After the Procedure:

Most people stay in the hospital for 3 to 5 days after surgery. In the hospital, you:

• Will be asked to sit on the side of the bed and walk a little the same day you had surgery
• May have a catheter (tube) that goes through your nose into your stomach for 1 or 2 days. This tube helps drain fluids from your belly.
• Will not be able to eat for the first 1 to 3 days. After that you can have liquids, and then puréed or soft foods after that.
• May have a catheter connected to the larger part of your stomach that was bypassed. It will come out of your side and will drain fluids.
• Will wear special stockings on your legs to help prevent blood clots from forming.
• Will receive medicine through shots to prevent blood clots
• Will receive pain medicine. You will take pills for pain or receive pain medicine through an IV, a catheter that goes directly into your veins.

You will be able to go home when you:

• Can eat liquid or puréed food without vomiting
• Can move around without a lot of pain
• Do not need pain medicine through an IV or given by shot

Outlook (Prognosis):

Most people lose about 10 to 20 pounds a month in the first year after surgery. Weight loss will decrease over time, so sticking to your diet and exercise early on will provide the largest weight loss. You may lose half or more of your extra weight in the first 2 years. You will lose weight rapidly soon after surgery, if you are still on a liquid diet or pureed diet.

Losing enough weight after surgery can improve many medical conditions you might also have. Conditions that may improve are asthma, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea, high cholesterol, and gastroesophageal disease (GERD).

Weighing less should also make it much easier for you to move around and do your everyday activities.

Bypass surgery alone is not a solution for weight loss. It can train you to eat less, but you still have to do much of the work. To lose weight and avoid complications from the procedure, you will need to follow the exercise and eating guidelines that your doctor and dietitian have given you.