Gastric Bypass Surgery

Costs, risks, and personal stories about weight loss surgery.

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Life After Gastric Bypass

What should you expect after gastric bypass surgery?

Quality of life is the ultimate goal of any bariatric surgery. Weight loss can give you your sense of self back. It can enhance your esteem dramatically and can also improve your overall health.

Choosing weight loss surgery is a very personal decision. What is life like after bariatric surgery? The answer is as different as the people who choose weight loss surgery.

Immediately after gastric bypass surgery, food intake is almost nil, then gradually you will begin eating solids. The first 2 months are the toughest as the body and mind become accustomed to the new way of eating. After surviving the first few months, you will begin feeling like yourself again. You are adjusting to your new life. Food doesn't rule your days or nights anymore. You are seeing dramatic weight loss and life is good again.

Around 6 months after gastric bypass or lap band surgery, there is a let down. The weight loss is becoming a normal occurrence and the newness is beginning to wear off. Sometimes the urge for sweets is overbearing. You may feel the need to cheat and eat the goodies, but that will lead to an uncomfortable feeling of nausea, diarrhea, cold sweats and rapid heartbeat. Experiencing the dumping syndrome once or twice is usually enough to deter any more attempts at eating forbidden foods.

Around a year into the weight loss, you are becoming pretty comfortable with your new life. You have learned how to eat out with friends and family, and you have more energy and stamina than you have felt in years, maybe decades. About half the excess weight or even more is gone by this point and you are feeling pretty baggy in your skin.

Besides the sagging skin, there is the challenge of clothing yourself. It seems you need to buy new clothes every month. One good tip is to buy at Goodwill and donate the clothes back when you are through with them. When your weight stabilizes, then you can go treat yourself to that brand new wardrobe.

If you are married, you will find that romance has returned to you relationship. Other aspects of home life has gotten better. You can play with your children again, and long walks with your spouse hold new meaning. Working in the garden is enjoyable and shoveling snow doesn't wind you like it used to. If you are dating, you may find it awkward to eat out. Explaining the gastric bypass surgery may be embarrassing. You may feel anxious that your date might dump you if he or she finds out what the old you looked like. Don't let the anxiety rule your life. You are in charge now.

Remember, the new you is the old you in a different body. You just weigh less and have more confidence. Life has changed for the better. You are healthier and more vibrant. Gastric bypass or the lap band has given you a whole new world to shine in. Take advantage of this. Go out, have a blast and live life to it's fullest!

To read personal stories submitted by gastric bypass patients, visit After Gastric Bypass - Personal Experiences.