Here’s What You Need to Know About Stomach Pain After Gastric Sleeve Surgery

If you have had a gastric sleeve, you probably know that it can cause some pain in your stomach. This pain is most often felt in the first few weeks after surgery, but it may continue for months after the procedure. It may feel like a dull ache in your stomach, or it could be more like a cramp. Experiencing stomach pain months after gastric sleeve can be disconcerting, but it’s not uncommon. Here are some things you must know about post-surgical pain and how long it can last.

What Exactly Is A Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

You will remove about 70 to 80 percent of your stomach if you get this bariatric procedure. The stomach’s remaining area will resemble a tube or sleeve and be around the size and shape of a hot dog.

Your stomach is now this “sleeve.” From now on, you will be capable of only having so much food and liquid at once. Your body will start to adapt to the variations in food consumption as your short-term diet is only liquids.

You will feel filled more quickly due to these hormonal changes, which also lessen hunger cravings. All of this contributes to healing and jump-start weight reduction. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, though. Target weight loss can occur over nine months to a year, although healing can take a few weeks to a month.

How Long Does Healing Take Following Gastric Sleeve Surgery?

This is not a manageable decision to make. It is a laparoscopic surgery done at a hospital and requires anesthesia. You’ll feel stiff and bloated in your midsection. We will discuss painkillers to guarantee you are as comfortable as possible following the treatment.

Because we use multiple small incisions rather than one large incision, recuperation time for gastric bypass surgery is significantly reduced. For the first two weeks after any weight-loss procedure, you will be on an extremely restricted diet with few calories. This may seem impossible initially, but it will make things easier because you won’t be as hungry.

During this period, you may probably feel exhausted. After all, you haven’t been eating properly because you recently had significant surgery! Be sure to pay attention to your body, get enough rest, and be aware that you will start introducing soft foods as soon as you begin to heal in the coming weeks. Solid foods should start to appear after a month.

It’s also crucial to remember that your incision area will be delicate as it heals for the first six weeks after surgery. Maintaining the specified food plan recommended by your medical team is crucial because the stapled area keeps the sleeve together. Overeating may result in pain and even harm.

Stomach Size Following a Gastric Sleeve

After stomach sleeve surgery, you will significantly reduce your ability to eat large amounts of food at once. After a gastric sleeve procedure, your stomach typically measures 150 to 250 ml, or around one-fourth or one-fifth of its pre-surgery volume. Since no alterations are made to the intestines, this smaller amount will help you reduce the size of your meals without hurting how well you absorb nutrients.

• Gastric sleeve results vary in stomach size.
• The post-surgery size will depend on your pre-surgery sleeve size.
• As you start eating less, your stomach will flatten.
• Your anatomical requirements for size reduction will serve as the surgeon’s guide.
• Greater bougie suggests less stomach shrinkage following gastric sleeve.
• A larger pouch may remain after stomach sleeve surgery than after gastric bypass.
• After a gastric sleeve, you can maintain the stomach size with a rigorous diet.

How Long After Gastric Sleeve Does the Stomach Swell

After a gastric sleeve, your stomach swells for a few days or weeks. The swelling and discomfort will probably be more noticeable in the first week but gradually disappear. How the stomach is removed during a gastric sleeve and how long the stomach swells following a gastric sleeve depend on your surgeon’s abilities and technique.

• If the edema is significant, you might have to spend the night in the hospital.
• Your surgeon will prescribe medication to lessen stomach swelling.
• Your post-operative gastric sleeve diet will initially exclusively consist of clear liquids.
• Take quick walks to increase circulation and minimize edema.
• To make your food easier on the stomach, chew it and consume it slowly.
• Smoking can prolong the duration of post-gastric sleeve stomach swelling.
• Keep all scheduled appointments to check on your recovery.

How Long Does It Take The Stomach To Heal After A Gastric Sleeve?

Ask how long it takes the stomach to recover following a gastric sleeve and what you may do to hasten the process at your pre-op visit.

Month 1

During the first week, confine yourself to your home and get enough rest. There may be some minor discomfort and pain, which you can treat with painkillers. You may return to work from the second week but avoid physically demanding activities, such as hauling cement sacks or playing basketball.

Month 2-3

Increase your everyday physical activity and fitness routine gradually. Although the stomach sleeve surgery incisions will no longer be sore, avoid strenuous activities, including heavy lifting, contact sports, and intense exercise. Maintain a strict post-op VSG diet.

Month 4-6

How your stomach is removed during gastric sleeve surgery will be the most crucial aspect of your full recovery. By this time, the stomach swelling should be mostly gone, and the wound should have fully healed. To strengthen your stomach tissue, concentrate on a lean protein-rich diet. Eating a lot of chips and doughnuts is not the best idea!

Conclusion

Gastric sleeve surgery is a great way to reduce weight and improve your health. But it’s not without its side effects, including post-surgical pain. Stomach pain after gastric sleeve surgery is fairly common. The pain you experience after gastric sleeve can vary in intensity and duration, but it usually goes away over time. It’s important to remain patient and remember that pain, like other symptoms, will diminish as you heal. You should talk with your doctor about how long the pain will last after gastric sleeve surgery and what you can do to manage it. You should also ensure that you do get adequate post-surgery aftercare which is often sadly lacking.