Gastric Bypass Diet Plan - Any surgery involving the organs in the abdominal cavity would require a transition in the diet following the surgery; in the case of a bypass surgery, it requires a gastric bypass diet plan. This minimizes complications involving over working the abdominal contents and to allow for healing before the ingestion of any type of food. Patients undergoing the Vertical Banded Gastroplasty should have a discipline in following these diet plans to prevent gastric bypass long term complications.
Sample gastric bypass diet plan
The bariatric diet below is a sample of the transition of the diet of a patient undergoing a bypass surgery. It’s best to consult a physician or nutritionist to establish an individual diet basing on personal needs.
First stage: NPO (Nothing Per Orem) - A patient undergoing a bypass surgery should not consume anything by mouth 24 hours prior to surgery. This will ensure that no food or fluid is inside the stomach and small intestines during the actual surgery. Presence of food may make it harder for the surgeon to do the procedure and may pose the patient risk for aspiration to the patient. This is the first step of the gastric bypass diet plan.
Second Stage: Clear liquid Diet- The patient should start on clear liquids about 24 hours after the surgery. Clear liquids include water, sugar free jelly, juices, and broth. This gastric bypass diet plan ensures that the stomach can digest what the patient takes in. The patient is instructed to take small sips of liquid as tolerated.
Third stage: General liquids- If the patient was able to tolerate the clear liquid diet without abdominal pain and complications, he can now consume general liquids a day after the previous diet. General liquids include milk, shakes, cream soups, and yogurt. Coffee and chocolate shakes are considered general liquids; however, the patient is advised to avoid these because of their irritating effect on the stomach. Taking these would oppose the gastric bypass diet plan.
Fourth stage: Soft diet- The patient is allowed to take in this type of diet 3-4 weeks after the surgery as directed by the physician. Soft diet samples would be composed of bread, casseroles, chopped lean meat, cooked vegetables, crackers, macaroni, and mashed potatoes. Generally, all soft foods are allowed to aid in the faster healing of the stomach.
Fifth stage: Low fat solid diet- The last diet plan would be the low fat solid diet and should be started as directed by the physician. High fat diets are generally more difficult to digest so these foods are avoided. The gastric bypass diet plan ends with this type of diet so the patient should follow it strictly for the rest of his life.
The gastric bypass diet plan is intended to help the patient recover from the surgery and to ensure that weight reduction will be the ultimate outcome.
