One Week Follow-Up
Your staples were removed today. Sometimes, patients can have light colored yellow or red fluid drain from the incisions. This is normal and does NOT indicate an active infection. Simply keep the incisions clean with a dry gauze bandage.
By this time, you should start to have a bit more energy. You can:
- Safely drive a car if you are not taking your narcotic pain meds
- Return to work. However, if you have FMLA, you have up to 3 weeks off from your surgery date
- Continue your blood thinner – do NOT stop it on your own
- Continue the acid blocker for a total of three months after surgery
For your diet:
- For Post-Op Week 2: Continue full liquid diet (i.e. cream based soups)
- For Post-Op Week 3-6: Start soft diet (i.e. eggs, mashed potatoes, grits)
- DO NOT have breads/crackers/tortillas OR carbonated beverages OR alcohol
- Continue your protein shakes. Bypass/Sleeve need 70 gm of protein/day and DS/Rev Bypass to Mal-Absorptive Bypass need 120 gm of protein/day
- Continue your multi-vitamins and B12. You can start your calcium and iron on Post Op week 3
We will have you return to clinic for your One Month Follow-Up
One Month Follow-Up
You still may be a bit sore your side with the largest incision. This is normal muscle pain from surgery, and may persist for at least another two weeks. By this time, you can exercise more vigorously and perform heavy lifting greater than 20 lbs. Continue your acid blocker until three months after surgery. Acid blockers protect your internal staple lines from developing ulcers.
You still have two weeks left of your post-op diet. If you advance your diet too soon, you can risk injury. Continue your soft foods to ensure proper healing. But this time, you should be just able to tolerate your protein supplementation goal.
For your diet:
- Continue your soft diet (i.e. eggs, mashed potatoes, grits)
- DO NOT have bread/crackers/tortillas OR carbonated beverages OR alcohol
- Continue your protein shakes. Bypass/Sleeve need 70 gm of protein/day and DS/Rev Bypass to Mal-Absorptive Bypass need 120 gm of protein/day
- Continue your multi-vitamins and B12, calcium and iron
Once your 6 week post-op diet is complete:
- Slowly advance your diet to regular foods
- You won’t be able to tolerate everything at once
- If you try something and unable to tolerate it, don’t worry, this is normal! You may want to try it again in a week or two
We will have you return to clinic for your 3 month follow up
Three Month Follow-Up
By this time, patients are able to be weaned off most of your high blood pressure and/or diabetes medicines. Also, patients should be able to tolerate their protein supplement goal. If you find that you are having periods of lightheadedness or shakiness, you may be experiencing a drop in your blood sugar. Be sure to not skip meals and not wait too long between meals. Additionally, keeping up with your protein and iron will keep you from experiencing hair loss, fatigue or persistent nausea. Also, you can stop your acid blocker.
For your diet:
- Continue your protein shakes. Bypass/Sleeve need 70 gm of protein/day and DS/Rev Bypass to Mal-Absorptive Bypass need 120 gm of protein/day
- Continue your multi-vitamins, Vitamin B12, calcium and iron
We will have you return to clinic for your 6 month follow up
We will check bariatric labs and a REE prior to this appointment
Six Month Follow-Up
At this visit today, we will review your labs and the results from your REE – metabolic study. It is important for bariatric patients maintain normal vitamin and protein levels to ensure that no complications arise.
We check the following labs:
- CBC – to evaluate for possible anemia
- Vitamin D – this helps you absorb your calcium
- Calcium
- Iron
- Vitamin A
- Zinc
- Protein levels
- HbA1c
- Cholesterol / Lipid panel
We will have you return to clinic for your 9 month follow up
Nine Month Follow-Up
The majority of patients should have met their weight loss goal at this time. Patients will lose all their weight, from surgery alone, within 9 to 12 months. Is it possible to lose more weight… YES! At this point, losing more weight will take a more concerted effort and will happen more slowly. If you have decreased your protein supplementation, then restart. Reincorporate some aerobic exercise into your daily routine. Experts recommend 150 minutes a week.
By this time, women can start trying to have a family. Also, if you are interested in plastic surgery, now is a good time for consultation. Most recommend you wait for 12 – 18 months after bariatric surgery to ensure you have lost all the weight you wish to lose.
For your diet:
- Continue your protein shakes. Bypass/Sleeve need 70 gm of protein/day and DS/Rev Bypass to Mal-Absorptive Bypass need 120 gm of protein/day
- Continue your multi-vitamins, Vitamin B12, calcium and iron
We will have you return to clinic for your eighteen month follow up
We will check your bariatric labs and REE at your next follow up visit
Eighteen Month Follow-Up and Annual Visits
Today, we reviewed your labs and REE. Persistence and maintenance is the key to long term success. It is important for bariatric patients maintain normal vitamin and protein levels to ensure that no complications arise. We will review all the same labs that were drawn at your 6 month follow up.
For your diet:
- Continue your protein shakes. Bypass/Sleeve need 70 gm of protein/day and DS/Rev Bypass to Mal-Absorptive Bypass need 120 gm of protein/day
- Continue your multi-vitamins, Vitamin B12, calcium and iron
We will have you return to clinic for your annual follow up
We will recheck your bariatric labs and REE at your next visit
