Post-Op Gastric Bypass Surgery

Just as you had to prepare for your surgery with a special diet, tests and visits to the specialists, you will also have to follow a post op routine for helping you get back on your feet and off to a healthier lifestyle. In this article, we will cover some of the concerns and solutions to your post op recovery so that you can be prepared.

Your Hospital Stay

Once you have successfully come out of your surgery, you will want to sleep most of the first day. While your friends and family will want to see you, they will also understand that rest is an important part of your recovery. You will more than likely be in the hospital for a three or four night stay following your surgery. You may have to undergo a few tests to ensure that the surgery was successful and your body is responding the way it should be. You will need to get up and start moving around as soon as you can to avoid any possible blood clots.

The Importance of a Healthy Diet

There will be certain foods and drinks that you can no longer consume once you are out of surgery. Caffeine should be avoided as it causes dehydration. Alcohol should also be avoided as your stomach will no longer be able to metabolize it the way it once did which could in turn lead to an increase in risk of liver disease. You should get into the habit of chewing all of your food until it takes on an applesauce like consistency. This will prevent anything from becoming blocked.

For the first three weeks after your surgery, you will be on a mostly liquid clear diet again. This will give your body a chance to heal and adapt to the new changes within your body. Protein shakes, drinkable yogurts and clear soup broths offer your body the nutrition and vitamins it needs as it recovers.

Following the liquid diet routine, you will be able to re-introduce soft foods back into your diet. These will be ingredients such as ground meat, cooked beans, eggs, low-fat cottage cheese, well-cooked vegetables, poultry and soft fruit. Refrain from foods like rice, bread and pastas as these fillers do not offer the necessary nutrition you require.

Once your body has gotten used to eating the softer foods, you will start the last phase of your eating plan which will carry on through the rest of your life. This will be a healthy balanced diet of protein, vegetables, fruits and grains. Learning portion size is an important step in this process. You will need to aim for five servings a day of fruits and vegetables each day. Make sure you take in enough fiber for the day and a recommended 60 to 120 grams of protein each day. The doctor will more than likely recommend that you start taking a daily vitamin supplement which includes iron, calcium and vitamin b12 to help strengthen your body during this post op process.

Get Active

Part of living a healthy new lifestyle is exercise. While you may not be up to much more than walking for the first little while after surgery, this is fine. Aim for 30 minutes a day of walking and try to extend that to 45 minutes and then an hour when possible. You may want to speak with your doctor regarding the best types of exercise, however aerobic exercises such as bike riding and swimming are often the best choices. You will also want to work in a lightweight training routine as this type of exercise will help increase your metabolism and will help you lose more weight. Always remember to drink plenty of water before, during and after your exercise workouts. You should get in the habit of drinking 8 to 10 glasses water each and every day.

Maintain Contact With Your Doctor

Your doctor will more than likely want to see how you are progressing as the year moves along. Your first visit should be around the two week post op mark, then again around the 1 month, 3 month, 6 month and 1 year marks. You will be able to discuss any concerns or issues you may be having with your diet and exercise plan or medications you may be taking. It’s increasingly important to be examined by a doctor through your post weight loss experience.

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