
Bariatric surgery may be risk factor for severe headache. This can be caused by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaking from the spinal canal and can happen following a shunt procedure for hydrocephalus (sometimes known as water on the brain), where a flexible tube is placed in the brain to reroute the flow of CSF.
Can gastric sleeve surgery cause dizziness?
Dumping syndrome can also be a cause of dizziness for patients who have undergone bariatric gastric sleeve surgery. Dizziness due to dumping syndrome occurs because the intestines sense that the food is too concentrated and releases an increased amount of gut hormones.
Why can't I lose weight after gastric sleeve surgery?
That could lead to deficiencies, or a shortage of the nutrients your body needs. Sometimes the surgery doesn't help the patient lose weight. This can happen if the stomach pouch is too large. It may also happen when the patient doesn't follow post-surgery instructions.
Is bariatric surgery a risk factor for headaches?
New research published in Neurology suggests bariatric surgery may be a risk factor for spontaneous intracranial hypotension – a condition that causes severe headaches. The classic symptom of spontaneous intracranial hypotension is severe headache when upright, which is relieved when the patient is lying down flat.
How does gastric sleeve surgery work?
The gastric sleeve surgery involves removing a portion of the stomach followed by the creation of a thin sleeve of stomach approximately the size of a banana. This is accomplished by the surgeon stapling the stomach using a stapling device.

Is it normal to have headaches after a gastric sleeve?
Bariatric surgery may be a risk factor for a condition that causes severe headaches, according to a study. In the study, gastric bypass surgery and gastric banding surgery were associated with later developing a condition called spontaneous intracranial hypotension in a small percentage of people.
What causes headaches after gastric bypass?
The leak causes low pressure of the spinal fluid, triggering sudden headaches in the upright position, which are relieved when lying down. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness and difficulty concentrating.
What are the symptoms of a leak after gastric sleeve?
Physical symptoms of a gastrointestinal leak after gastric sleeve surgery include:Tachycardia (increased heart rate) higher than 120 beats per minute.Fever higher than 37 ˚C or 98.6 ˚F.Respiratory distress or tachypnea with more than 18 breaths per minute.Worsening abdominal pain.Chest pain and/or shoulder pain.More items...
How does bariatric surgery affect the brain?
According to the study, published in the International Journal of Obesity, gastric bypass surgery causes the hyperactivation of a neural pathway that leads from stomach-sensing neurons in the brain stem to the lateral parabrachial nucleus, an area in the midbrain that receives sensory information from the body, and ...
What can I take for headache after gastric sleeve?
We typically recommend taking Tylenol since it's a good choice for short term use. You can also use things like non-steroidal aspirin.
Is my headache from dehydration?
Even mild dehydration can cause a headache. Usually, other symptoms of dehydration (such as fatigue, dizziness, extreme thirst and dry mouth) appear along with headache pain. Dehydration headaches often get better with at-home remedies like drinking water, resting and taking over-the-counter pain relievers.
How long does it take for the staple line to heal after gastric sleeve?
On average, it takes about 2-3 weeks for the incisions to heal and 6-8 weeks for the stomach staple line to heal. After one month, most people can begin a normal exercise routine and are well on the way to being fully recovered.
How long are you at risk for a leak after gastric sleeve?
One risk of a gastric bypass is digestive juices and partly digested food leaking through an anastomosis. This is a serious complication after gastric bypass surgery. A leak may happen up to several weeks after surgery. Most occur within a few days after surgery.
What is the most common complication of bariatric surgery?
An anastomotic leak is the most dreaded complication of any bariatric procedure because it increases overall morbidity to 61% and mortality to 15%.
Does Weight Loss Surgery change your personality?
Does Gastric Bypass Change Your Personality? Gastric bypass surgery, or even the less drastic minimally invasive weight loss procedures available, can cause dramatic changes to your body, but they don't change your personality outright.
Does weight loss surgery cause mental illness?
Unfortunately, weight loss surgery can have significant mental health risks. According to one recent analysis, 23 percent of patients seeking and undergoing bariatric surgery had been diagnosed with a behavioral health problem, including depression, anxiety, and binge eating disorder.
Does bariatric surgery cause dementia?
PAUL, Minn – Weight loss surgery, such as gastric bypass surgery, can lead to a vitamin deficiency that can cause memory loss and confusion, inability to coordinate movement, and other problems, according to a study published in the March 13, 2007, issue of Neurology®, the scientific journal of the American Academy of ...
Why do I get headaches when I lay down?
Spontaneous intracranial hypotension is often caused by a leak of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) out of the spinal canal. The leak causes low pressure of the spinal fluid, triggering sudden headaches in the upright position, which are relieved when lying down . Bariatric surgery may be a risk factor for a condition that causes severe headaches, ...
What are the symptoms of bariatric surgery?
Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness and difficulty concentrating. “It’s important for people who have had bariatric surgery and their doctors to be aware of this possible link, which has not been reported before,” said study author Wouter I. Schievink, MD, of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Calif.
How long did it take to lose weight after bariatric surgery?
The symptoms started from three months to 20 years after the bariatric surgery, and participants had lost an average of 116 pounds during that time.
Is bariatric surgery a risk factor?
American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Summary: Bariatric surgery may be a risk factor for a condition that causes severe headaches, according to a study. In the study, gastric bypass surgery and gastric banding surgery were associated with later developing a condition called spontaneous intracranial hypotension in a small percentage of people.
Does weight affect CSF?
Schievink said body weight plays an important role in CSF pressure. The typical person with spontaneous intracranial hypotension has a tall and lanky build, while obesity is a risk factor for intracranial hypertension, or high CSF pressure.
What does it feel like to wake up after gastric sleeve surgery?
After your gastric sleeve surgery, you will wake up in the hospital, a bit tired, and without a lot of pain. You may feel happy. The happy feeling is usually due to the excellent pain medication your doctor has already administered, but it’s also due, in part, to the sense of relief that comes from knowing that you’re done and safe.
What happens if you have an open abdomen surgery?
If your surgery becomes an open procedure and the surgeon makes a larger incision in your abdomen, then pain and recovery will be different. You’ve probably had a somewhat restless night that included a lot of channel surfing while dozing in and out of sleep.
Why do you walk during laparoscopic surgery?
Your surgeon may want you up and walking. Walking helps reduce the pain that can result from the CO2 used during laparoscopic surgery. When you aren’t walking, you’ll mostly be on your back with a slight incline on the hospital bed. Getting out of bed the first day is difficult.
How long does it take to get a bariatric surgeon to approve exercise?
Depending on your fitness level, your bariatric surgeon may approve increased activity (more than just walking) after 30 days. Activities may include swimming and low-impact aerobic exercise. For many patients, water aerobics can be an excellent option. It is easy on the back, hips, knees, and ankles, and is excellent cardiovascular exercise. It is worthwhile to investigate gym memberships at facilities that have a pool. Regardless of the type of activity that your doctor recommends, he will still likely ask you to stay at a low aerobic level where speaking is always comfortable.
Can you eat after a breathing tube?
Your throat is going to be sore and swollen from the ET tube (breathing tube during surgery), so it’s not pleasant to eat or drink at this point anyway. You will be exhausted, and while you might worry that you’ll be hungry, it is likely that you will not be hungry.
How long does it take for the sympathetic nervous system to decrease after bariatric surgery?
After bariatric surgery, many patients experience a significant and sustained reduction in sympathetic nervous system activity at 3 and 6 months after the procedure.
What is the best drink for dizziness after bariatric surgery?
If a chemical imbalance is the cause of dizziness for patient who has undergone bariatric surgery, immediately drinking water or small sips of a sports drink such as Gatorade or Powerade may be helpful in treating dizziness.
What are the symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia?
Reactive hypoglycemia is condition that can plague patients who have undergone bariatric surgery for more than a year after the procedure. Shakiness, dizziness, confusion, and possibly complete loss of consciousness are symptoms that are associated with reactive hypoglycemia.
Is reactive hypoglycemia a side effect of weight reduction surgery?
It should be noted that reactive hypoglycemia is completely unrelated to a diabetes insulin reaction or even a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus prior to the surgical procedure. This condition is simply a side effect of weight reduction surgery that occurs in a small percentage of patient who undergo a bariatric procedure.
Can a staple line cause gastric juice to leak?
This is accomplished by the surgeon stapling the stomach using a stapling device. This staple line can cause leaking of gastric contents and gastric juices outside of the gastrointestinal tract. Dizziness is one of the main symptoms a patient may experience if there is leaking along the staple line.
Can bariatric surgery cause weakness?
Although dizziness and weakness may not seem like a life-threatening symptom associated with bariatric surgery, if patients begin to feel weak and dizzy in the weeks and months following weight loss surgery, a physician should be consulted to rule out or confirm a potentially life-threatening situation.
How often do you feel nausea after a gastric bypass?
In one study, patients on average reported feeling nauseous 2.6 times per week and reported vomiting 0.2 times per week on average after gastric bypass ( 3 ). Following your doctor’s bariatric diet recommendations exactly will ...
What are the side effects of gastric bypass?
The most common side effects include: Dumping syndrome. Dehydration. Dental problems. Difficulty swallowing. Gallstones. Kidney stones. Hair loss.
How long does it take for hair to grow after bariatric surgery?
Most patients stop losing and start regrowing hair within 3 to 6 months following surgery. Supplementing your diet with protein, vitamin B, magnesium, calcium and zinc, among other bariatric vitamins, will help prevent hair loss and improve hair growth. 08.
Is alcohol a risk for gastric bypass?
There seems to be an increased risk of alcohol abuse among some gastric bypass patients. Advance awareness of this potential problem should help to mitigate this effect. See this ABCNews.com story for more information.
Can bariatric surgery cause loose stools?
Change in bowel habits – bowel function after bariatric surgery may change in a number of ways, including ( 5 ): Diarrhea or loose stools – usually completely dependent on diet – you will need to figure out and avoid foods that “trigger” diarrhea.
Is alcohol bad for you after surgery?
First, it’s bad for your diet due to the large amounts of calories found in many alcoholic beverages. Second, you will become intoxicated more quickly following surgery which could lead to a number of problems. Finally, following surgery the effects of alcohol on your system could make liver disease more likely.
Can you smoke after gastric bypass surgery?
If you smoke after gastric bypass surgery, there is a good chance that you will get an ulcer in your pouch. Following are additional potential gastric bypass side effects of the above intolerances to certain foods, beverages, and drugs: Nausea and vomiting is one of the most common gastric bypass side effects and is experienced in up to 70% ...

Gastric Sleeve Surgery Benefits and Risks
Side Effects
- Some gastric sleeve patients develop stomach problems. These may happen just after surgery and can last for a long time. Some patients may also have sagging skin after losing weight.
Long-Term Gastric Sleeve Complications
- Gastric sleeve surgery can cause mild to severe long-term complications. This means they may last for up to six months after surgery. They may also appear up to six months after surgery. Talk to your healthcare provider if you're worried about developing a medical problem after surgery.
Mental Health and Social Concerns
- This surgery can affect your mental health and your relationships. These are important things to think about.
Summary
- Gastric sleeve surgery may cause complications. Patients can have physical symptoms that last a long time after surgery. Medical and mental health problems may also happen. It is important to discuss all the possible complications with your healthcare provider before choosing this surgery.
A Word from Verywell
- Healthcare providers want surgery to be safe. One way they improve safety is by looking at 10-year outcomes. Over time, researchers track things like: 1. How patients keep weight off 2. How healthy they are 3. What complications they have had This surgery is relatively new. There isn't as much 10-year data on it as there is for other surgeries. This list of complications may grow over …