Gastric Bypass Complications

Making the decision to have gastric bypass surgery requires that you know what you’re getting into. Yes, you’ll lose weight, and there are lots of potential benefits beyond that. But there are also some serious risks. And some very unpleasant side effects.

Overall, about 5% of gastric bypass surgery patients experience some kind of complication. 10% experience some kind of problem that requires attention from the doctor or nurse.

Nearly everyone experiences some of the unpleasant side effects also listed here.

No one can predict whether or not you’ll suffer from any of these complications. Even the rare ones do happen to somebody. And that somebody could be you. So just be aware. Understand that this is a very big deal before you sign up for it.

Knowing what the potential dangers are, and being prepared for the possibility, will make you that much more likely to be successful should you decide to go ahead and have gastric bypass surgery.

Gastric Bypass Surgery Complications:

• Respiratory Problems. I had this one, and it turns out it may have been related to sleep apnea. As I woke up from surgery, it was very difficult to breathe, and when I would doze off my oxygen sensor alarm would go off. If you have any issues with breathing let your doctor and anesthetist know before surgery and precautions can be taken.
• Leaking of intestine or stomach contents. You should be checked pretty thoroughly before you’re allowed to eat or drink anything. Most often, they take you down and make you drink yucky liquids that show up on X-Rays, then take said X-Rays to see if anything is seeping out anywhere. If, however, this is not done or leaks are missed (leaks happen in less than 2% of cases, I don’t know how often it’s not caught and causes problems) it is very serious and can cause further surgery to be necessary.
• Infections are possible from any type of surgery. Approximately 2% - 3% of patients have infections of the incision area.
• Opening of the incision is very rare.
• Blood clots can form in the legs and move to the lungs (pulmonary embolism.) This is rare, and risk is lowered by the use of special stockings or inflatable boots that improve circulation during surgery.
• Bowel obstructions can occur from any type of abdominal surgery. Scar tissue blocks passage through the bowels. It’s painful, dangerous, and thankfully very rare. Statistically, it occurs in less than 1% of patients.
• Ulcers can be very painful. Taking ibuprofin or other NSAIDs can cause them, so avoid those. Overall, less than 1% of patients get them.
• Gallstones. Lots of experience with those here, which led to having my gall bladder out. One study found that up to a third of gastric bypass patients will develop gallstones. It’s from losing the weight so fast. Gallstones are absolutely horrible and will make you cry and beg God for mercy. Classicly, it is a steady, severe pain on the right side of your stomach possibly going to your back. Mine, however, was always right in the middle immediately under my sternum. It happens when you eat, and once it gets going even the “safest" of foods will feel like glass going down. If you get gall stones, take the option to have your gall bladder removed as soon as it is offered. Don’t suffer for months like I did.
• Vitamin deficiencies. I’ve got a lot of information on those on this site. But because of the malabsorptive aspects of gastric bypass surgery, this is the most likely and most serious of the major complications. It is something you must be vigilant about keeping watch for. Take your vitamins every day and have your bloodwork done as often as possible.
• Reactive Hypoglycemia happens when your body releases excessive insulin after you eat. It feels a little like dumping, but it’s much worse. Fatigue, diziness, sweating, headaches, depression, palpitations, nervousness, irritibility - all of these are symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia. It’s extremely rare. Much more info is available at Atomic City, a blog that’s also in my blogroll.
• Kidney Stones. One study found an increased risk of developing kidney stones following gastric bypass surgery. It also found that the risk develops right away - as early as 3 months after surgery.
• Internal Hernias and Twisted Bowels. This one happens to approximately 3-5% of all gastric bypass surgery patients. I happened to be one of those lucky few. Gastric Bypass Surgery Complications: My Week Of Horror. As my surgeon explained, when the original gastric bypass surgery is done, the re-routed intestines are tacked in place to the surrounding fatty tissue. Then you lose 100+ pounds, and sometimes the tissue your intestines were tacked to disappears. This leaves your intestines free to wiggle about and do their own thing. This is painful beyond your wildest dreams. I’ve had 2 children and it was much worse than anything I experienced during labor. It requires surgery to repair, but thankfully almost never happens more than once. The bad news is that up to 40% of people who experience this problem die from it. And it can happen at any time after surgery - mine was 15 months after. The nurse in my surgeon’s office had it happen 2 years out. She promises me, however, that once you get past it it’s like a blip on your radar. I hope she’s right.

Unpleasant Side Effects of Gastric Bypass Surgery:

•  Dumping. Nearly everyone experiences this to some degree at some time. It comes from foods that are too high in sugar, fat or grease. You get nauseas, sweaty, and/or have hot flashes. It can make your pulse pound in your temples, make you lightheaded, and give you cramps or diarrhea. It is a great deterrent to eating the wrong thing again any time soon.
• Vomiting. Again, most will vomit at some point, but it’s not necessarily an every day occurance. For me, if I eat more food than the pouch will hold, it just comes back up. It’s not like having a stomach bug where you feel sick. It just comes up almost like a burp. If you don’t chew your food, however, it can really hurt (if say the pieces of food are too big for the opening to your intestine) before you throw up. Then again, if you eat too fast or eat food that is too dry (especially in the beginning) you’ll get this acidy froth stuff that comes back up. It’s gross.
• Clogging (food blockage). This comes from eating too fast and not chewing your food small enough to pass through the opening to your intestine. You just have to wait it out. It hurts, and you may vomit. Or you can mix meat tenderizer with warm water and sip that (bleech.) It tastes nasty, but desperate situations call for desperate measures.
• Constipation. That’s self-explanitory. My doc said get more fiber - take metamucil. I tried that, but a stool softener worked better. Those items are both something you’ll want to have on hand.
• Gas. Comes from swallowing air with your food or drink, among other things. Burp as much as possible as you eat or drink. Try beano or gas-x. And learn how to hold it (it is possible). My Most Embarassing Moment Ever happened post surgery when I tooted by accident during rehearsal for a play I was directing. Fortunately, there were only a few other people there. Avoid dairy products (milk, cheese and ice cream), carbonated beverages (those are a big no-no anyway), straws and chewing gum.
• Intoxication. You should avoid alcohol for the first year anyway. Afterward, you’ll feel the effects much quicker as things pass to your intestine much faster. But those effects may wear off faster, too.
• Hibernation Syndrome. Basically, it takes a while for your body to adjust to the relative lack of nutrients after surgery. You’ll be draggy, tired, maybe even depressed for several weeks. Then all of a sudden, you’ve adjusted and you have more energy than you know what to do with.
• Hair Loss. More about that, and what do to about it, here.
• Menstrual Problems. Women may notice their cycle becoming irregular, and it may come immediately after surgery.
• Lactose Intolerance may be caused by the natural sugar in dairy products.
• Weight Regain. Yes, it is possible. As you live life after gastric bypass surgery, you’ll learn ways to work around the pouch. To get more food in. You may not form the habits you need early, or break your bad ones - snacking, grazing, drinking high-calorie liquids, sodas, not exercising - all of these will lead to weight gain eventually. The farther out you are from surgery, the more your pouch becomes a tool that you are in charge of using.

I know we have to accept the Good with the BAD! This is something everyone considering surgery should read and understand first. I can say I have been blessed. Other then the milk intolerance and a minimal amount of hair loss I have been KNOCK ON WOOD>...doing very well. I have been a wee bit sluggish lately but that is because I have not been eating as much protein as I should be in one day. SHAME ON ME!!!! But we all know what we are getting into when we chose surgery...if ask if I would do it all over again I would say ABSO~FREAKIN~LUTLEY!!!!!! :o) This info and more is on the website below:
http://gastricbypasstruth.com/before-gastric-bypass-surgery/possible-complications-of-gastric-bypass-surgery/

I terrified now. LOL.

No not really, nothing going to stop me from reaching my goal I put on myself. With anything you do or achieve there's a little bad with the good. I look at that way.

Nothing could be any worst then I aches and pains and not being able to breath, or walk the mall or all the medications I'm on or the CPAP w/oxygen I use every night. Nothing can be worst than THAT!

My primary said most all my ailments are due to weight, the weight goes so will a lot of problems.

So going to take the bad with the good.

Robin

LOL your so cute!!! Nope I was a bit taken back when I read this before my surgery 10 months ago and then I was like "You know what.............I would rather have gas and milk intolerance then 150 extra pounds and a million health issues!!" I would do my RNY again in a heartbeat I LOVE MY RNY!!!! And like I said you are in the best of hands with Dr K ;o)

i had the respitory complication~ on the table my pulse ox dropped into the 50's and i had to be given straight oxygen. while waking up i had to be on straight oxygen, and when i slept  i had to have oxygen.

my doc figured out i had 2 problems..

1. sleep apnea  (which was already a concern)

the second was that when you get morphine type products, your body can produce a histamine, and that can cause alot of issues. it happened to me. they figured that out, gave me benadryl and nebulizer treatments, and my cpap plus oxygen,  and i was all fixed up!
 

my doc said the histamine issue was pretty common...

just my 2 cents

OH MY GOD!!!! This was after the surgery? Your pulse ox got that low? That is WAY SCARY!!! I thought mine in the 80s was BAD!!!! Im so glad you were okay.

sorry, should have been more clear.. the drop to the 50's was during surgery, i was as low as 80 after surgery.

it was basically a reaction to the morphine/pain pump and anastethia (sp?)

i was wondering why my wife came into the room all frantic when i was awake, and she told me what happened, (my dr let her ad my oldest son know)and i was like oh.

i can tell you, i did not get any sleep in the hospital the first day because of the pulse ox alarm going off. once they figured it all out, it was a breeze


brian

Thank God they realized what caused it and they made you aware. So many Doctors now cover that stuff up. Have they re~checked you since? That is so so dangerously low. Your wife had to of been a nervous wreck. I cant even imagine that.

All I can remember after my surgery was that stupid pulse ox machine going off every single time I tried to sleep.  My pulse ox would dip below 90 and that thing DROVE me nuts!!!

no issues since they figured it out.  still gotta wear the cpap for the apnea...

my wife was... luckily it was a short lived event  considering.

all is well now

Thank God for that ;o)