Discharge Instructions
When you are discharged from the hospital it
is important to have help at home. We suggest
either a family member or friend stay with you
for the first week. It is very important to follow
all of your discharge instructions:
Wound Care
Activity
Medication
Off-Limit Medication
Comprehensive Diet
If you have any dietary questions or concerns
while at home you can reach the Bariatric Surgery
Dietary Hotline at (215) 829-6035. Also during
normal working hours, you can reach our Bariatirc
Surgery Program coordinator at (215) 829-6795.
After 5pm or during the weekend call your surgeon’s
office phone number and the answering service
will contact your surgeon.
Wound Care
- Shower Daily
- Wash the incisions with soap and water and
pat dry
- Do not apply lotions or creams to the incisions
- Notify the physician office if the wounds
are red, swollen, or draining puss
- Drain care:
- Empty JP drain twice daily. Record output.
- Change dry guaze around drain daily, or
as needed if there is leakage around the
drain.
- Notify the physician if the color of the
drainage becomes green, or dark red.
Activity
- You are strongly encouraged to walk at least
three times daily. Stop when you become fatigued.
- You may walk up and down stairs. Take your
time, and rest if you need to.
- Do not lift anything greater than 25 pounds
for the first four weeks after surgery.
Medication
Below you will find information regarding medications
required post-surgery and instructions regarding
medications taken prior to surgery.
- Standard discharge medications:
- Anti-acid medication (either Nexium, Protonix,
or Prevacid). This is necessary to prevent
ulcers in the new small stomach. You will
be on this medicine for four to six months.
- Pain medication: you will be given a prescription
for pain medication before you leave the
hospital.
- Stool softener: Colace twice daily (this
is necessary while you are on pain medication
to prevent constipation). Reduce your dosage
or stop completely if you are having loose
stools.
- Resume pre-operative medication:
- You will be instructed to resume most
pre-operative medications.
- If you are on diabetic medication, you
will need to monitor your blood sugar closely
at home. Some patient’s blood sugar
decreases significantly and you will only
need a portion (or none) of your diabetic
medications.
- Diuretics (water pills): Many patients
are instructed to hold off on resuming diuretics
after surgery. It is important to avoid
dehydration after gastric bypass surgery.
This will be decided on an individual patient
basis
Off-Limit Medication
- NSAID (non steroidal anti inflammatory) medications
are prohibited after gastric bypass surgery.
These include Motrin, Advil, & Ibuprofen.
- If you take these medications frequently
before surgery you should discuss a replacement
medication with your primary care physician.
Medications such as Celebrex are often an
effective alternative.
Comprehensive Diet
- Consume a full liquid diet for 10 to 14 days.
Supplement your diet with 16 to 24 ounces of
high protein/low sugar supplements (Ensure Light,
Low Sugar Carnation Instant Breakfast, etc.).
- Allowed Beverages during this phase of
your diet:
- Water
- 1 percent or skim milk
- diluted fruit juice (50% water and
50% fruit juice)
- Broth/thin soups
- Sugar-free beverages
- Sugar-free Jello
- Sugar-free/low sugar Popsicles
- Coffee, Tea
- Drink 48 to 64 ounces (six to eight glasses)
of liquid each day.
- Swallow slowly
- Avoid sweetened beverages
- Avoid carbonation as it can make you
feel bloated or full of gas
- Avoid using a straw as it can overfill
your pouch with air
- Limit caffeine intake
- Drink slowly to avoid discomfort or vomiting.
Start with 30cc (one ounce) every 15 minutes.
Increase as tolerated.
- Stop if you feel full.
- Begin vitamin supplements: multivitamin, calcium
(1200-1500mh/day for women), Ferrous sulfate
325 mg/day (pre menopausal women), vitamin B12
(gastric bypass patients) sublingual tabs 500mcg/day
or injections 1000 micrograms monthly.
We offer post-operative nutrition classes if
you are interested. Please call our Bariatric
Surgery Program coordinator at (215) 829-6795
to schedule your classes.
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