Instructions for the First Week After Gastric Sleeve
Many patients at other practices have a different experience in their first week after bariatric surgery. It's much different with us. At our Tijuana weight loss surgery center, we carefully and closely monitor your health for much of the first week to ensure that you are perfectly fine during the crucial early days after surgery. This helps us ensure that the gastric sleeve surgery is carried out safely and there are no complications.
We want to look at what happens during that first week in a little more detail right now. We've covered the gastric sleeve recovery timeline before on this blog, so feel free to read the previous post for additional information about these matters.
Hospital Stay for Two Nights
For the first two nights after gastric sleeve surgery, you will remain in the hospital for monitoring. This also gives us a chance to double and triple check the revised stomach pouch to ensure that there are no leaks or problems.
Hotel Stay for Two Nights
Following your two nights in the hospital, patients can expect two nights spent in the local hotel. This means patients are near enough for us to continue to keep tabs on them but they are also allowed to rest outside of the confines of the hospital. Patients will be driven to their hotel by our practice's private driver.
Soreness and Grogginess is Common
After any surgery, patients can expect a certain amount of soreness and grogginess as they recover. This is your body's natural response to the surgical process. Patients are encouraged to get a lot of rest during this first week and to follow all instructions for pain relief provided by the practice.
A Liquid Diet Early On
The first week after surgery, patients will be on an all-liquid diet consisting of clear liquids. This includes water, certain broths, and other approved beverages that are sugar-free and non-carbonated. Thankfully after gastric sleeve surgery, patients will not experience hunger pangs which makes this all-liquid diet for the first week more tolerable.
Activities to Avoid
A little bit of walking in the hotel room and at home by mid-week and the end of the first week are recommended to promote circulation. However, the following activities should be avoided until instructed otherwise by your surgeon:
- Strenuous physical activities
- Heavy lifting
- Sexual activity
- Bending over at the waist
- Consuming alcohol
- Consuming caffeinated beverages
- Using tobacco products
Having a Loved One to Assist with Needs
During the first week as you are resting and recovering, it's important that you have a family member or friend with you to help run errands and accomplish various tasks around the home. This takes a lot of stress and worry off of you so that you can concentrate more on resting and full wellness.
Keep In Touch with Our Team
As the weeks continue and as your healing progresses, we will keep in touch with you to monitor your progress. We also encourage you to keep in touch with us in case you have any questions or concerns. By dealing with these matters as soon as possible, major health issues can be prevented.
Contact Our Bariatric Surgery Practice
For more information about gastric sleeve surgery and how it can be of great benefit to you and your needs, be sure to contact our weight loss surgery center today.
