After you have Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery, it'll take some time for your body to heal ... and several weeks or more before you get back to your daily routine. Here are things you can do at home to help yourself get better. When you leave the hospital, you'll get instructions on what you can eat. For about the first month after surgery ...
whenever you eat ... you'll only be able to have small amounts of liquids and soft foods ... as your stomach heals.
Bit by bit, you'll be able to add solid foods back into your diet.
It's important to get enough liquids and stay hydrated during this time.
So sip water throughout the day. Follow your doctor's instructions for taking any medicine, including crushing or splitting pills if needed.
And if you feel tired ... rest and get enough sleep.
Now, it's really important to keep your cuts ... your incisions ...
clean and dry to avoid infection. Ask your doctor about when it's okay to take a shower or bath. You'll have to watch your activity as your body heals. You can do easy things around the house ...
like light housework ... such as washing dishes or folding laundry.
But take it slow ... Don't move too fast ... or lift anything heavy until you're feeling better. You'll get specific instructions on what activities are safe for you to do. After surgery, it's important to keep moving.
So try to walk each day. It may help you get better faster ...
help prevent problems ... and help you lose weight.
Now ... watch for problems. Call your doctor if you have any bleeding ... ongoing nausea or vomiting ... ... or signs of an infection, such as: ... increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness ...
red streaks leading from an incision ... pus draining from an incision ... or a fever.
And call your doctor if you have signs of needing more fluids, such as: ... sunken eyes and a dry mouth ... and passing only a little bit of urine.
Also watch for other problems such as: ... sudden chest pain ... trouble breathing ...
or coughing up or vomiting blood.
These symptoms are serious. If you have any of them, get emergency help right away. Now, you may feel many emotions in the days and months after surgery. That's common.
You may feel overwhelmed or frustrated by the changes that you have to make in your diet, activity, and lifestyle.
And you may feel happy or excited as you begin to lose weight.
You'll probably lose weight very quickly in the first few months after surgery.
As time goes on ... your weight loss will slow down.
So be patient ... and kind to yourself ...
And ask for help if you need it.
