Most patients who have had gastric sleeve surgery will experience discomfort in the days, weeks, and months following the procedure. Sharp pain on left side after gastric sleeve is a common complaint among post-op patients. Depending on the person experiencing it, this pain may feel like a knife piercing, a fire raging, or a dull ache in the lower left abdomen. It may be minor to severe, present throughout the day, or only at particular periods. The first advice we can give you is to contact your doctor or medical staff immediately.
Surgical Procedure Itself
After gastric sleeve surgery, patients often experience sharp pain on the left side. Specifically, most of your pain will originate from the incision made on the left side of your stomach during surgery. The pain may or may not be severe, but it should go away within a few weeks after surgery.
Bariatric surgery reroutes the intestines through an incision below the ribcage. This may harm nerves and injure muscles. Surgery causes a side ache. Many individuals misjudge the operation and try to be too active right away. Because of the low scarring, patients may think the treatment was simple, yet a lot is happening within your body.
Rest and listen to your body. Avoid overextending wounded muscles. The good news is that simple posture changes have helped incision-related pain sufferers. Dealing with post-surgery pain for a few weeks is part of a good recovery.
Behavioral and Dietary Disorders
Overeating, Rapid Eating
Gastric bypass surgery alters your ability to detect fullness. Patients might discover that they overeat quickly and don’t feel full until their stomachs are stretched, which results in gastric sleeve pain after eating. It may cause discomfort or agony, particularly in the upper abdomen and rib cage region. It’s critical to realize that the stomach is much smaller than it formerly was to prevent this. You should consume modest meals, chew well, and only introduce new foods after receiving approval from your physician.
Micronutrient Deficiencies
The restriction and malnutrition that follow gastric bypass surgery are both problems. Due to this, you will need supplements to make up for the nourishment your typical diet no longer gives you. Use specially-made bariatric vitamins and ensure you’re getting enough protein to stop this from happening quickly. The effects of surgery can also impair your protein consumption, just as it can be challenging to consume all of your vitamins and minerals. It makes sense that you will need to include bariatric meal replacements in your diet when considering the variety of foods and the portion sizes allowed by the post-gastric surgery diet plan.
Functional Disorders
Constipation, Diarrhea, Flatus
Several functional disorders can cause sharp pain on the left side after sleeve surgery, including constipation and diarrhea. This is because the digestive tract has been reorganized to accommodate the new configuration of the stomach. Flatus (gas) is caused by air being released from your digestive tract into the rest of your body through belching or passing gas through your anus. Flatus is another common cause of pain on the left side after sleeve surgery. This is because it can become trapped in your new stomach pouch. Sufferers should see a doctor if they experience pain on their left side after sleeve surgery.
Dumping Syndrome
Food entering the small intestine too quickly is called “dumping syndrome.” Several symptoms, including stomach pain and discomfort, maybe the outcome. Dumping syndrome can be prevented by eating smaller quantities, avoiding fluid intake with meals, and reducing high-sugar and high-fat intake. Patients are occasionally advised to lie down after eating to avoid the dumping syndrome symptoms.
Pouch, Remnant Stomach Disorders
Ulcers Disease
When you have a sleeve surgery, the surgeon creates a new stomach pouch to help you lose weight. The new pouch may not be able to produce acid or enzymes as well as your original stomach did, which can lead to ulcers. Ulcers are caused by bacteria entering your digestive tract and causing an infection in the lining of your stomach or small intestine. This causes damage to the tissue around these organs, resulting in bleeding and inflammation. If it worsens over time, you may experience pain and irritability in the upper left side of your stomach and nausea and vomiting.
Hiatus Hernia
It has been found that a hiatus hernia occurs when some of the stomach’s contents slip up into the esophagus. This can cause sharp sensations in your upper abdomen. Hernias are defects in an organ or vessel’s muscle wall that allow the tissue to protrude. In this case, it is a defect in the diaphragm muscle wall. Hernias can cause symptoms like abdominal pain that may be sharp, gnawing, constant or intermittent, burning or dull. Hiatus hernias can be caused by straining due to coughing and vomiting, straining during bowel movements, and lifting heavy objects. In most cases, they do not cause serious health problems unless they become huge (Hiatal hernias).
Small Intestine Disorders
Adhesions
Organs cling together due to adhesions, which are bands of scar tissue that form between them. They can occur after surgery when the organs are cut or injured. Adhesions can be a severe problem if they push the intestines to twist or kink, which can block food from passing through or slowing it down. This is known as malrotation or malpositioning of the small intestine. Sharp pain on the left side after sleeve surgery that gets worse when you eat or drink (this is caused by stomach acid flowing backward into your esophagus).
Intussusception
Intussusception is a rare disorder where a part of the small intestine folds in on itself. It’s usually caused by a blockage or irritation of the intestines, and it can be life-threatening if not treated promptly. The condition is typically treated with surgery, but some cases don’t require surgery. Eating small meals frequently throughout the day and avoiding binge eating at any point is the best way to prevent this issue. Drinking enough water before, during, and after meals is also beneficial. It’s critical to speak with your doctor if you experience sudden pain on your left side after sleeve surgery to determine if this might indicate intussusception.
Final Thoughts
If you are experiencing pain after gastric sleeve surgery, you must understand what might be the cause of your pain. When properly treated, your symptoms should disappear in less than a week. Remember to communicate openly with your surgeon or care team, and ask lots of questions if you are concerned with how you feel. You may also want to write down precisely what you are feeling. It can be helpful when communicating with others.
Also Read: Let’s Compare – Gastric Band Cost Versus Alternative Weight Loss Methods