Recovery From Gastric Bypass Surgery

The gastric bypass is a type of bariatric surgery, which is designed to help obese patients lose weight quickly. It is a major procedure and it can have a profound impact on the life and health of those who undergo it. While the immediate recovery is actually quite quick – most patients can return to work after a week – there are many adjustments which need to be made for the operation to be a success.

For this reason, recovery from gastric bypass surgery can feel like a strain. Eating habits have to change in quite a dramatic way, regular follow-up appointments are required, and the surgery must be acknowledged as a lifelong commitment. The thing to remember about bariatric surgery is that it only lays the groundwork for weight loss. If a patient doesn’t follow the recommendations of their doctor, the weight may return.

This guide to recovery from gastric bypass surgery provides all of the information that you need for a healthy, happy future.

Post-Surgery
After you return from the operating theater, you are likely to feel very groggy and slow. This is caused by the anesthesia and is nothing to worry about. Within an hour or two, you will be feeling sharper and more like yourself. However, you may be in a moderate degree of pain and experience persistent discomfort.

The doctor will prescribe strong pain medication to help you control this discomfort. You will be monitored very closely during over the next twenty-four hours. There will be blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and respiration checks. It is normal to experience fatigue, nausea, vomiting, light-headedness, flatulence, and inconsistent moods.

Hospital Care
The vast majority of gastric bypass patients leave the hospital within 3-5 days. This is often quicker for those who have had laparoscopic surgery. During your time on the ward, you’ll be encouraged to carry out a number of activities. For instance, patients are usually helped to stand the night after their surgery.

The faster you get back on your feet, the easier your recovery will be. It won’t be long before you are walking again and this is very important. Too much time spent prone can lead to blood clots and the nurses will be very aware of how much you are moving around. Even if you are still in a moderate amount of pain, you are strongly advised to get mobile quickly.

Returning Home
You will only be allowed to return home when your doctor discharges you. This will be when he or she feels you are unlikely to run into any major complications because you can care for your wound unaided. They will give you a lot of information about what to eat and how to clean and dress the surgery wound. You must listen very carefully to all the advice given.

More than anything else, it is vital that you take your recovery slow once at home. Avoid all forms of strenuous activity (including cleaning) for at least a week and certainly for the first few days. You will not be able to drive for a week after discharge, so plan ahead and make alternative arrangements.

It is often a great physical and emotional advantage for bariatric patients to live with a carer for a week after surgery. This individual can help them dress, bathe, cook, and perform essential tasks while pain and discomfort are still an issue. If a carer isn’t on hand, keep the telephone number of a friend or family member close by in case of emergencies.

Caring for Your Wound
Recovery from gastric bypass surgery must involve careful, practical wound cleaning and maintenance. Most surgeons now use dissolvable stitches, so you are unlikely to have to return to the hospital to have them removed. If you do, this will be around ten days after the surgery. It is quite a quick process and usually painless. The appointment is also a good opportunity to chat with the doctor and discuss your progress.

Either way, the wound must be kept clean and dry if it is to heal successfully. Most patients are advised to keep it open to the air (without a dressing), but you may apply a light sheet of gauze if there is any irritation from your clothes. You cannot fully submerge the wound for approximately three weeks. This means absolutely no baths until approved by the doctor.

If the wound becomes inflamed, swollen, streaky, or discharges pus, call your doctor and ask for advice. You may have an infection and, if this is the case, you could need antibiotics. Leaving infections untreated is a fast track to serious sickness, so don’t take any chances. If you develop a fever (above 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit), seek medical advice immediately.

Normal Symptoms
During your recovery, you should not experience chest pains or difficulty breathing. You may feel nauseous and vomit, but this should not last more than twelve hours. There should be no pain or swelling in your legs and your wound should remain clean and dry (without pus). However, there are some other symptoms which are unpleasant but nothing to worry about.

For at least a week, there will be moderate swelling and bruising around the wound. This is normal, but it should heal and fade, not get more intense. Similarly, there will be pain and discomfort. Your doctor will prescribe you ‘at home’ medication to deal with it and this should be sufficient. After gastric bypass, some patients experience numbness or itching around the site of the wound.

Don’t be too concerned if your stools are softer than usual for a short while after the surgery. They may be foul smelling and accompanied by increased gas. This is just a sign of your body adapting to the changes which have been made. You will be eating less and eating different foods, so your bowel movements are bound to change too. On the other hand, prolonged constipation is not normal and you should see a doctor if this occurs.

New Eating Habits and Routines
For bariatric patients, one of the hardest adjustments to make is how, when, and what to eat. The gastric bypass surgery is not a ‘cheat’ option. It cannot be used as a way to circumvent the need for dieting and dietary control. However, it can make dieting much easier, because the gastric band shrinks the size of the stomach.

So, patients usually find it very difficult to eat more than they should. If you do try to eat large amounts of food, particularly in the first few weeks and months after surgery, you are likely to feel very nauseous and uncomfortable. If you persist, the most serious consequence is that you could burst the band, but this is a rare occurrence. The vast majority of patients adjust to their new eating routines and start shedding extra weight very quickly.

This is a journey, not a one-day transformation. It can take time to adapt and, for a time after surgery, you may find yourself eating until discomfort because you’re not familiar with the feeling of being full. Listen to your body, slow down when eating, and focus on enjoying meals, rather than just consuming them. People with gastric bands don’t need to eat lots to feel full, but the mind takes longer to register this fact and must be given time.