Bariatric patients need more follow-up: – I see it as an EU control

– I got out of the chair and got very good help to get on after a difficult time, says Gry Furnes Ulleland (45). The 45-year-old, who previously weighed 130 kilos, had tried most slimming methods before she took the step to seek professional help. In 2010, she underwent bariatric surgery. Gry Furnes Ulleland says that she had several challenges because of her weight. Photo: Private – I had two small boys at the time. My body was so heavy and uncomfortable that I couldn’t sit on the floor and build Lego with them without my legs falling asleep. – Gives slightly different advice In the last 20 years, more than 50,000 Norwegians have undergone bariatric surgery. Now new findings in a research project may mean that hospitals change the way they work with bariatric surgery patients. May present major challenges Researchers at Ålesund Hospital, Namsos Hospital and St. Olav’s Hospital are now investigating the long-term effects of bariatric surgery. Project manager for the study, Jorunn Sandvik, says that they have found that many of those who have undergone surgery achieve permanent weight reduction, and that it has a good effect on obesity-related diseases such as diabetes. – Even if the state of health is good after five years, new things can appear in the next five to ten years, says Jorunn Sandvik. Photo: Øyvind Sandnes / news But the research also shows that bariatric surgery patients often face major challenges afterwards. Everything from dental problems to too much bacteria in the gut. The researchers have therefore concluded that it is very important that the patients receive long follow-up after the operation. – When you have an operation where you change the intestinal system, it affects the absorption of nutrients. It can cause problems afterwards, she says. Jorunn Sandvik, Kirsti Kverndokk Bjerkan and Gry Furnes Ulleland. Photo: Øyvind Sandnes / news Although patients may experience discomfort after the operation, it is possible to avoid this by receiving good follow-up, according to Sandvik. – You can do something about it if you know it. Researcher and clinical nutritionist at Helse Møre og Romsdal, Kirsti Kverndokk Bjerkan, explains that because of the findings, they have changed something in how they treat patients who have undergone bariatric surgery. – We give advice a little differently. We also see that more people need more vitamins, so following up the patients over a longer period of time is extremely important. – It was a bit of a roller coaster For Gry Furnes Ulleland, surgery has been the right choice, but she admits that the time after the surgery was not all a bed of roses. – It was a bit of a rollercoaster. I got a new body. Getting to know her new self was a bit difficult at times, she says. She is one of the patients who is now involved in the research project. She thinks it is positive that you get good follow-up afterwards. – I see it as an EU control. I thought it was very important to get feedback on whether I had acquired deficiency diseases that I did not know about or not. The patients are thoroughly examined. Photo: Øyvind Sandnes / news



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