“After a bypass, how long will I have to follow diet restrictions?”
I recently underwent bypass surgery. How long will I have to maintain the diet restrictions given to me by my doctor? I plan on adapting my lifestyle and general diet, but for now these guidelines are pretty strict!
7 Answers
Mark Rasak
Cardiologist
For life
Lifelong changes need to be made. I do not know what exact restrictions you're are talking about. In general, eating more plant-based, less animal protein, including fish, is good.
It's good to stay on a healthy diet long-term but it doesn't have to be very strict unless you are diabetic or overweight – in which case your life depends on it (so it's worth it).
Julia G. Ansari
Cardiologist
I don’t know your order condition and what your left ventricular heart function is like but, if you have diabetes, then heart failure, kidney disease - they will all affect your diet and make it more restricted. You should attend a cardiac rehab after bypass surgery and they usually have nutrition classes that will tell you what you should eat and do.
The only way for me to answer this question is with knowledge of a patients weight, height, waist size, cholesterol levels, and details of their bypass surgery and cardiac function. I would recommend coming to my office at 57th Street and Lexington Ave, 212-717-0666 for a full evaluation to answer this and other important questions after heart surgery.
Bradley A. Radwaner, M.D., FACC
Bradley A. Radwaner, M.D., FACC
Not knowing exactly what your doctor prescribed, it is difficult for me to answer that question. In general, you should eat a healthy, Mediterranean style diet that is low in carbs, especially refined carbs, and saturated fats, for the rest of your life. Atherosclerosis for which you had the bypass is a chronic disease and will come back if you do not adhere to a healthy lifestyle which I would assume is what your doctor recommended along with no smoking, blood pressure control, tight control of diabetes, if you have that, and aggressive lipid lowering. It is probably too late to change your parents!
Georges Abou Rjaili
Cardiologist
You should always follow a healthy diet, and have your cholesterol and triglycerides under strict control to avoid bypass reblocking. In addition, your doctor can advise you better in case you have diabetes on what diet to consider.
