FAQs

What to expect when you meet the doctor?

• Your doctor will review your medical history
• He will do details physical examination
• He will explain you various weight loss methods
• He will explain in detail about surgical procedures
• He will also evaluate mental health of the patient
• He will recommend counselling with registered dietician who will be a part of the team.

What are the steps to proceed for the surgery?

• Meet the doctor
• Fix an appointment for all tests which are required before the surgery
• Fix up a date for surgery, if tests are normal
• If BMI is more than 40-45, you will be given high protein liver shrinkage diet for 10-15 days prior to surgery.
• You will be trained to do breathing exercise
• You will be encouraged to do light physical activity depending upon your physical state.
• You will be seen by anaesthetist to make sure that you are fit for anaesthesia.
• You will need to be admitted a night before or early morning on the day of the surgery.
• It is better to have soap water bath in the morning of surgery.
• You will be taken to OT at 7 am in the morning.
• General anesthesia will be given so you can sleep during the surgery.
• Intravenous (IV) line will be placed in your hand for fluids and medications
• Tiny punctures will be made in the abdominal wall for telescope and instruments for the surgery and water proof small dressings will be placed at the puncture site.
• You will remain in recovery room for couple of hours for observation.
• You will be encouraged to walk in the recovery room itself.
• It is good to have small 4 to 6 small meals during a day after 4-5 weeks.
• Early physical activity should be encouraged. Any physical activity which might give you pleasure like swimming, gymming, cycling and brisk walking as desirable.

When to call your doctor?

• In case of fever with chills
• Breathing difficulty
• Severe abdominal pain
• Repeated nausea and vomiting
• Discharge / bleeding from puncture site
• Chest pain
• Black stool/ blood in stool

How much it will hurt?

During anaesthesia you feel zero pain. Once you will come out of anaesthesia, you may feel minimal pain which can be effectively treated by pain medications. Your throat might feel little sore because of anaesthesia tube this becomes better in couple of hours.

How much time it takes for surgery?

• 45 minutes in sleeve gastrectomy
• 1-1/2 hrs in gastric bypass

Average hospital stay

Average hospital stay is two days.

Post operation hospital care

Once you are shifted from recovery to your room, you will be seen by dedicated specialised nurse and doctor.
You will be made to walk. There might be minimal discomfort when you walk first time but gradually it becomes normal. You will be given adequate pain relief medications.
You will be asked to do breathing exercise to prevent lung problem, and wear elastic stockings to increase blood flow in the legs.
On the same day of the surgery. Patients are asked to walk or stand at the bedside on the night of surgery, take several walks on very next day and thereafter. We suggest patients to walk as much as they can.

At home care

This is your “second new life”, one will have to learn to live healthily by eating balanced diet and by developing daily exercising habit.
Your stomach has become smaller which will restrict your food portion size to little and you will feel full very quickly.
If you eat fast and more than required amount you might have nausea and vomiting so you need to have very tiny portion of food and chew well.
First 10-15 days, you will be on low calorie liquid diet then for next 10-15 days you will be on pureed diet (baby food).

What would be my diet after surgery?

You will have liquid diet for 2 weeks after surgery followed by one week of thick pureed diet then 2 weeks of soft diet. After 5 weeks for surgery you can have normal diet. Also we strongly recommend having high protein diet after surgery. You should aim to have 60-70 grams of protein /day.

Will my insurance cover the procedure?

Unfortunately private insurance companies do not cover the procedure. But it is definitely covered by CGHS.

If I am interested in weight loss surgery, what is my first step?

If you are interested in weight loss surgery, please call us at 07042978535

Should I exercise after weight loss surgery?

Regular exercise is extremely important for maintaining your weight loss. Your bariatric surgery team will help you with the types of exercise you should be doing, and how soon after surgery you should start doing them.

How much pain one feels after surgery?

little soreness is felt on first day of surgery at the site of punctures which gradually gets better.

When I will start walking?

After 2 hours of surgery, team will help you to walk.

FEELING OF FULLNESS, NAUSEA & VOMITING AFTER TAKING FOOD POST SURGERY
  1. Can it happen?
    • Yes
  2. Is it normal?

    • Yes
  3. Why does it happen?
    There are some reasons which are-:

    1. Large portion size
    2. Eating quickly
    3. Swallowing food without chewing
    4. Gulping of food
    5. Taken fluid just before or just after meals
    6. Gap between meals is not enough
  4. For how long these symptoms can persist?

    • These symptoms will disappear as soon as we correct eating pattern.
  5. How to avoid these symptoms?
    1. Chew your food atleast 20-30 times before swallowing-
    2.   Take food in small quantities and eat slowly.
    3. Avoid starchy products.
    4. Use natural flavours to improve taste and edibility.
    5. Donot take aerated/carbonated beverages- Absolute No
    6. Know the capacity of new stomach.
    7. Use measuring cups/glasses.
PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES
  1. What to do when I am unable to swallow pills or food?
    • Crush the medicine.
    • keep yourself calm/relax while taking food/medicine.
    • Donot panic if such situation occurs.
  2. Will small amount amount of food be enough for me to survive after the surgery?
    • Yes, because we normally eat 20 times more than necessity.
EXERCISING
  1. When I can start exercising after surgery?
    • Waliking can be started on the day of the surgery
    • Light exercises can be started after 7 days of surgery
    • Vigorous exercises can be started in 3 rd week of the surgery.
  2. What type of exercise is more beneficial?
    • Aerobics
    • Weight lifting
    • Stretching of flexibility
    • Walking, Cycling
    • Swimming
    • Sports
  3. Do I need to do exercise on regular basis?
    • Yes, 5-7 km/day in one hour atleast.
  4. What should be the time duartion?
    • 1 to 2 hour everyday- minimum 5 times a week.
  5. Physical activity of any form is most desirable after operation to have optimal and sustained weight loss.
  6. Brisk walking immediateky after surgery is advisable.
  7. Light exercises like stretching, aerobics can be started after 1 week.
  8. Tredmill, Jogging, Jimming can be started after 3 weeks.
  9. If any significant discomfort is felt in any of activities, please consult your Dcoctor.
WHEN ONE CAN HAVE SEX?
  1. Does bariatric surgery affect sexual relationship?
    • Yes, in a better way.
  2. When one can have sex after the surgery?
    • After 7 days
EFFECT OF OBESITY ON SEX
  1. Obesity often leads to reduces sexual activity, desire which inturn can lead to strained relationship with spouse.
  2. There are various reasons for decreased sexual activity like:
    • Reduced sexual hormone levels
    • Reduced self conidence due to bad body image
    • Physical inability to have sex
    • Increased fat content leads to decreased effect of sex hormones
EFFECT OF BARIATRIC SURGERY ON SEX
  1. Decreased fat content leads to increased effect of sex hormone on target organs.
  2. Increase in level of sex hormones.
  3. Increased performance due to increased physical activity.
  4. Positive psychological effect due to better body image.
IS IT ESSENTIAL TO TAKE VITAMINS AND PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS
  1. Obesity is a form of malnutrition. Most of the obese patients are deficient in vitamins like B12 & D3. These people should routinely take vitamin supplement even if they donot get any surgery done.
  2. After surgery since oral intake is restricted you are likely to continue having vitamin deficiencies. Hence it is essential to take vitamin and protein supplement as prescribed by your doctor.
  3. Include High Biological Value proteins and include Pro-biotic food in your diet.
Hair Fall

Since obesity is a form of malnutrition. Hair fall is a common problem in obese people. Hair fall after any form of weight loss is known and baritric surgery is not an exception. Taking your daily dose of vitamins and proteins will minimise your hair fall. When weight loss becomes stable the hair fall automatically stops.

IMMEDIATE POST OP INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Is there a need for daily dressing?
    • No
  2. Is bathing allowed?
    • Yes
  3. Spirometer
    • It is must for 2-3 weeks.
  4. When the stitches or clips will get removed?
    • After 7th day from the date of surgery.
  5. Use of stockings?
    • It should be used for 3 months after the surgery.
HEALTHY TIPS
  • Don’t compare your food intake with before surgery.
  • Food should be chewed.
  • Be a smart eater- focus on proteins.
  • Choose healthy ways of eating.
  • Maintain proper gap between meals.
  • Ecercise daily.
  • Carbonated or aerated drinks are complete “NO”.

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