Understanding and Managing Post-Operative Comfort After Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric bypass surgery has its advantages and disadvantages just like anything else. Your post-op discomfort may range from light and moderate to severe. Every patient is different, therefore your pain tolerance, pain level, and pain medication after gastric bypass will vary.
It’s important to work with your surgeon closely after your gastric procedure. Your weight loss doctor can prescribe you a variety of medications that will help you with pain. Pain medications can be great for reducing inflammation and other sources of discomfort after the operation.
However, some medications are more recommended than others, so keep reading to learn what pain medication is safe versus what you should avoid after gastric bypass.
What Is Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Gastric bypass is a weight loss procedure. It helps you lose weight by reducing the size of your stomach. This causes you to consume less calories and lose weight both quickly and over the long run.
The surgery also affects your hormone levels, which regulate hunger. This helps you feel full faster. This means you’re more content while still eating less food.
Ultimately, you should combine any weight loss surgery with proper diet, nutrition, and exercise. That’s the true way to lose weight for good.
That being said, in the months after your weight loss surgery recovery, there are some best practices to follow. This includes medication.
Important Tips After Bariatric Surgery
Your digestive tract will change after your bariatric weight loss procedure. Particularly, your digestion and absorption may be reduced. This is because you have less actual stomach volume to handle what you consume.
In addition, many medications need stomach acid to break it down and be absorbed into the body. However, you will have less stomach acid post-op. This plays an important role in determining what medications you should take.
What Medications Can You Take After Weight Loss Surgery?
When it comes to gastric bypass, pills may be helpful in reducing your pain levels. Let’s explore some commonly prescribed pain medications.
The Best Pain Medication For Gastric Bypass Patients
Only your weight loss surgeon can tell you for sure which medicine will be best for you. Everyone’s body is different. That being said, you will typically be prescribed a mix of opioid and non-opioid medications.
Opioid medications are pills like hydrocodone. Non-opioid medications can be pills like NSAIDs. This includes ibuprofen, aspirin, and acetaminophen. However, it’s important to understand medications to avoid after gastric bypass as well.
Your bariatric surgeon may request that you begin with opioids in the beginning recovery stages after your operation.
This is to help you reduce pain as your body adjusts to its new stomach. The pain will be stronger sooner after your bariatric procedure.
Gastric Bypass And NSAIDs
As time goes on, your doctor may start moving away from opioids and prescribe a mix of opioids and NSAIDs. Eventually, you may only be prescribed NSAIDs. However, certain anti-inflammatory medications can cause issues like stomach ulcers.
Keep in mind, your stomach requires acid to break down pills and absorb the medicine. With a smaller stomach and less acid, it could cause stress on your system.
NSAIDs are therefore a case-by-case basis. In some situations, they are one of the primary things to avoid after bariatric weight loss surgery.
So while we can provide general distinctions in this article, it would be outside the scope of this page to give you a full answer. Only consulting with a medical expert that understands your weight loss procedure, body composition, and goals can tell you for sure.
Gastric Bypass In Mexico
It can be a life-changing experience to lose weight rapidly in your first year after gastric surgery. However, you need to stay safe after your operation.
So contact the experts at TreVita today. Learn how gastric bypass surgery in Mexico works and what kind of medications you might expect to be prescribed after the fact.
