Gastric Bypass
Learn about gastric bypass surgery
People who are severely overweight have gastric bypass surgery as one treatment option for removing excess body fat. The most commonly performed type of bariatric surgery, gastric bypass shrinks the stomach and allows food to bypass part of the small intestine.
There are three kinds of gastric bypass surgery: distal, proximal and mini gastric bypass. All have as their end result a lower stomach capacity, which causes people to feel full sooner and reduces the amount of food they eat and, thus, the calories consumed. Also, with food bypassing part of the small intestine, fewer calories will be absorbed. This reduction in caloric intake leads to steady, often dramatic weight loss.
Be aware of the physical health complications that may follow gastric bypass
Surgery. These include: loose skin, psychiatric disorders, kidney stones, blood clots, hernia and ulcers. If too much scar tissue forms, the opening between the stomach and the bowel may be too small for any food to pass; in this case, you will need to undergo an additional operation to correct the problem.
Gastric Bypass Diet
Diet will have to be very much limited following the surgery. Your body will not be able to digest solid foods for the first few weeks. Long term, spicy and crunchy foods will remain problematic for most patients. Consult with a dietician on a meal plan for healthy living after the surgery.
You will also need to increase your intake of vitamins. Bypass surgery limits the amount of nutrients your body absorbs, so you will have to take in more to prevent nutrient deficiencies.
Finally, keep sweets to a minimum. Patients who eat too many sweets after gastric bypass may experience dumping syndrome, a reaction to small food particles quickly flooding the digestive system. Dumping syndrome manifests as sweating, diarrhea, rapid pulse and abdominal cramping that lasts for 30 to 60 minutes.
Gastric Bypass Insurance Coverage
The number of morbidly obese people in the United States is increasing. Hence, the demand for gastric bypass surgery is on the rise. Many insurance policies will now cover the procedure, depending on the policy type and the state where the patient resides.
Medicare may cover a patient's procedure if the patient is both obese and suffers from an obesity-related disease such as type 2 diabetes or coronary heart disease. There is one catch, though: The procedure must take place at a Medicare-approved facility.