should look out for warning signs such as decreased muscle mass, loss of hair, headaches, and dizziness.
Before deciding to undergo weight loss surgery Houston, one should carefully consider the risks and the benefits. In most cases, the benefits will outweigh the risks, but it is not always so.
