Recovery from Gastric Bypass surgery

Recovery after gastric bypass surgery differs from patient to patient dependent on their health condition prior to surgery.

Generally, gastric bypass patients are able to leave hospital within 5 days of the surgery and can begin eating puréed food as well as being able to engage in light exercise.

Immediately after surgery, your body needs time to recover. For the first two-three days following surgery you will be advised to rest to allow the stomach to begin to heal properly. You will not be allowed to eat for two-three days after the procedure in order to allow your stomach to complete the initial healing process.

You will be placed on a clear liquid diet and will gradually increase your food intake using a specific post-surgery gastric bypass diet plan. One month after surgery, you should be eating regular food again, although you will be able to eat a lot less than before.

Eating too much food at one time, or eating too quickly will cause feelings of discomfort and can induce nausea as your stomach is so significantly smaller than before. Eating in excess following surgery can cause Dumping Syndrome, a common complication after Gastric Bypass surgery.

Your stomach will be swollen and tender for a couple of days after surgery and pain medication will be given to stop any pain. If your weight loss surgeon has used a small tube in the side of your abdomen to drain fluid from your stomach, this will be removed a couple of days after surgery. The incisions in your abdomen are small because surgeons use the laparoscopic technique for surgery. As a result, there will be little scaring and the cuts will heal quickly.

In the initial months following your procedure, you will experience rapid weight loss. The speed of this weight loss can produce side effects such as tiredness, aching and flu-like symptoms.

Gastric Bypass surgery can have psychological as well as physical effects on patients. You may feel tired, irritable and generally run down as you adjust to the physical and lifestyle changes after gastric bypass procedure and it may be advisable for you to consult a psychologist to tackle the emotional challenges of the surgery.

You can expect to see the results of surgery and start enjoying the benefits of your new healthier body completely within 6 months.