After gastric bypass surgery, letting your body heal before you return to normal activities is essential. Your surgeon will give you instructions on exactly what to do, but you can also follow some of our tips for recovering after gastric bypass surgery.
Prepare Your Home for Recovery
One thing you need to do before surgery is prepare your home for recovery. Make your space comfortable enough for you to heal. For instance, your surgeon may suggest that you take things slow and avoid walking up and down stairs. In that case, set up your recovery space in an area that gives you easy access to comfortable seating, a bathroom, and a kitchen. That way, you can heal with access to everything you may need.
Understand Your Diet Restrictions
You’ll undergo strict diet restrictions during your recovery time. Fully understanding your restrictions is critical to avoiding harmful foods. For example, fatty foods and tough meats are some things to avoid after gastric bypass surgery because they can upset your stomach and affect your recovery. If you’re worried about slipping up, you can pre-make meals that follow your restriction limits to avoid consuming the wrong things.
Avoid Strenuous Activities
Whether you do or don’t feel sore after surgery, you should avoid strenuous activities. Allow your body time to recover before doing things such as lifting heavy objects, squatting, or lunging. Starting physical activity two weeks after surgery is generally safe, but you should start with light cardio such as walking to adjust to exercising again.
Recognize Symptoms of Concern
Serious complications are not common after gastric bypass surgery, but you should still recognize symptoms of concern. Side effects such as moderate pain and discomfort are to be expected, but other symptoms may indicate something severe. If you experience the following symptoms, contact your surgeon immediately:
- Nausea
- Chest pain or shortness of breath
- Redness or swelling in your legs
- Persistent pain
- Fever of 101.5 or higher
Resting and healing after gastric bypass surgery are essential for success. Although you will have specific recovery instructions, any additional advice is also helpful. We hope these tips for recovering after gastric bypass surgery were beneficial to you.
