While you take a big step to lose weight with bariatric surgery, there are several side effects you may experience and one of them is headaches can be painful, debilitating, and concerning as well. So, learn what are the causes behind these headaches after bariatric surgery and how you can manage them in this article. Log on to https://doralhw.org/specialties/bariatric/ know more about weight loss.
Causes
Headaches are prevalent in bariatric surgery patients. There are several reasons why they experience headaches:
- Dehydration: Dehydration is the major cause of headaches after bariatric surgery. Because your body requires more water to recover from changes happening in your body. However, after surgery, most people do not feel like drinking water and other fluids which leads to dehydration. The body starts giving signs and symptoms of being dehydrated by causing dry mouth, less urination with darker color, and headaches. So, it is recommended that you drink enough water and fluids throughout the day to prevent dehydration.
- Effects of anesthesia drugs: Some people may experience headaches after bariatric surgery due to anesthesia. It is required to give anesthesia to patients so that they can sleep and not feel pain during the procedure. However, depending on the type of anesthesia and type of surgery, it causes headaches. The good thing is these headaches are temporary and disappear in a few hours or days without treatment when your anesthesia effects go away.
- Migraine headaches history: If you have a history of headaches before the surgery, then the risk of having headaches after bariatric surgery is higher because, during the procedure, the surgeon gives anesthetic drugs that can elevate headaches especially if you have migraines or cluster headaches. That’s why doctors keep the patient’s supervision to relieve the patient’s headache. However, in some cases, even without any history of headaches, people still experience headaches after bariatric surgery. So, the causes of headaches can vary in these patients.
- Certain medications: When you address your dehydration symptoms due to headaches, your bariatric surgeon may recommend taking Tylenol. While it is good medicine for short-term use, if you take this medicine for 3 days it can cause an ulcer. If you are still experiencing headaches after 5 days of taking medicines, then you should visit your physician to find out the causes of your headaches, such as spontaneous intracranial hypotension. According to one study on gastric bypass patients, a small percentage of patients develop spontaneous intracranial hypotension due to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaking out of their spinal canal. The leak is the reason that causes headaches when they get up or stand up but get relief when they lay down due to pressure applied to the spinal fluid.
These headaches after bariatric surgery can be painful, debilitating, and worrying, mostly triggered by dehydration, but if they persist, you need to see your healthcare provider for treatment.
How do you manage your headaches after bariatric surgery?
Here are some steps you can take to relieve your headaches after bariatric surgery depending on the cause of your headaches which include:
- Drink enough fluids: If your headaches are caused by dehydration, then the best method to prevent dehydration is to drink enough water and fluids. It may be hard for the patient to drink a larger quantity of liquids due to a reduction in stomach size. The best way to do it is to set a timer on your phone to drink water from time to time. Start drinking water in the morning and take another sip every half hour.
- Use painkillers: You can take prescribed medications to relieve your headache if only drinking water is not working. The only drug that is allowed to relieve headaches after bariatric surgery is simple acetaminophen without codeine because other painkillers such as NSAID drugs including Diclofenac, Gelofen, etc. are prohibited after bariatric surgery, these drugs may cause stomach bleeding or ulcers.
- Refer to a neurologist: If your headache is not relieved by drinking fluids or painkillers for more than 5 days, you should contact your surgeon because your headache may be caused due to several other reasons such as low blood pressure, stress, anxiety, iron deficiency, lack of sleep, pain at the surgery site, etc. Then you should visit a neurologist. In case you are experiencing other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, difficulty concentrating, and neck stiffness, diagnosing these problems is crucial and you should not take over-the-counter medications to relieve your pain. Additionally, being patient, getting enough rest in bed, or using a cold compress to improve your headache after bariatric surgery may be advised.
Headaches after bariatric surgery are widespread. The most common cause is dehydration, the effects of anesthesia, or patients who have a history of headaches or migraines. However, you can easily manage or relieve these headaches by drinking enough fluids or taking medication. And if your headaches are not relieved even after a week, then visit your healthcare provider to get treatment.
If you are also experiencing headaches after bariatric surgery or any other side effects, then visit our bariatric doctor. If you’re ready to take the next step in managing your health, we recommend consulting with our Bariatric experts to explore the right treatments or therapies for you. Always listen to your body and adjust your daily routine to prioritize your well-being. If you are looking for a weight loss surgery center near you, contact us on +1 718 367 2555 for a consultation with our bariatric doctors. Want to learn more about types of bariatric surgery like Gastric sleeve surgery, Laparoscopic surgery, Gastric bypass surgery, Sleeve gastrectomy, or LAP band surgery? Doral Health and Wellness has one of the best bariatric doctors and surgeons to treat obesity and weight problems. Book your appointment and walk in at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212.
