One of the negative effects of obesity and its related diseases is the need for most sufferers to take many, if not dozens, of pills each day to manage various conditions including high cholesterol, high blood pressure and type II diabetes. These pills are often necessary, and even life-saving. Of course, every medicine also has side effects which can range from mild to significant and can seriously compromise quality of life. The solution, of course, is to eliminate the problem at its root – obesity.
Eliminating the Need for Pills
Most successful bariatric surgery patients will tell you that as they lost weight, most of their obesity-related diseases were improved or eliminated and that they were able to stop taking many, if not all, of their medications.
While this may be the case for you as well, it is important to remember that you should only stop or modify your medication under the guidance of your bariatric surgeon and/or your primary physician.
Cutting out your medicine abruptly can lead to significant health problems and complications. While it may seem to take a long time, your medical team will constantly reevaluate the need for your medication to ensure the proper dosage and determine your longer-term needs.
Patience for Long Term Health Benefits
One of the great benefits of bariatric surgery, as some recent studies have shown, is that it can pay for itself in as little as two years because of the savings associated with less medicine, fewer trips to the doctor and hospital, and possibly lower insurance premiums. While all of this is something to look forward to, reaching that point require patience and prudence to ensure your long-term health and safety.
Bariatric Surgery at WakeMed
Learn more about the bariatric and weight loss surgery services offered at WakeMed.
