Pain Management:
The New Jersey Bariatric Center gives small frequent doses of pain medications started immediately after surgery, to provide you steady pain relief which ultimately results in lower overall medication requirements. Additionally, we provide anti-nausea medication both before and after surgery to make you stay as comfortable as possible.
Activity:
During your hospital stay
compression stocking are placed on your lower extremities and blood thinners are given to prevent deep venous thrombosis (DVT) (blood clots in your veins). In addition, walking is started the day after surgery to prevent DVT.
Breathing Exercises:
"Incentive Spirometer" provided during your
hospital stay
and should be used after surgery. You will be instructed to take ten deep breaths into the "Incentive Spirometer" every hour while awake to prevent breathing problems and lung infections.
Studies:
An upper gastrointestinal X-ray (UGI) is done on the first day after surgery to check that the newly created stomach pouch is functioning properly. Following a normal UGI study, a clear liquid diet is started.
Diet:
For Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy patients, full liquid diet is started the day after surgery and once the UGI test is completed in the morning after surgery. The approximate hospital stay after surgery is two days. You will not be allowed to go home until you are able to drink at least 40 ounces of water per day.
For LAP-BAND® or REALIZE® Band patients, you will start on full liquid diet on the day of surgery after you wake up from anesthesia and will be sent home the same day or the next day.
