Leads Medical Center
1st Floor, Ozone Complex, Punjagutta, Hyderabad – 500082
Ph : 040-23418873, 32009559
Mobile : +91 9246391309
TeleFax : +91-40 23418493
E-mail : info@lmcindia.com

Your Hospital Stay

Recovery

The hospital stay for Bariatric Surgery averages two to five days, longer for those with complications.
Patients undergoing the laparoscopic method usually have a shorter hospitalization. When you return to
your room after surgery, you will continue to be closely monitored by your nurses. The first few days
after the operation are a critical time for your stomach and intestines to heal.

Along with periodic monitoring of your vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, temperature, respirations), your nurses will encourage and assist you in performing deep breathing, coughing, leg movement exercises, and getting out of bed after surgery. These activities prevent complications. Be certain to report any symptoms of nausea, anxiety, muscle spasms, increased pain or shortness of breath to your nurse. To varying degrees, it is normal to experience fatigue, nausea and vomiting,

sleeplessness, surgical pain, weakness and lightheadedness, loss of appetite, gas pain, flatus, loose stools, and emotional ups and downs in the early days and weeks after surgery. You may discuss specific medical concerns with your surgeon.

With the help of your nurse or Physical Therapist, you should sit up and dangle your feet the first night of surgery and stand at your bedside. Yes, it will hurt, but each time you get out of bed it will get easier.

Each day you will notice your strength returning, with less and less pain. You will be asked to get out of bed and walk the first post-operative day. After that, you will be required to walk at least three times per day and to do your leg and breathing exercises hourly. Changing positions in bed, walking and prescribed exercise promotes circulation. Good blood flow discourages the formation of blood clots and enhances healing. The floor nurses will remind you to do so. You may not feel well enough to go for a walk, yet it is very important that you try your best and do as much as possible. Getting up, walking and doing your post-operative exercises will speed up your recovery and minimize complications.

Exercises that Speed up your Recovery

To enhance you recovery your nurse will instruct you in coughing and deep breathing, turning in bed and exercising your feet and legs. You will be shown how to use an “incentive spirometer” to help you expand your lungs. Coughing and deep breathing is important so that you will loosen any secretions that may be in your throat or lungs and to help prevent pneumonia. Deep breathing also increases circulation and promotes elimination of anesthesia.

The proper way to deep breathe and cough is to follow these steps:
1. Inhale as deeply as you can
2. Hold breath for two seconds
3. Exhale completely
4. Repeat the above steps three times
5. Inhale deeply
6. Cough. The cough should come from the abdomen, not from your throat. Hold your pillow on your abdomen for support.

Exercising your feet and legs is important for promoting good circulation.

The proper way to exercise your feet and legs is to follow these steps:
1. Push your toes of both feet towards the end of the bed (as in pressing down on a gas pedal).
2. Pull your toes toward the head of your bed, then relax.
3. Circle each ankle to the right, then to the left.
4. Repeat three times.

These exercises should be repeated at least once every hour after surgery, but it is also a good idea to practice these exercises before surgery to increase lung function and agility.

Diet at the Hospital (Stage 1 Diet)

At the hospital, you will be served clear liquids and eventually full liquids as your new stomach pouch begins to heal. If you are served something other than stage 1 diet, do not eat it. The kitchen may have made a mistake. Call your floor nurse to have your meal changed. It is a very unlikely occurrence to have the wrong meal served; however, in light of your post-op status, we thought that it would be worth mentioning. Most likely, you will not feel hungry the first week or so after surgery. This is normal, no reason for concern and may last a few weeks. However, it is very important to keep drinking water and to eat protein when at home to prevent dehydration and to promote healing.

Most likely, you will not feel hungry the first week or so after surgery. This is normal, no reason for concern and may last a few weeks. However, it is very important to keep drinking water and to eat protein when at home to prevent dehydration and to promote healing.

Going Home

Your date of discharge will be determined by your surgeon based on your individual progress. Prior to your discharge, specific dietary and activity instructions will be reviewed with you, along with precautions and situations when your surgeon should be notified. Discuss your going home concerns with your nurse or discharge coordinator.

Please give some thought to your living environment. 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 so they can prepare your going home with your specific needs in mind. Nonetheless, a rubber showerhead with a hose, long sponge stick (or kitchen tongs) and toilet lift are all useful items.



 
 
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