
After Gastric Bypass Surgery
What To Expect After Gastric Bypass Surgery
When you are able to move about without too much discomfort, to take in food by mouth, and can do without injectable pain medication (about 3 days), you are ready to leave the hospital. At the time of discharge, you will be given specific instructions indicating what you may and may not do and when to come back to the office for follow-up. You will need to remain on a liquid diet after discharge and you will receive additional instructions regarding your diet from the surgeon.
Several weeks after you have left the hospital, you will be able to eat regular food in small quantities. Always remember that a few bites of food will make you feel full. The following points need to be reemphasized: Listen to your stomach, not your eyes. Stop eating when you feel full, even if it seems that you have not eaten enough. One bite too many may cause significant discomfort. One extra bite may cause you to vomit. You do not need a lot of food.
Eating After Gastric Bypass Surgery
After about six weeks, it should be relatively easy for you to enjoy a small meal. Eat only three meals a day. Establish regular mealtimes. Your diet should consist of solid food, mostly meat, including poultry and fish, and vegetables, in very small quantities. Take very small bites, chew all your food well, and eat slowly. A meal should take at least thirty minutes to an hour to consume. DO NOT drink liquids 30 minutes prior to a meal to 30 minutes after a meal, and no drinking during the meal. Drinking during the meal will cause a sensation of pressure in the chest that is uncomfortable and can cause the food to backup.
Take the time to relax just before, during, and after mealtime. Between meals, it is advisable to drink five or six glasses of water, coffee, or tea without sugar or non-carbonated diet drinks to maintain your fluid intake. Do not drink liquids that are high in calories. Remember, if you take in extra calories between meals, weight loss will be slower and you will not achieve the weight you desire.