Discharge Instructions
Upon discharged from the hospital, it is
important for a patient to have help at home.
We suggest either a family member or friend
stay with the patient for the first week. It
is very important to follow all discharge instructions:
Patients with
dietary questions
or concerns while
at home can reach
the Bariatric Surgery
Dietitian at (215)
662-9785. Also
during normal working
hours, patients
can reach our Bariatirc
Program at (215)
662-9198. After
5pm or during the weekend patients should
call their surgeon’s
office phone number and the answering
service will contact the surgeon.
Wound
Care
- Shower Daily
- Wash the incisions with soap and water and
pat dry
- Do not apply lotions or creams to the incisions
- Notify the physician office if the wounds
are red, swollen, or draining
- Drain care:
- Empty JP drain twice daily. Record output.
- Change dry guaze around drain daily, or
as needed if there is leakage around the
drain.
- Notify the physician if the color of
the drainage becomes green, or dark red.
Activity
- Patients are strongly encouraged to walk
at least three times a day and to stop when
fatigued. Try to set aside 30 minutes twice
a day to devote to walking.
- Patients may walk up and down stairs. Take
it slow, and rest if needed.
- Patients are not to lift anything greater
than 15 pounds for the first four weeks after
surgery.
Medication
Instructions
regarding medications
taken prior to surgery
will be given to
each patient. The
following are medications
that may be required
post-surgery:
- Standard
discharge medications:
- Antacid medication: this may be
necessary to decrease the likelihood
of ulcers in the new small stomach.
Patients are instructed to take this
medicine for three to six months.
- Pain medication: Patients are given
a prescription for pain medication
before leaving the hospital.
- Stool softener: Stool softener may
be helpful since pain medication may
cause constipation. Constipation may
also be a sign of inadequate fluid
intake. Colace (sodium docusate) can
be taken but should be reduced
or stopped if the patient is having
loose stools.
- Multivitamin:
A daily chewable
multivitamin
is required to
prevent nutritional
deficiency.
- Calcium: Daily
calcium citrate
supplements are
required to maintain
bone health.
Off-Limit
Medication
- Non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) are prohibited
after gastric
bypass surgery because
they may cause
irritation and
ulcers in your
pouch. These
include ibuprofen
(Motrin, Advil),
naproxen (Naprosyn,
Aleve), asprin
(Excedrin, Pepto-bismol),
diclofenac (Voltaren,
catatlam) and
ketoprofen (Oradis).
If
you take
these medications
frequently
before surgery
you should
discuss a replacement
medication
with your
primary care
physician.
If you are
unsure if your
medication is
a NSAID, contact
the physician
that prescribed
it or your surgeon.
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