In January this year, the National Medical Products Administration approved the endoscopic intervention therapy – the gastric bypass stent system, opening up a new treatment path for the discipline of weight loss. As a gastrointestinal endoscopist, I have been focusing on the application of gastrointestinal endoscopy in weight loss metabolism for over ten years. Witnessing this historic moment, I feel excited and hopeful inside. However, in the face of this innovative product, while patients are curious, practical application also comes with many doubts and concerns:
“What does it feel like to have a stent placed in the intestines?”
“Can I lose weight without controlling my diet?”
“Will it affect normal life and studies?”
“Are there any side effects?”
Usually, after informing patients about the precautions of the surgery, I would comfort those who are nervous and scared. However, without personal experience, the persuasiveness is always lacking. Only by experiencing it myself can I better discover which aspects need improvement and guide the patients better.
So I decided to “practice what I preach”! After all, after so many years in the medical field, being overweight (BMI 32.63), having fatty liver, gallbladder polyps, mild liver function abnormalities… it’s time to seriously shed some weight!
Personal Experience
I underwent the entire process of the gastric bypass stenting system
The preoperative preparation for the gastric bypass stent is similar to gastrointestinal endoscopy surgery, including fasting before the surgery and various routine exams related to the surgery (complete blood count, urinalysis, coagulation function, electrocardiogram, gastric endoscopy, etc.). These series of examinations are to determine whether the surgery standards are met. The examination results were satisfactory.
My examination results
On the day of the surgery, I lay on the familiar operating table. Although I felt nervous, I was more curious about the unknown and hopeful for the results. After all these years of performing surgeries on others, it was the first time I was lying on the operating table myself. But as a professional gastrointestinal endoscopist, I felt reassured in the familiar environment, knowing that behind every surgery, the medical staff were well-prepared.
The gastric bypass stent surgery was conducted under general anesthesia. I only remember the anesthetist placing a mask on me, taking a deep breath, and then falling asleep; when I woke up, I was lying in the ward with an IV drip, and my colleague informed me that the surgery went very smoothly, with the use of antacids to alleviate discomfort.
The ward where I stayed
During the postoperative observation period, I felt some foreign body sensation in the stomach, but it was within tolerable limits. So after the IV drip ended, I went back home. The slight jolts during the journey exacerbated the discomfort in my stomach, but it gradually eased after lying down and resting. The next morning, I felt the effects of anesthesia had mostly disappeared, and my body returned to normal. To confirm the placement of the stent, I had an upper gastrointestinal contrast study at the hospital, which showed that the stent system had been successfully deployed and was in the correct position. At that moment, the weight on my mind lifted, and I immediately immersed myself back into work (Special Note: This action is based on the nature of my profession. I recommend ordinary patients to rest adequately after surgery).
Upper gastrointestinal contrast study image
In the early postoperative period, I followed the doctor’s advice and started with a liquid diet, gradually transitioning to a normal diet. I resumed a normal diet from the third day onwards. After the stent placement, I did not consciously control my food intake, but I felt full much earlier, naturally reducing my food intake by a quarter. Additionally, following the post-stent recommendations, I tried to avoid or consume less long, hard, and sticky foods. If I couldn’t resist, I made sure to cut the food into small pieces and chew it thoroughly. Regarding exercise, I primarily focused on brisk walking to avoid intense abdominal contractions or twists that could affect the stent and cause discomfort.
My Greatest Feeling
“It’s not that I got thinner, but I have changed”
It has been over two months since I got the stent implanted. Occasionally, people around me would inquire, “How do you feel?”, “Have you lost weight?”, “Are there any side effects?”…
Every morning, I would record my weight, and after one month, I had lost 7 kg, currently having lost around 10 kg. Moreover, according to feedback from my partner, she mentioned she rarely hears me snoring at night recently, saying that I seem more energetic overall. These subtle changes made me realize that weight loss is not an abrupt transformation but more of a revolution in lifestyle beliefs. During this time, it has guided me to gradually adjust my lifestyle habits, teaching me how to listen to and respect the needs and sensations of my body, and enjoy life in a healthier way.
My Check-in Notes (Some data might be missing due to personal reasons)
Regarding the concerns about side effects raised by many patients, from my personal experience, I did feel some discomfort during the initial period after the stent placement, but it was brief and could be relieved through targeted treatments. However, due to individual differences, everyone’s tolerance varies, so it is important to pay attention to bodily reactions and changes in weight, and communicate promptly with a doctor to address doubts and discomfort.
4 Suggestions for Gastric Bypass Stenting for Ordinary Patients
Based on my diagnostic and treatment experience and the experiences post-stent placement, I have summarized 4 suggestions for ordinary patients undergoing gastric bypass stent insertion:
Be well-prepared and familiarize yourself in advance
Before the surgery, doctors always emphasize the various risks and precautions of the surgery. This is not to shirk responsibility, but because the ideal surgical outcome depends not only on the surgery itself but also closely on preoperative preparation and postoperative management. Before the surgery, you should complete all the required tests and examinations to assess whether your physical condition meets the surgical requirements. Post-surgery focus should include dietary guidance, exercise, and more. Everyone should learn to be an active participant and decision-maker in their health management.
Embrace Change, Learn to Accept
As your body gradually adjusts to the gastric bypass stent system, psychological acceptance is equally important. Rather than worrying all day about potential complications or adverse reactions, it is better to transform this worry into more positive actions. Actively understand and address the various situations that may be encountered post-surgery. Also, develop the ability to self-assess pain and adverse reactions. This way, when your body sends out signals of discomfort, you can accurately identify them, promptly communicate with a doctor, and ensure appropriate treatment to avoid pain or discomfort becoming an obstacle to recovery.
Break Through Plateaus, Steadily Progress
All approaches might encounter a plateau phase because the body adjusts to new energy intake and expenditure, even gastric bypass stent insertion surgery. When facing a plateau phase, maintaining a calm mindset is essential. Just as weight gain is not achieved overnight, weight loss also requires time and patience. Adopt positive and scientific coping strategies, try changing your dietary habits and exercise levels, control psychological anxiety, and believe that through these changes, you can certainly overcome plateaus.
Continuously Reduce Weight, Persist in the Long Term
After successfully losing weight, how do you maintain the ideal weight? The key lies in establishing and maintaining healthy eating and exercise habits. However, this doesn’t mean completely depriving yourself of enjoying good food or occasional indulgence; the key is moderation. Furthermore, many people tend to overlook the importance of adequate sleep and mental adjustments. A good sleep schedule helps regulate body functions, promote metabolism, and enables us to stay calm and optimistic in the face of weight fluctuations or challenges, thereby moving firmly towards the goal of healthy weight loss.
That’s about it for now; after all, the stent has not been removed yet, so further advice is premature.
Oh, I didn’t expect getting thinner would also come with new worries. With the change of the season this summer, I’ve had to replace all my clothes with a new batch, which is, of course, a pleasant inconvenience. So, here’s a final small piece of advice: don’t buy too many clothes at once, because after losing weight, you might have to buy them again.
Expert Profile
Yu Yong
Attending Physician, Endoscopy Department, Changchun Jiahe Surgical Hospital
Member of the Jilin Province Health Management Association Digestive Endoscopy Professional Committee and Digestive Endoscopy Medical Alliance, specializing in digestive and respiratory endoscopy examinations, and related therapeutic procedures under gastrointestinal endoscopy
