BARIATRIC SURGERY AND PSYCHOLOGY
There are almost no studies dealing with the pre- and post-surgical psychology of obese patients. While almost all doctors focus on the patient’s gout, very few of them look at the brain.
Except struggling obesity and being confronted with other diseases physical activities that seem to be the most ordinary can also be torment. Some of the comorbidity diseases are: Increased cardiovascular risk, shortness of breath, sleep apnea, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, stroke, gallbladder disorders, increased risk of colorectal and prostate cancer for men, increased breast and gallbladder cancer risk for women. Examples of physical and environmental factors can be more back-breaking and short-term problems. Some of those factors such as excessive sweating, bad odor, shortness of breath, loss of self-confidence, social exclusion, and being mocked can make social acceptance difficult. And, not only that activities such as tying shoes, climbing stairs, climbing uphill, and brisk walking can also undermine the quality of life. Dealing with all these difficulties individually means losing a large part of your energy without realizing it comparing to people without weight. Not to mention the pain you feel in your knees and back, as well as the long-term troubles you experience in these body parts.
Bariatric surgery is very popular because it is the most effective weight loss method. In this way, while getting rid of dozens of accompanying ailments, a door is opened to reaching the desired weight. Of course, obesity surgical interventions are considered to be advanced level of surgery and carry certain risks. However, these risks can be reduced day by day with a good team, an experienced surgeon, quality materials and a well-equipped hospital. As important as these, and what is often neglected, is that a patient mentally prepares himself/herself before, during and after the operation. It is very important for a patient to know what kind of journey he or she is expecting and visualize and digest it. This is the journey of a disease. He/She starts with the realization that the situation is within the limits suitable for surgery by looking at his/her own condition BMI (Body Mass Index). Then, they should make an appointment from the Obesity Centers to meet their surgeons, get information about the process, and have the necessary tests done. Depending on the test results and the opinion of the surgeons, the date of operation is determined. One of the most important issues overlooked here is that it is mandatory for the patient to lose a certain amount of weight before surgery, depending on his/her weight and health history. This obligation has a very important place, both by reminding the patient of the necessity of diet after the operation and by facilitating the process due to the reduction of fat tissue during the operation and directly affecting the success of the operation. In addition, the most important thing we need to add is that the things that are sacrificed in return and achieved as a result, both become more permanent and contribute to the understanding of their value. Thinking, imagining, and dealing with all these processes will help increase the success of the process. You can even think of them dressing in the hospital outfit, bringing you down to the operating room on a stretcher, getting a little cold, the medicated and disinfected odor of the operating room, waiting at the door for a while and being taken to the operating room when the time comes, the hospital lights standing over you, the operating room attendant pushing your car. The closer these thoughts are to the truth and the strong enough to engage your five senses, you will be in front of the elements that can make you nervous and stressed, and in a way, you will have strengthened yourself for every situation. This will positively affect the success before and during the surgery. For the post-op, that is, the postoperative period, remembering that this will contribute to minimizing the disappointments and increasing the success of weight loss after surgery by a hundred percent.
“Surgery is just the beginning. It is the most important beginning of the rest of your life and you will want to go back and remember it with good memories. ” What does this mean? This means; The surgery opens a very powerful door for you to reach your ideal weight, but it is in your hands to continue and make it permanent. It is important to change your bad habits and move more in order to make weight loss permanent. Keeping your stomach volume small will also be a sign of your strength and determination and a reward for being fit.
