Please contact the Methodist clinic at 575-8111 to arrange for your surgeon to see you 14-21 days after release from the hospital. If you have difficulties or questions during that time, call us at 614-9210 (24 hours a day) to contact your surgeon.
Your adjustable gastric banding does require dietary restrictions after surgery. You have already met with our dietician in the clinic, and we ask that you stay on your low carbohydrate thick liquid diet until you come for your first postoperative visit in 2-3 weeks. Your surgical team will discuss possible diet progression at that time. When you are discharged from the hospital, you will be in the process of relearning how to eat. Your goal is to now learn to eat because you are hungry, not because it is lunchtime. Your goal is to re-learn how to use your gastric banding as a behavioral tool to relearn how much to eat. Remember that a typical meal should last nearly 30 minutes to consume. Furthermore, we ask that you separate your liquids and solids; in other words, do not have any liquids at the table when you are eating!!!
Many patients find that their appetite is diminished for several weeks after surgery. This is OK. If you do not “feel” hungry for several weeks, this is OK. If you do not eat for several weeks, this is OK as well. As long as you can tolerate liquids such as water or Crystal Light, you will be fine. Not feeling hungry is a normal result of your new anatomy, the stress of surgery, and manipulation inside the belly – your appetite will return in time. If you find you are persistently nauseated or unable to take in liquids, contact our office and let us know. Some patients also find that they do not have a bowel movement for several days after they have been discharged. This is OK. This is usually the result of not eating much, surgical manipulation during surgery, and the use of narcotics for pain afterward. If you have not had a bowel movement by your first postoperative visit (approximately 14-21 days), then notify your surgeon. In the vast majority of cases bowel function normalizes with time.
**Be aware that many family members and friends will try to make you eat since you have been in the hospital. They will say, “Oh, Ms. Smith, you need to eat, you have been in the hospital.” Your response is to politely tell them that you are in control of when you will eat and that you are not going to eat unless you feel hungry. Again, try not to let family and friends force-feed you
Please do not put ointments or “salve” around your incisions until they have been inspected at your first post-operative visit. If you still want to put lotions or creams on the incisions, please wait several weeks after the surgery.
You will be given a prescription for an oral pain medicine (usually Tylenol with codeine, or Lortab Elixir).
Unless your surgeon advises you otherwise, you should continue all of your pre-operative medications on the same dose and schedule. Please ask your surgeon or pharmacist if there is a question about your medication.
There are no medical restrictions on activity after surgery. That means it is OK to walk, climb stairs, lift, have sexual intercourse, mow the lawn, garden, play with kids or grandkids, or exercise as long as it doesn’t hurt. In fact, returning to normal activity as soon as possible will most likely enhance your recovery. Please avoid submersing yourself in a hot-tub or whirlpool or swimming pool for 3 weeks after your surgery – we want to make sure that all of your incisions are well healed.
You may also feel easily fatigued and “washed out” for several weeks following the surgery. These factors will put some limitations on your activity, but you will not cause any damage even if some soreness is experienced.
The timing of your first Band fill (adjustment) will depend on your surgeon’s practice and your particular situation. Ask your surgeon, if he has not discussed this with you by the time of your first post-operative appointment.
Everyone’s motivation for working is different and therefore each patient has their own time-table for returning to work. Technically speaking, you can go back to work right away. Realistically speaking, it will be probably 2-3 weeks before you can return to work at full strength. You may, however, return to work earlier if you wish. Please do no hesitate to call the office to receive a note of clearance to return to work earlier than you originally planned.
You are allowed to drive when you do not need narcotic (prescription) pain medications for two days.
Call our office if any of the following occur:
The first bowel movement may occur anywhere from 1-10 days after surgery – as long as you are not nauseated or having abdominal pain this variation is acceptable. Occasionally, the first bowel movement is more painful or feels more constipated than other bowel movements. This is normal. Many patients have loose bowel movements for a week or two – the bowels usually become more regular with time.
If you have a bowel movement every several days this is OK as long as your bowel movements are not painful. When you don’t have a bowel movement for several days or if your bowel movements are very painful (there is blood, or you want to scream) then you are probably having constipation issues and you should contact your surgeon. Your bowel movements will be smaller and less frequent, however, they should not be more painful.
