CBC Managing Post-Operative Adjustments Questions and Answers

Question 1

A patient, 9 months post-RYGB, reports that her spouse frequently brings home her old favorite high-calorie foods and encourages her to "just have a little." This is causing significant marital stress and making adherence difficult.
What is the most likely underlying dynamic the counselor should explore with the patient?

Accepted Answer

The spouse may be expressing love in a way that is no longer compatible with the patient's new lifestyle.

Answer

The spouse is uneducated about the patient's new dietary needs.

Answer

The spouse likely has a codependent personality disorder.

Answer

The spouse is intentionally trying to sabotage the patient's weight loss out of jealousy.

Question 2

A patient who is one year post-op mentions they have started drinking a few glasses of wine every night to unwind, a significant increase from their pre-surgery habits. Which phenomenon should the counselor be most concerned about?

Accepted Answer

Addiction transfer

Answer

Negative reinforcement

Answer

Dumping syndrome

Answer

Cross-addiction tolerance

Question 3

Which of the following is the most common body image concern expressed by patients 12-18 months after bariatric surgery, even after achieving significant weight loss?

Accepted Answer

Distress and dissatisfaction with excess or redundant skin.

Answer

Phantom fat sensation, the feeling of still being obese.

Answer

An aversion to seeing themselves in photographs or mirrors.

Answer

An obsessive focus on the number on the scale.

Question 4

A patient, 14 months post-sleeve gastrectomy, is distraught because their weight loss has completely stalled for two months. They state, "It was so easy at first, I thought this would be a magic fix. Now it's just hard." What is the best initial approach for the counselor?

Accepted Answer

Normalize the experience as the end of the "honeymoon phase" and explore their feelings of disappointment.

Answer

Suggest they immediately increase their exercise intensity to break the plateau.

Answer

Immediately refer the patient to a dietitian for a strict diet overhaul.

Answer

Re-evaluate them for surgical complications that could be halting weight loss.

Question 5

When counseling a post-operative bariatric patient on how to manage social events centered around food, such as holiday dinners or restaurant outings, what is a key proactive strategy to recommend?

Accepted Answer

Eat a small, protein-rich meal or snack before the event.

Answer

Save all calories for the event to be able to "splurge" a little.

Answer

Avoid all social events for the first year to prevent temptation.

Answer

Inform the host of every dietary restriction in detail beforehand.

Question 6

Beyond physical limitations, which of the following is a common psychological barrier to consistent exercise adherence in the long-term post-bariatric surgery population?

Accepted Answer

A history of exercise being used as a punishment for weight gain.

Answer

Lack of access to a gym or exercise equipment.

Answer

An intolerance to the taste of sports drinks.

Answer

Inadequate knowledge of proper exercise form.