After Surgery: Gastric Bypass

Bariatric surgery is a major procedure, and recovery doesn’t happen overnight.

It’s important to follow your surgeon’s
postoperative recovery instructions.

Basic Instructions

Keep Moving

Walk at least every hour while you are awake. This gets you ready for life after gastric bypass. If you have returned to work and are mostly sitting at a desk, get up and walk around for 5 minutes every hour. If you are taking a long drive, stop for walking breaks every hour.

Eating

You are starting out either on a clear liquid diet or full liquid diet depending on the surgery you had and your specific circumstances. Take small sips or bites and chew. Yes, chew even the liquids! Your goal is 2 to 3 meals each day consisting of primarily protein. A protein drink is considered a meal in those first few weeks after surgery. Refer to your nutrition guide and feel free to call or email the dietician with any questions. Also, be sure to schedule your post surgery appointment with the dietician. This is a part of your surgery program and will serve to help you advance your diet.

Hydration

When you’re not eating, remember to drink that water! Work your way up to 64 ounces every day by taking small sips as often as possible.

Breathing Exercises

You were given an incentive spirometer in the hospital and shown how to use it before surgery. We encourage you to continue using this every day until you see your doctor in the office for your post-op visit.

Follow-up

This varies depending on the type of surgery you had and any other individual issues.

Post-Op Instructions

Support

Support Group Calendar

Your doctor, nurses and the team have each given you specific instructions on how to care for yourself after surgery.

Call the office with any questions or concerns. Please keep in mind that the information below is an overview unique to our program. Be sure to review the instructions that your bariatric surgeon has provided that are specifically for you.

Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy

After the initial post-op visit, we need to see you at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery and then annually for 7 or more years. You need to have lab tests done 10 days before certain appointments so that we may review them with you when you come.

Our gastric bypass/sleeve gastrectomy patients come to us from Kernersville, Winston-Salem, Burlington, Greensboro, High Point and nearby communities. Our online seminar will help you learn about the surgery and life after gastric bypass. Schedule your seminar today!

Gastric Bypass & Sleeve Gastrectomy Postoperative Recovery Instructions
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