Duration of sick leave

How long you are sick or unable to work after a tube stomach operation can vary greatly from person to person. After discharge from the hospital, it is usually at the discretion of the family doctor how long he writes the patient incapacitated for work. In addition to the complaints and restrictions, the activity performed must also be taken into account. If necessary, work in an office can be resumed earlier than heavy physical work. Even if no general statement can be made, sick leave over a period of two to six weeks after a tube stomach operation is the most common.

Risks of surgery

The risks of a tube gizzard operation can be divided into general surgical risks and specific risks of this procedure. In general, this and other operations can result in bleeding with severe blood loss, which may even require the use of blood preservatives. It is also possible that an inflammation of the abdominal cavity or the wound may occur.

Organs and other structures such as nerves can also be injured during the operation. Every operation also increases the risk of developing a blockage of the pulmonary circulation through a blood clot (pulmonary artery embolism). A special risk of the tubular stomach surgery is that a constriction of the stomach can form, which may have to be widened by a second operation. In addition, leakage of the row of sutures on the tubular stomach can occur. This can often also only be remedied by a further operation.

Long-term consequences of surgery

The main long-term consequence of a tube stomach operation is that the capacity of the digestive organ is reduced to about one tenth of its original size. As a result, only small portions can be eaten and a feeling of fullness is quickly reached. The long-term desired effect of reducing overweight can be achieved in most cases.

However, the sensation of thirst can also be reduced, so that after a tube stomach operation, sufficient fluid intake must always be ensured. As a further consequence of the operation, there may be insufficient absorption of vitamin B12, as this can only be absorbed by a substance produced by the stomach lining. In a tubular stomach, a large proportion of these cells are no longer present. Therefore, in the long term, a three-month injection of vitamin B12 under the skin is usually necessary.At the very least, the level of the vitamin in the blood should be checked regularly after a tube stomach operation, as a deficiency can lead to anemia, among other things. A deficiency of other vitamins or substances is generally not to be feared in the gizzard compared to some other stomach operations, as long as you eat a balanced and healthy diet.