Diarrhoea after Bariatric Surgery

Diarrhoea after Bariatric Surgery: Bariatric surgery, like gastric bypass or gastric sleeve, can change lives. It often results in major weight loss and better health. But many people who have these operations deal with ongoing diarrhoea afterward. This gut problem can make patients uncomfortable, disrupt their daily lives, and even cause embarrassment. As a result, it can make recovery harder for those who’ve had the surgery.

You should know that diarrhoea after weight loss surgery happens often affecting up to 40% of patients. This stems from changes in your digestive system during the operation, which can change how your body handles nutrients and fluids.

Spotting the reasons and coming up with good ways to deal with it can help you handle this part of getting better and take charge of your health again.

Common reasons for diarrhoea after weight loss surgery

Several things can lead to diarrhoea following weight loss surgery:

1. Malabsorption: Surgeries like gastric bypass shrink the stomach and change the digestive tract’s path. This makes it hard to absorb nutrients, which can cause diarrhea.
2. Bacterial overgrowth: The new digestive setup can let certain bacteria grow too much. This leads to stomach problems and diarrhea.
3. Lactose intolerance: Many people can’t handle dairy well after weight loss surgery. Eating dairy products can trigger diarrhea for them.
4. Dumping syndrome: Sometimes, food moves too fast from the stomach to the small intestine. This quick emptying called dumping syndrome, can bring on diarrhea feeling sick, and other uncomfortable symptoms.
5. Medication side effects: Certain drugs given after weight-loss surgery can lead to loose stools. These include antibiotics and pain meds.

Getting to the root of what’s causing your diarrhea is key to coming up with a good plan to manage it.

How long does diarrhea last after gastric bypass?

Diarrhea after gastric bypass surgery lasts different amounts of time for different people. Most patients have diarrhea for the first few months after surgery, but it gets less intense and happens less often as time goes on.

Right after surgery, it’s normal to have diarrhea several times a day. This can be tough while your body gets used to the changes in your digestive system. But as your body adapts and you settle into a stable diet, the diarrhea typically becomes less frequent and not as bad.

Most patients see their digestion get much better by the six-month point, and diarrhea becomes less of a problem. Yet, some people might still have diarrhea now and then for a year or more after surgery if they have other health issues or trouble with their diet.

It’s key to stay in touch with your doctors to check your progress and make a plan just for you to handle any diarrhea that sticks around.

How to deal with diarrhea after gastric sleeve surgery

Gastric sleeve surgery, which some call sleeve gastrectomy, can also cause diarrhea in some patients, though the reasons may be a bit different from those after gastric bypass.

The main cause of diarrhea after gastric sleeve surgery is the smaller stomach size. This can result in quicker stomach emptying and poor absorption of nutrients, which leads to digestive problems.

Also, cutting out part of the stomach has an impact on the production of some hormones and enzymes. This further disrupts digestion and causes diarrhea.

To handle diarrhea after gastric sleeve surgery, you might need to:

1. Change your eating habits: Eat smaller meals more often. Watch out for foods that might cause diarrhea, like fatty or fibrous stuff.
2. Drink more fluids: It’s key to stay hydrated. This helps replace the fluids you lose from diarrhea and keeps you from getting dehydrated.
3. Try probiotics and supplements: Adding probiotics and digestive enzymes to your daily routine could help balance your gut bacteria and boost how well you absorb nutrients.
4. Talk about medicine options: Your doctor might suggest medicines to help with ongoing diarrhea. These could include anti-diarrhea drugs or medicines that reduce stomach acid.

Just like with gastric bypass, diarrhea after gastric sleeve surgery gets better as your body adjusts to the changes. But it’s crucial to team up with your doctors to create a plan that works for you.

Ways to stop and lessen diarrhea after weight loss surgery

Diarrhea often happens after weight loss surgery, but you can try these things to prevent and handle it:

1. Add new foods bit by bit: Put new foods on your plate little by little and in small amounts to help your body get used to the changes in your gut.
2. Skip foods that cause trouble: Find and stay away from foods that seem to make your diarrhea worse, like fatty, fibrous, or milk-based stuff.
3. Drink enough: Sip lots of liquids such as water, broth, or drinks with electrolytes, to replace the fluids you lose through diarrhea.
4. Add good bacteria: Eating foods or taking supplements rich in probiotics can help bring back the balance of gut bugs and boost how well your digestive system works.
5. Control stress: Stress can make digestive problems worse so try stress-busting activities like meditating, doing yoga, or taking deep breaths.
6. Live healthily: Exercise , sleep enough, and eat a balanced diet full of nutrients to boost your overall health and help you get better.

By putting these strategies into action, you can take steps to stop and handle diarrhoea. This will help you get through recovery with less trouble and more comfort.

What to eat to deal with diarrhoea after surgery

Changing what you eat plays a big role in dealing with diarrhoea after weight loss surgery. Here are some key tips about food to think about:

1. Choose low-fat low-fiber foods: Pick foods that are easy to digest, low in fat, and low in fiber. Good choices include lean proteins white rice, applesauce, and vegetables that are cooked well.
2. Stay away from high-fat high-fiber foods: Don’t eat foods that might cause diarrhea. This means no fried or greasy items whole grains raw vegetables, or dried fruits.
3. Cut back on dairy products: Many people can’t handle lactose after weight loss surgery. It’s best to avoid or cut down on dairy products like milk, cheese, and ice cream.
4. Stay hydrated: Drink lots of liquids, like water, broth, or drinks that replace electrolytes, to make up for the fluids you lose from diarrhea.
5. Add probiotics: Put foods rich in probiotics in your diet such as yogurt, kefir, or pickled veggies, to help balance your gut bacteria.
6. Eat small meals more often: Eating smaller amounts more can be easier for your digestive system to handle and help stop diarrhea.
7. Talk to a dietitian: Team up with a dietitian who knows about nutrition after weight loss surgery to create a meal plan just for you. This plan will address your specific food needs and digestive issues.

If you stick to these eating tips, you can manage diarrhea and help your overall recovery and health.

Drugs and supplements to control diarrhea after weight loss surgery

Along with changes to your diet, your doctor might suggest drugs or supplements to help control ongoing diarrhea after weight loss surgery. Some common choices include:

1. Anti-diarrhoeal medications: You can buy or get a prescription for anti-diarrhoeal drugs like loperamide (Imodium) or diphenoxylate with atropine (Lomotil). These meds slow down digestion and cut down on how often and bad diarrhea gets.
2. Probiotics: Taking probiotic supplements with good bacteria such as Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium, can bring back balance to your gut bugs and boost how well your digestive system works.
3. Digestive enzymes: Adding digestive enzymes to your diet, like pancreatic enzymes or lactase, can help break down and soak up nutrients. This might lead to less diarrhea.
4. Bile acid sequestrants: Sometimes, your doctor might prescribe bile acid sequestrants, like cholestyramine or colesevelam, to help control diarrhea caused by your body’s inability to absorb bile acids .
5. Proton pump inhibitors: If your diarrhea stems from your stomach making too much acid, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) could prove useful in tackling the problem.

Work with your healthcare team to figure out the best medication or supplement plan for you. They can help you strike the right balance and keep an eye on how well the treatment works.

When to get medical help for ongoing diarrhea

Diarrhea often happens after weight loss surgery, but you should see a doctor if it doesn’t go away or gets worse. Get in touch with your healthcare provider if you notice:

• Diarrhea that’s bad or out of control for more than a few days
• Signs of not enough water in your body, like feeling very thirsty having a dry mouth, or peeing less
• Losing a lot of weight or not getting enough nutrients
• Stomach hurting, cramping, or feeling swollen
• Seeing blood when you poop
• Having a fever or feeling cold and shaky
• Feeling dizzy or like you might faint

Your doctor can figure out what’s causing your ongoing diarrhea and suggest the right way to treat it. This might mean changing what you eat giving you medicine, or doing other medical stuff.

It’s important to see a doctor soon to make sure you get better and to stop any problems that might happen if your diarrhea goes on for too long.

 

Coping with the emotional and psychological impact of diarrhoea after bariatric surgery

Persistent diarrhoea after bariatric surgery can have a major effect on your emotional and psychological health. This condition brings discomfort, disrupts daily life, and may cause embarrassment making it hard to manage both and .

You should recognize how diarrhoea can drain you and reach out to your healthcare team, family, and friends for support. Here are some ways to deal with the emotional and psychological toll of diarrhoea:

1. Talk with your healthcare team: Share your worries and problems with your surgeon, gut doctor, or diet expert. They can guide you back you up, and give you personalized tips to handle the situation.
2. Get counselling or join support groups: Think about talking to a mental health expert, like a therapist, who can help you learn ways to cope and give you emotional backing. Joining a group for people who’ve had weight loss surgery can also help.
3. Use stress-busting methods: Do things that cut down on stress and worry such as meditating, doing yoga, taking deep breaths, or writing in a journal.
4. Keep a positive attitude: Think about how far you’ve come and the long-term good that will come from your weight loss surgery instead of feeling down about the short-term problem of diarrhea.
5. Put yourself first: Make room in your day to do things that make you happy and help you relax, like soaking in a warm bath taking a slow stroll, or spending time on a hobby you like.

Keep in mind, you’re not alone on this journey. Getting support can help you deal with the emotional and mental effects of diarrhea after weight loss surgery.

Dealing with diarrhea after weight loss surgery can feel overwhelming, but you can take charge of your recovery and get back on track with the right approach and help. To handle this side effect well, you need to know what causes it, change your diet and habits, and team up with your doctors. This lets you focus on the good things your surgery will bring in the long run. Don’t brush off long-lasting or bad diarrhea – it might lead to dehydration poor nutrition, and other problems. If you’re worried, talk to a doctor. Be sure to tackle this issue head-on to have a smooth recovery.

If diarrhoea keeps bothering you after your weight loss surgery, don’t wait to get in touch with the pros at Global Medical Care. Our skilled doctors and nurses can give you custom advice and help to tackle your stomach troubles and get you back to feeling good again. Get in contact with us now to book an appointment and start your journey to getting better.