Your Hospital Stay
What will happen on the day of my surgery?
You will come to the hospital the morning of your surgery. You should not have had anything to eat or drink since midnight the day before. Do not eat any heavy meals the entire day prior to surgery. After you have checked in, you will be taken to the Ambulatory Surgical Unit. The nurse will place you in a bed and have you put on a hospital gown. An IV will then be inserted into a vein in your arm so that fluids and medications can be given during surgery.
After the nurse has prepared you for surgery, you will then be taken to the holding area. This is where you will stay until it is time for your surgery. The person who will give you the anesthesia to make you sleep during the operation will stop by to explain the procedure and ask about any known allergies that you might have.
What is the surgery like?
You will be asleep during the entire operation. It can take from two to four hours to perform the surgery. An incision from below your breast bone to your belly button will be made in order to give your doctor easy assess to your stomach. If you choose to have the procedure done laparoscopically, six small incisions about one to four inches long will be made on your abdomen. Your family can stay in the waiting area during your surgery. Afterwards, your doctor will give them a report.
What can I expect during my recovery?
After your surgery, you will spend several hours in the recovery room until you are fully awake. Several tubes, such as the IV, the catheter in your bladder and a tube in your nose will remain in place for a few days. The tube in your nose will not be used with patients having the surgery laparoscopically. You will be assisted up to sit on the side of the bed the night of your surgery. The next day you will be sitting in a chair and walking. You will need to walk as much as possible.
Your stay in the hospital will last from two to four days, if there are no problems. You will be fairly uncomfortable for the first few days, but you will soon begin to feel better. You may be out of work for four to six weeks following your surgery. If your procedure was done laparoscopically, you may return to work as early as two to three weeks after surgery. There is no lifting anything weighing over ten pounds for one to two months after your surgery.
What will my diet consist of?
When you are able to start drinking, you will be placed on two ounces or 60cc of water every hour and two ounces or 60cc of full strength Ensure Plus three times a day. When it is time for you to go home, you will be drinking two ounces or 60cc of full strength Ensure Plus three times a day. In addition, you will be able to drink one to two ounces of a non-sweetened, non-carbonated beverage every hour in between your Ensure. You must also sip on water slowly throughout the day to help prevent dehydration.
