The Hospital Experience:
Weight loss surgery through the Bariatric Center of Kansas City is a minimally invasive surgery, but nonetheless, it is still major surgery. The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery is performed considerably different than the LapBand® Gastric Banding Procedure, though the operating techniques and times for both surgeries are evolving; requiring shorter and shorter hospital stays.
Patients who elect to have a laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery performed can expect to spend from 36 to 48 hours in the hospital. These times are may be extended, however, dependent upon many different factors, including a patient’s general health, operating time, the patient’s tolerance of anesthesia and pain, ability to deep breathe and ambulate, etc. Each patient will undergo a special radiological procedure to help determine that the no blockages or leaks are seen before discharge.
LapBand® patients stay on average between 5 and 23 hours, so they are considered to be outpatients. Like their Lap Roux-n-Y counterparts, they may require a longer hospital stay if their surgeon determines that further care is needed. This is very unusual, however. Similarly, LapBand patients are encouraged to ambulate and deep breathe in the hospital, and have a radiological exam of their upper gastrointestinal system before discharge.
Before surgery, our office, the dieticians and the hospital staff will have prepared you thoroughly what to expect during your hospital stay and what your post-operative period at home will be like. Our educational process starts the first time we meet you at our educational seminar, and we will continue to teach you each and every time we come into contact with you! You will have written instructions regarding the dietary guidelines as well as what supplies you will need at home, how much activity you can expect to do, and what signs and symptoms to watch for in an emergency.
As you are discharged, the hospital nurses will review some of these same instructions with you.
Throughout your post-operative time, remember The Four Rules, and follow the dietary guidelines carefully. Your new stomach is much smaller and fills up on one medium-sized swallow of water. The water takes about 5 minutes to pass through your stomach and you will need to wait before taking another sip. If you feel nauseated, you are drinking too fast! Learn how this feels in the hospital, because when you go home, you will need to sip water all day in order to meet your basic daily fluid requirements. This can be a challenge. If is very difficult to make up a water deficit, so try your best not to get dehydrated after surgery!
Neither the Lap Roux-en-Y nor the LapBand surgeries are intensely painful surgeries post-operatively. Most patients are fairly comfortable at their one week visits. LapBand patients are usually able to return to work 5 to 7 days after their surgery, and Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass patients can usually return to work about 14 to 18 days after their surgery. It’s important again to remember that major surgery has been performed, and your strength and stamina will be low. Feeling somewhat sick and tired is a normal part of recovery, especially if you overdo it. We encourage patients to return to work with partial days if possible, especially if they do physical labor. Returning to work too soon will only delay your full recovery.
Having your surgery is just the beginning of the process of becoming your new self! As you heal, it is important that you establish a different pattern of living from the tyranny of dieting and the constant nagging of hunger. Recognize that you have made a positive decision to change your life and plan to use your new tool to control your weight and become the healthier person you have always wished to be!
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