gastric-bypass-dehydration

Bariatric Surgery Dehydration Treatment in Colorado Springs

Gastric Sleeve vs Gastric Bypass

Gastric Sleeve – Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) is a permanent weight loss surgery that downsizes the stomach by as much as 85%. This restriction helps in two ways: first, the smaller stomach capacity contributes to making patients feel fuller faster – therefore reducing caloric intake. Secondly, the hunger hormones (Ghrelin) are reduced, allowing patients to be free of hunger desires.

Gastric Bypass – Gastric Bypass Surgery is a very powerful weight loss surgery that uses two surgical methods to achieve big weight loss for patients. Gastric Bypass uses restriction and malabsorption to reduce caloric intake severely. Gastric bypass is intended for patients who are suffering from co-morbidities, along with a very debilitating obesity.

gastric Bypass

How Do These Procedures Affect My Hydration?

There are several things that can lead to dehydration after bariatric surgery. First and foremost, since you will be eating and drinking far less than you did prior to surgery, fluid intake may drop well below the desired levels. Some patients also struggle with nausea which can contribute to decreased intake of fluids. In addition, keep in mind that we lose hydration through normal everyday activities such as breathing, urination, perspiration, etc.

Early hospital readmissions are a major headache for bariatric surgeons. These early revisits to the hospital following bariatric surgery are not only common, they carry a substantial cost. An ED visit for hydration runs about $3,000 and a 2-day inpatient admission about $18,000. The triad of dehydration, nausea, and vomiting in addition to abdominal pain account for up to 40% of early readmissions following bariatric surgery. Because most hospital revisits entail very little intervention other than IV fluids, preemptive administration of IV fluids has been shown to reduce the occurrence of hospital revisits. To read the full article, please click here.

What Nutrients Am I Lacking?

B-12: A deficiency in vitamin B12 is the most common nutritional deficiency in patients who have had gastric bypass surgery. Bariatric patients are at an increased risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency because their digestive tracts have been altered in such a way as to interfere with the natural absorption of this vitamin. In patients who have had gastric bypass surgery, most of the stomach and duodenum are bypassed, limiting the breakdown of vitamin B12.

Zinc: Processes that interfere with the intestinal wall, such as intestinal surgery, bacterial overgrowth, and celiac sprue, can reduce zinc absorption and cause zinc deficiency.

Iron: Although the precise mechanism of iron absorption is unclear, the duodenum and jejunum of the small intestine appear to play a primary role. Anything that interferes with iron absorption (eg, intestinal surgery) or excessive iron excretion can lead to iron deficiency, which can cause anemia.

Calcium & Vitamin D: There have been multiple reports of calcium and vitamin D deficiency in patients who have had recent gastric bypass surgery.

B1 (Thiamine): Your body uses B1 to make energy from carbohydrates you eat into energy for your cells. It also uses it to make ATP (adenosine triphosphate), a molecule used by every cell in your body for energy. So if you lack B1, you lack the ability to make energy and that can really make you fatigued. You may also be irritable, depressed, suffer memory loss or confusion, and have neuropathy, nausea and vomiting.

Everyone’s micronutrient levels are different and gastric procedures can compound these deficiencies rather quickly. Add in the dehydration component and the body can very quickly fall behind, which can lead to a laundry list of problems such as fatigue, depression, cramping, dehydration, headaches, poor sleep, nausea/vomiting, and more. The good news is, Elevation Hydration has helped a lot of gastric bypass patients. Our goal is to keep you out of the hospital which saves you a lot of time and money. We have several different hydration packages to choose from, all of which are going to provide you with different vitamins and minerals to help you feel much better!