Dehydration is a major concern right after surgery. Drinking less than needed may lead to nausea, vomit and dehydration -a cause of hospitalization; drinking more, may have the same result.  

What can you do to stay hydrated after weight loss surgery?

There are simple guidelines to make sure you are stay properly hydrated after bariatric surgery.

  • Sip, sip, sip. Sipping 1 oz (30 ml) of liquids every 15 minutes is important to stay hydrated. The pouch needs to heal and due to its small size, you cannot gulp down water to compensate for what you don´t drink thru the day. Make sure to start sipping early in the day.
  • After 1 week of surgery, slowly increase the amount you can drink.
  • Once the pouch has healed, you´ll find it challenging to meet your fluid needs, especially if you cannot drink while you eat. So make sure that sipping liquids between meals becomes a lifetime habit.
  • Your goal is to have 6 to 8 cups of fluids in a day. More if you exercise. Fluids include:
    •  Bariatric protein shakes
    • Sugar free, non carbonated beverages including water, decaffeinated coffee and tea.
    • Low-sodium and low-fat soups and creams.
    • Sugar free popsicles.
  • Avoid alcohol, it dehydrates, kidnaps vitamins (especially the B´s), and is the second highest form (after fats) of a calorie source. It doesn´t count as fluid intake neither.

If you suffer from constipation, feel lethargic or if your urine is dark, you are dehydrated and need medical assistance. If you cannot drink any liquids in 24 hours you should contact your bariatric surgeon for further advice.


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OCC’s epidemiologist is closely monitoring the COVID-19 status and is actively issuing updates as they are available. The Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization are the most trusted sources online.  While the CDC has announced new mask protocols for vaccinated individuals, there will be no changes for our office protocols for patients, guests, and staff members as the announcement does not apply to hospitals or medical facilities. Masks are still a requirement for all patients, guests and staff at our facility.

As we reinitiate weight loss surgery, we are constantly adapting and installing new and updated safety measures.

Weight loss surgery is medically necessary.

Bariatric Surgery and the clash of two pandemics.   

Major metabolic and bariatric surgery Societies and colleges globally are now calling for the safe resumption of bariatric and metabolic surgery before the COVID-19 pandemic is declared over. 

The sooner bariatric surgery can be safely performed, the quicker obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other diseases can be reduced or resolved as they are not only chronic they are also progressive.  Obesity is also linked to more than 40 diseases including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and at least 13 different types of cancer.

A recent statement from the ASMBS says “Before COVID-19 began, it was clear that patients with obesity were ‘safer through surgery.’ In the era of COVID-19, ‘safer through surgery’ for patients with obesity may prove to be even more important than before.” Obesity and Metabolic syndrome have been identified as an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes including death among COVID-19 patients.

See here for full COVID-19 update. 

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