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Revisional Bariatric Surgery HF#6363

Surgery



Our Services

 

Surgery (General Surgery)



 

 

Your team will discuss the details of your surgery with you.

 

Getting Ready for Surgery

  • Make plans to be off work for 2-4 weeks for laparoscopic surgery.  This will be longer after open surgery. 
  • Do chores ahead of time or plan for someone to help you for the first 2 weeks.
  • Buy food ahead of time; refer to your diet plan handout.
  • Have someone to watch your children for 5-7 days.

The Day before Surgery: Bowel Prep

An important part of getting ready is cleaning your bowel of stool.  This is called bowel prep.  You need to buy 1 (10 oz.) bottle of Magnesium Citrate.  You can buy this over-the-counter at any drug store.  It is easier to drink chilled.

 

  1. Follow your liquid diet for breakfast and lunch as discussed with the dietitian.
  2. Drink only clear liquids after lunch until 4 hours before surgery begins.

Sugar-Free Clear Liquids:

  • Water
  • Broth
  • Clear Jell-O®, made at home from a powder, not pre-made, no fruit in it
  • Hard candy
  • Juice without pulp such as grape, apple, or cranberry
  • Sugar-free popsicles
  • No alcohol
  • Sugar-free Crystal Light®
  • No dairy products

 

  1. 2:00 pm, drink 1 (10 oz.) bottle of Magnesium Citrate. 
  2. Drink only clear liquids after lunch until 4 hours before surgery begins.  
  3. If you take metformin, do not take it the morning of surgery.
  4. Shower before bed and in the morning before you leave home.

 

 Only clear liquids after lunch until 4 hours before surgery begins. Nothing by mouth 4 hours before surgery.

After Surgery

  • Plan to be in the hospital for up to 5 days or 1-2 days if surgery was laparoscopic.
  • You will go home on a pureed bariatric diet.  As described in the diet plan handout, plan to stay on this pureed diet for 4-6 weeks.
  • Drink plenty of fluids.  You will need at least 6-8 glasses of fluid a day.  Drink most of this water in small portions between meals.
  • Wear loose, comfortable clothes.
  • You may shower once okayed by your doctor. Gently wash your incisions with mild soap and water.  Do not soak in a hot tub or bathtub, or swim until your incisions heal.  This may be 2 weeks or longer.  Do not put lotion, ointment, or powder on them.  You may wear Band-Aids® if you wish.  Be sure to change them at least daily and more often if they get wet or soiled to prevent infection.
  • Expect small bruises at your incision site.
  • Check your incision daily for signs and symptoms of infection.
    • Increased redness, swelling, or warmth
    • Abnormal drainage such as blood or pus
    • Temperature over 100.4° F by mouth for 2 readings taken 4 hours apart

 

Activity

  • The day of surgery you will begin walking.  Plan to take at least 4 walks a day. 
  • Plan for rest during the day.  Return to your normal routine, as you are able.
  • Do not drive while taking narcotic pain medicine.
  • Nothing strenuous until okayed by your doctor.
  • Do not lift more than 20 pounds until it is okayed by your doctor.  
  • Avoid all tobacco products including second hand smoke

 

Pain

You will have liquid pain pills prescribed by your doctor.  You may have pain in your neck and shoulders from the gas put in your abdomen during surgery.  Walking may help to relieve this pain.

 

Exercise

 

Exercise is essential for weight loss.  Stick with your commitment to be more active.  Walk the first 2 weeks after surgery and slowly increase your distance and speed.  After 2 weeks, any aerobic movement will do: walk, bike, dance, or swim.  By choosing activities you enjoy, you will want to exercise daily.  Get into a routine early and stick to it.  No weight training for 6 weeks.  During the winter months, try “mall walking” to avoid the cold and icy conditions.  You may want to join a health club.

 

Follow-Up

You will meet often with the UW Health Bariatric Team during the first year after surgery.  Plan to see your team at 2 weeks and as needed.

 

When to Call your Doctor

 

  • Shortness of breath or chest pain, call 911
  • Pain, tenderness, swelling or redness in feet, legs or arms
  • Severe pain in lower legs, calves, thighs or arms
  • Temperature over 100.4°F by mouth for 2 readings taken 4 hours apart
  • Increased redness or warmth at incision site
  • Abnormal drainage such as bleeding or pus from incision
  • Pain not controlled by pain medicine
  • Vomiting that won’t go away
  • Unable to keep liquids down
  • Any other symptoms that concern you

 

 

Phone Numbers

 

Bariatric Clinic: (608)-265-7090. 

 

After hours, weekends and holidays, this connects you to the paging operator.  Ask for the doctor on call for Dr. Garren, Dr. Campos, or Dr. Greenberg.  Leave your name and phone number with the area code.  We will call you back.

 

Toll Free:  1-800-323-8942

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Last Updated: 08/29/2011

Copyright © 08/29/2011 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#6363

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