Gastric bypass surgery has been a surgery of choice for many people who find it really hard to lose weight, get fit or for those who cannot able to handle their diabetes. But is it really that hard to manage your weight and keep your glucose levels under control? But, that’s a topic for another day.
So what is gastric bypass surgery? One of the most common types of gastric bypass is Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass. This surgery involves cutting down the stomach into two portions and reroute the small intestines to the top portion of your stomach.
Kind of confusing? Check the image below for better understanding.
So what happens next? If you undergo this surgery you will have a very very small overall surface area in the stomach and reduced length of small intestines. Reduced stomach size and small intestines is believed to keep your food intake and glucose levels under control, which in turn helps you to lose weight and get rid of diabetes. Sounds too good to be true? Not really, it comes with its own set of drawbacks which we will look into. So keep reading
So what are the disadvantages or harmful effects?
Your stomach helps you to digest protein, kill pathogens such as bacterias and other microbes that might be present in your food and absorb minerals.
1 Efficiency to digest protein
With very little stomach area and limited supply of stomach acids, your body will become inefficient in digesting proteins. Your body needs to digest protein or break down protein to release certain enzymes which are vital for its normal functioning. Deficiency or absence of these enzymes can lead to many health problems.
2 Stomach loses its ability to kill pathogens
Stomach acids, not just digest protein, they also kill the microbes or pathogens that might be present in your food. Without enough acid in your stomach, these pathogens can run free and lead to health issues.
3 Vitamin or Nutrition Deficiency
There is a high chance that you might run out of certain vital fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, and E. Why? Because only when you have a strong acidic stomach does your body releases enough bile juice. You need enough quantity of bile fluid to absorb these fat-soluble vitamins into your body. Remember these vitamins are essential for your vision, bone, and immune system.
4 Scar Tissue
It is a common problem with most surgeries when you cut down certain internal organs and restitch it down, it leaves scar tissues in place. Scar tissues can lead to pain and sometimes it can get really unbearable.
5 Leakage
Sometimes if the stitches are not done right or the stitches get loose due to some reason, it can lead to leakage and can become bit of a problem to manage.
6 Mortality
Risk of mortality due to this surgery is about 0.5% and I know it is a very small number, but it is still there. If you are considering this surgery option you better know it.
7 Dumping syndrome
Many of the people who have taken this surgery have this problem. They keep getting diarrhea, this could be due to taking too much bile salts to induce bile secretion after the surgery.
So what are the ways to manage it?
If you have already undergone this surgery and want some relief to your present conditions then read on.
Consume Apple Cider Vinegar and Betaine Hydrochloride
Intake apple cider vinegar and betaine hydrochloride on a regular basis. This will increase the acidic level of your stomach and help you to digest protein and absorb minerals better. Additionally, you can take amino acid supplements with your Doctor’s advice.
Keep away the pathogens
Since your stomach is running out of acids, you need to keep your foods clean as much as possible. You cannot consume raw foods or raw meat as they might have microbes and bacterias. Make sure the food you eat is as clean as possible and also ensure it is thoroughly cooked.
Serrapeptase
Serrapeptase can act as a great remedy if you are dealing with pain due to scar tissue. This enzyme will help you in a great way to reduce pain and inflammation in the scar tissue. You can use it with your Doctor’s advice.
Bile Salts for Constipation
You need to be careful while consuming bile salts because too much of it can lead to diarrhea. So do not consume it if you have diarrhea. But if you feel constipated, then bile salts can help you better.
So is gastric bypass good for your health? No. There are other simple, straightforward and less risky ways to manage your weight and diabetes problems. Ketosis and regular exercises can be a great starting point.
