What should i expect after bariatric surgery

The general guidelines for the post-operative diet include eating protein first, eating slowly, chewing thoroughly, not drinking fluids while eating, avoiding liquid calories, limiting snacking and learning portion control.

Our registered dietitians will provide you with a specific food plan so you know when each of these stages start. Many New Jersey Bariatric Center patients are able to resume activity and exercise two weeks after surgery. The level of exercise will depend on your physical condition and the nature of the activity.

Always start with walking. As you recover, you will be able to do more like walking uphill, walking faster and maybe, eventually running. Exercise is strongly encouraged as it increases your sense of wellbeing and minimizes muscle breakdown. For more information on exercise post-surgery, check out this link. Returning to work will also vary from person to person depending on the type of work you do.

If your job involves sitting at a computer or a desk, some of our patients can go back to work three to five days after surgery. You should be physically able to return to work between 1 week and 3 weeks after surgery. Driving should be avoided until you are no longer taking prescription pain medication and you feel comfortable moving around.

If driving is resumed too early, sudden braking or movements may strain your core abdominal wall muscles and can delay recovery. As you progress in your recovery, start off with short distance, low speed drives and once you feel comfortable extend the distance.

Many patients ask when it would be safe to resume sexual activity after surgery. When patients ask this question there is a general concern about affecting the surgical area and the staples in the abdomen. Generally, sexual activity can be resumed when you feel comfortable doing so. Some patients may be able to engage in sexual activity within a week after weight loss surgery, others may elect to wait a few weeks. Listen to your body and avoid any strenuous activity. Recovery is different for each person because everyone heals differently, so allow yourself time to adjust to your new lifestyle.

Your nurses and doctors will ask you to describe your pain. Two helpful ways to describe pain include the number scale on a 0 to 10 scale, with 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain possible , or words to describe your pain as none, mild, moderate or severe.

No matter what form of pain control you receive, the following tips will help you stay comfortable:. The risk of becoming addicted to pain medicine is very low when it is used for a specific medical purpose, such as surgery. Activities such as walking and even changing positions in bed help promote circulation. Good blood flow discourages the formation of blood clots and enhances healing. Standing up, walking and doing your post-operative exercises may help speed up your recovery and minimize complications.

Repeat the following exercises at least once every hour after surgery. It's a good idea to practice them before surgery as well, to increase lung function and agility. Your surgeon will decide when you are ready to leave the hospital, based on your progress.

Prior to your discharge, you will be given specific dietary and activity instructions, along with information about certain precautions and when to notify your surgeon. If you have any concerns about returning home, discuss them with your nurse or discharge coordinator. When you return home, plan on taking things easy for a while. Your body will be recovering from major surgery and weight loss during the recovery period.

It is important to think about your living environment and how you will manage it after surgery. Are there many steps in your home? Is your bedroom upstairs? How accessible is your bathroom? Please tell the hospital staff about your living environment, as they can prepare your going home plan with your specific needs in mind.

A rubber shower head with a detachable hose, long sponge stick or kitchen tongs, and toilet lift are all useful items. We care about your progress. Keep in communication with us, and we will do our best to ensure your recovery is as smooth as possible. Your first office visit with your surgeon will be scheduled for 10 days to three weeks after surgery.

Your discharge instructions will tell you when to return to the office for follow-up. You will continue to see your surgeon periodically after the initial follow-up visit — usually six weeks, three months, six months and nine months after surgery. Thereafter, you will have an annual appointment.

Please call your surgeon's office with any surgical concerns between scheduled visits. It is also important to keep your primary care doctor informed of your progress. Be sure to contact him or her with any medical concerns as well. During the first several weeks after surgery, you may feel weak and tire easily after activity.

However, light activity, such as frequent short walks, is recommended. Gradually increase the distance. The more physically active you are, the better. It will enhance your recovery and ultimately give you more energy. Continue walking at least four times a day, so that you are walking 30 to 45 minutes per day by the sixth week. By your six-week office visit, you should be regularly walking two miles a day or more, unless you have specific problems with your weight-bearing joints.

If so, water exercises are recommended. You can begin these about three weeks after surgery. You may be tired, weak or nauseated or may experience vomiting the first few weeks after surgery. Keep up your fluid intake with small, frequent sips as necessary. We recommend drinking 1. You can resume traveling short distances as soon as you feel strong enough to make the trip.

Do not drive a motor vehicle until you are no longer taking prescription pain medication, which is usually about one week after surgery. Most patients like to have someone home with them the first few days after surgery for moral and physical support. Due to the nature of abdominal surgery, you may need some help using the toilet.

Flushable baby wipes, a peri-bottle or small sports top water bottle are gentler for personal hygiene. A long sponge stick can also be helpful.

Your wound should need minimal care. If sutures were used, they will most likely dissolve, so there is no need to remove any stitches. You may notice some tape on your wound. This tape is called "steri-strips" and should fall off on its own. If surgical staples were used, they will have to be removed, usually around the tenth day after surgery. This should not cause any pain. No matter how your wound was closed, it is important to keep it clean and dry to promote faster healing.

Unless otherwise prescribed, you should shower, wash with soap, rinse and dry thoroughly. If the wound is oozing or catching on clothing, you may cover it with a very light dressing, but otherwise leaving the wound open to air whenever possible may help prevent suture infection.

After about three weeks, it is usually safe for your incision to get completely wet. Ask your surgeon for the official "go ahead" before taking a bath. As you feel stronger, you may enjoy a swim or a soak in the tub.

Despite the greatest care, any wound can become infected. These may be signs of an infection. Do not use any antibiotic ointment or other occlusive ointment on your incision, unless your medical team has instructed you to do so. We do not expect you to have any serious problems after surgery. However, if you experience any of the symptoms below, you must contact your surgeon right away. Nausea may be related to insufficient chewing, fullness, sensitivity to odors, pain medication, not eating, post-nasal drip or dehydration.

In the first days after surgery, nausea usually can be treated with medications called antiemetics. It is very important to take your nausea medication as prescribed by your surgeon. Rarely, nausea can be so severe that it prevents patients from drinking adequate amounts of liquids. If this happens, you will need to come back to the hospital to receive intravenous IV fluids. Persistent vomiting may lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, which may cause vitamin deficiencies.

Odors can sometimes be overwhelming after surgery. If you are dry heaving, try sniffing a few drops of peppermint essential oil on a handkerchief.

Avoid perfumes and scented lotions. If food odors bother you, try having someone else prepare your meals or prepare bland foods.

Learn to recognize when you are full. This will not happen immediately, but by eating very slowly, it will become easier.

Should you have difficulty drinking due to nausea, try peppermint tea, fennel tea, decaffeinated green tea, or hot or cold water with lemon. Sucking on a cinnamon stick may sometimes help alleviate nausea.

If you believe your pain medication is causing nausea, call your surgeon's office to request a prescription change. Remember to stay hydrated by sipping fluids all day long.

You need to drink a minimum of 1. Vomiting is often caused by eating inappropriately. Initially, it can be difficult to gauge how little food will satisfy your hunger — chances are, you will feel full with very little food. A couple of teaspoons may be all you can eat at one time. If you experience prolonged vomiting, stop eating solid foods and sip clear liquids such as clear and very diluted juice, broth and herbal tea. Should you have difficulty swallowing foods or keeping foods down, please call your surgeon.

Vomiting may indicate that your stomach pouch is blocked. If vomiting continues for more than 24 hours, contact your surgeon. Vomiting can lead to severe dehydration, a serious condition that needs medical attention. Contact your surgeon if you believe you may be dehydrated. Dehydration will occur if you do not drink enough fluids. Symptoms include fatigue, dark colored urine, fainting, nausea, low back pain a constant dull ache across the back and a whitish coating on the tongue.

If you experience these symptoms, you will need to have blood work done to establish the severity of dehydration. Dehydration may also lead to bladder and kidney infections. In some cases, you may be admitted to the hospital so we can administer fluids intravenously. It is normal to have one to three bowel movements of soft stool per day. It may be foul smelling and associated with flatulence. Most of these changes resolve as your body heals and you adapt to changes. Please call your surgeon if you have persistent diarrhea.

After bariatric surgery, the amount of food you consume is greatly reduced, and the quantity of fiber or roughage you consume may be much smaller. As a result, the amount of bowel movements you have will be reduced, causing less frequent bowel activity and sometimes constipation. The surgery limits the amount of food the stomach can hold. This helps you eat less and feel full sooner.

The cut incision the doctor made in your belly will probably be sore for several weeks after the surgery. If you have stitches, the doctor will take these out at your follow-up visit. You probably will lose weight very quickly in the first few months after surgery. As time goes on, your weight loss will slow down.

You can expect most of your weight loss to happen in the first 12 months after your surgery. You will have regular doctor's appointments during this time to check how you are doing. It is important to think of this surgery as a tool to help you lose weight.

It is not an instant fix. You will still need to eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise. This will help you reach your weight goal and avoid regaining the weight you lose. It is common to have many different emotions after this surgery. You may feel happy or excited as you begin to lose weight. But you may also feel overwhelmed or frustrated by the changes that you have to make in your diet, activity, and lifestyle. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns or questions. This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover.

But each person recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to get better as quickly as possible. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety.

Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take. Call anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:. Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:.

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if you have any problems. Author: Healthwise Staff.

Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional.

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How can you care for yourself at home?