How to recover fast after getting Bariatric surgery?

In Bariatric Surgery, patients usually spend one to two days or a week in the hospital, according to their conditions. Recovery is a huge part of every weight loss surgery.

Generally in the early days of surgery, the patients experience weakness, pain at the incision site, nausea, fatigue, gas pain, vomiting, difficulty in sleeping, loss of appetite, and loose tools, which are common in post-bariatric surgery.

In the process of recovery, the first thing is to control the pain. The patient may feel pain at the incision site, neck, and shoulder. This can happen due to the position of the body and by absorbing the gas during the surgery. Oral medications are very reliable in this situation. It helps in maintaining a certain level of meditation in the blood to keep the pain tolerable. The doctor usually recommends oral medication for the first week of the surgery.

Exercise is the most effective way to recover fast in weight loss surgery. Usually on the next day of the surgery, simple activities like sitting up or changing the position in bed help the patients to be active. From the next week, the patient can try short walks. It helps to maintain blood flow which increases the healing process. Also, walking three times per day and exercising for 20 minutes to 1 hour every day will be a good idea. While lying down, the patient can also do some leg exercises such as –

• Pushing the legs towards the end of the bed.
• Pulling them towards the head of the bed.
• Circling each ankle to the right and then to the left.

During the hospital stay, the nurse will help the patient with breathing exercises such as

• Inhaling as deeply as you let the belly, as well as the chest, to expand.
• Holding your breath for two seconds, then exhale completely.

Home Recovery

After getting discharged from the hospital, patients should make a specific chart following their diet activity and precaution. And try to follow up on all the things while taking it easy on their body. It is very important to stay in contact with the doctor and discuss any concerning matter. Attending all the appointments is necessary too. Generally, the appointments are scheduled at an interval of three, six, nine, and twelve months after bariatric surgery.

There are certain activities that the patient must avoid, such as lifting anything heavier than 6 to 10 kg for the first six weeks.

And also, there are certain activities that are recommended, such as

• Wound Care – the patient should take good care of the stitches and should not scratch them. They can apply the cream recommended by the doctor to avoid infection in that area. Personal hygiene is very important, and the patient should only wash the wound with water. But one should also avoid submerging the wound for a long time in the water.
• Hydration – After bariatric surgery, it is normal to feel nausea or vomiting in the first week. So, drinking 1.5 to 2 liters of water a day is highly recommended.

Symptoms of Concern

There could be some serious problems that may occur in a few cases after weight loss surgery. If the patient experiences the following symptoms, one should immediately get a consultation with the doctor.

• Unwavering Fever
• Nausea or vomiting for more than 12 hours.
• Difficulty in urination.
• Intolerable pain.
• Chest pain or difficulty in breathing.
• Infection in the wound.

Post Recovery

Bariatric surgery gives a starting edge for weight loss, but the patients should commit to making improvements in their daily life for maintaining a long-term and effective weight loss process. They have to prepare emotionally and physically for a long-term plan. The patient should take vitamins and supplements on a regular basis and maintain high-quality nutritional foods and exercise. There should be a properly balanced diet, no lack of exercise or taking carbohydrates and sugars.

At first, the patient needs to stick to the soft food for the first week of the surgery. Then expanding their food options, including plenty of fruits, vegetables, and protein-enriched food. This habit of eating will help in the long term and also helps to recover fast from the surgery. Consistency is the key, so following up on all the above things will help in a fast recovery from bariatric surgery.