Dehydration After Bariatric Surgery: Signs, Risks, and Prevention Tips
Dehydration is a common but pressing problem experienced by many patients after bariatric surgery. According to some weight loss organisations, nearly 37% of patients after bariatric surgery are experiencing severe dehydration symptoms. Drinking more water and other fluids is the best way to stay hydrated, but the changes made in the body as a result of surgery make it hard to stay hydrated.
Bariatric surgery is of different types, and the risk of dehydration is more common, especially in people who have undergone gastric sleeve surgery. This is because the surgery involves removing a portion of the stomach, which limits the quantity of food and fluids you consume. If you drink more water after surgery, it may result in nausea and vomiting. It takes time to adjust to having a steady volume of water throughout the day.
Following bariatric surgery, the first thing you should understand is to recognise if you are dehydrated immediately so that you can replenish the lost fluids quickly and prevent it from getting worse.
What is dehydration and what causes it after bariatric surgery?
Your body becomes dehydrated when it loses more fluids than it absorbs, which can affect many bodily functions. Every weight loss procedure doesn’t affect your body’s fluid requirement. Certain weight loss procedures, like gastric sleeve surgery, can lead to dehydration because nearly 80% of the stomach is removed.
Furthermore, some patients lose their sense of thirst or might not drink adequate water because they may be more concentrated on eating solid foods to fulfil their protein requirements.
Another possible side effect after bariatric surgery is diarrhea. Your digestive system takes time to adjust and recover, which may result in the excretion of watery stool frequently.
Signs of dehydration after bariatric surgery
People who have undergone any bariatric procedure might experience any of these signs if they are at risk of dehydration:
- Feeling thirsty
- Dry mouth & dry skin
- Passing dark urine
- Frequent urination.
- Lightheadedness or Headaches
- Feeling dizziness
- Fast heartbeat
- Tired feeling
- Lack of energy
- Disoriented feeling
- Feeling sleepy all the time
- Constipation
- Bloody or dark stool
If you experience any of the above symptoms, drink fluids at regular intervals. Particularly lightheadedness indicates that your blood pressure is crashing. Drink an electrolyte beverage in that case.
However, consulting your surgeon as soon as possible is recommended in case of dehydration after bariatric surgery.
What happens if you stay dehydrated?
Our human body is made up of 45%–75% water, which means water is the key to many bodily functions. Water aids in removing waste from the body and proper pumping of blood in the heart. Water aids in removing waste from the body and proper pumping of blood in the heart.
Even to maintain a normal body temperature, water content in our body is essential.
So, if you don’t drink enough water, even if you are dehydrated, it leads to severe complications like low levels of blood, kidney failure, urinary problems, and seizures.
So don’t neglect the signs of dehydration; get proper medical care before it becomes a serious health problem.
How to prevent dehydration after bariatric surgery?
The following are some suggestions from experts to ensure you take enough fluids despite the bariatric surgery changes in your body:
- Avoid eating food and drinking fluids simultaneously. Eat your meal first and wait for 25 to 30 minutes to drink water. If you do so, you can eat enough food for nutrients and drink sufficient water for hydration purposes.
- Drink fluids frequently (taking small sips of water every hour is recommended). Always carry a water-filled bottle.
- Keep track of the time and the amount of water you have to drink every day from the day of the surgery. You can use Android apps to automatically keep track and remind you to drink.
- You don’t need to drink an equal amount of water whenever you drink. Drink as much as you can; if you force yourself, you will end up vomiting.
- Avoid caffeine if possible or otherwise limit its consumption.
- Avoid sugary drinks.
- Avoid alcohol consumption.
- Don’t drink carbonated beverages because they can cause bloating. Avoid them at least for the first year after surgery.
- You can also eat hydrating foods with good water content like cucumbers, bottle gourd, watermelon, and strawberries.
- You can drink a variety of drinks, including fruit juices, to refresh your body. You can have some decaffeinated and non-carbonated beverages also.
The only solution for dehydration is to drink more fluids and rehydrate yourself. Ho wever, if you are not able to drink fluids or have any other complications, consult your surgeon. If you are looking for the best weight loss surgeon in Hyderabad, consult Dr. Venugopal Pareek, a senior bariatric surgeon with more than 18 years of experience.
