It is quite normal for people to feel apprehensive about undergoing a gastric bypass surgery. And the apprehensions do not just stem from the cost of this medical procedure – there are also questions on insurance coverage, as well as the kind of diet that people will have after the surgery. And indeed, more than just the cost and the insurance involved, people would want to know what changes will there be in their meals or diet after going through such a procedure. Having smaller meals is perhaps the most common thing that we would hear. However, there is more to a gastric bypass diet than just the size of the meals that you will be having.
A gastric bypass diet can vary from one medical center or facility to another. Generally, this special diet is categorized into four phases: the liquid diet phase, the pureed or ground up foods phase, the soft solid foods phase, and the solid foods phase. Right after the surgery, patients will not be allowed to take in any kind of food for the next day or two. This is required to allow the staple line in the stomach to heal. After a day or two and while recovering in the hospital, the patient will be asked to have liquid and semi solid food at room temperature to check how they tolerate food after the procedure and this pretty much describes the first phase of the diet.
During the first phase, patients will be allowed to have unsweetened juice, broth, milk, sugar-free gelatin or strained cream soup. Patients are only allowed to take two to three ounces of these foods at a time. After a few days or once the patient is able to tolerate food, the patient can now move to phase two of the gastric bypass diet. During this phase, the stomach can still be sensitive to spicy food and patients are discouraged from eating spicy dishes. Phase three will then follow after three weeks or when the doctor gives the okay signal. And after eight weeks, the patient would then be most likely able to digest solid foods.
If the thought of this diet is discouraging you more than the gastric bypass cost, don’t let it be. There are times wherein people really need to undergo this kind of procedure so they can live healthier lives.
If you are starting to have second thoughts about undergoing a gastric bypass surgery, do not hesitate to seek help from your doctor. Keep in mind that your doctor can give you the best recommendations for this procedure and he or she is always after your welfare.
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