The Bariatric Surgery Diet

After bariatric surgery, the new and very small stomach will
often only hold about an ounce For the first week after
surgery, the patient will only be able to tolerate nutritious
liquids During the second week, pureed, high-protein foods such
as cottage cheese, yogurt, and soft-cooked eggs may be added
After that, the patient may add one solid food at a time, such
as well-cooked vegetables, fish, or chicken It is crucial that
the patient chew this more solid food very carefully, eating
only a few tablespoonfuls at a sitting
Post-surgery, patients should avoid high carbohydrate foods such
as chips, pretzels, breads, rice, and pasta, as hey expand and
can cause a potentially dangerous blockage Lactose is also
difficult to digest and may cause nausea, cramps, gas, or
diarrhea Patients who love milk should wait to reintroduce it
until the third week post-procedure
Protein is a vitally important nutrient, so a good rule of thumb
is to eat protein first, then follow with fruits and vegetables
This will ensure that the daily minimum of 60 grams of protein
is consumed Patients may still need to take extra protein in
the form of a liquid, powder, or protein bars Additionally,
patients will have a lifelong regimen of vitamin and mineral
supplements post-surgery
Failure to follow these dietary guidelines after bariatric
surgery could lead to potentially serious complications Early
dumping syndrome, which is generally by overfilling the pouch,
can cause minor symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and
abdominal rumbling or more serious ones like low blood pressure,
faintness, sweating, and anxiety Late dumping syndrome, when
food enters the intestine too rapidly, can cause hypoglycemia,
sweating, rapid pulse, anxiety, and occasionally confusion

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