Some patients who have had gastric sleeve surgery feel tired after eating. What is this phenomenon? Is it something that should cause concern? What is happening for post-gastric sleeve patients who feel tired after eating?
Truth is, some patients feel tired after eating regardless of the type of weight-loss surgery they’ve undergone. Whether it’s post-gastric bypass surgery or gastric sleeve, feeling tired after eating can be a drag. But it’s not unusual, and doctors can usually diagnose what’s causing the fatigue after eating.
There are several reasons why a person who has had gastric sleeve surgery may feel tired after eating. But first, we should stress that this is not the typical post-Thanksgiving-dinner feeling of fullness and sleepiness. It’s also not fatigue that comes from just having had surgery. This is a form of fatigue that strikes the post-op patient as abnormal — often many weeks post-op.
You should always speak with your operating physician right away about any fatigue you feel after eating. This is especially true if it occurs long after your surgery date.
Still, we thought it would be useful to provide a few notes about this medical phenomenon, keeping in mind that this material is presented as an overview of possibilities — not a collection of diagnoses. For that, you’ll need to consult with your doctor.
Weight-Loss Surgery/Tired After Eating: Potential Causes
Feeling tired after eating post-op can indicate one or more of the following:
- Dehydration
- Lack of protein
- Vitamin/mineral deficiency, especially iron and vitamins B12, B1 (thiamine), and D. Get in touch with WeightWise to go over information about bariatric vitamin supplements.
- Low blood pressure
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Dumping Syndrome (eating high carb/fat items/meals)
- Overeating
There may also be underlying medical conditions that need attention over the long term. The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery has some good resources that you may want to review.
Remember, with weight-loss surgery, you’ll have a smaller stomach, which reduces the amount of food you can consume, thus helping you lose weight. But it is a serious procedure; the surgeon removes, in some cases, a part of the stomach or reroutes the small intestine. This should put patients on a path to health and wellness, reduced blood pressure, fewer episodes of sleep apnea, and more.
The good news is that this issue of gastric sleeve surgery and feeling tired after eating can be effectively eliminated. To determine the best course of action for you, make sure to speak with your operating physician and/or your dietitian.
At WeightWise, our program is a finely tuned, rigorously controlled, and thoroughly vetted system of metabolic and bariatric surgeries, follow-ups, diet and exercise science, and much, much more. We are here to assist you every step of the way.
So if you’re feeling tired after eating and you’ve had gastric sleeve or one of our other weight-loss surgeries (adjustable gastric banding, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, etc.), get in touch with us today.