Immediately after your operation you will be sent to the recovery room. Following this, you will be transferred to your room or to the intensive care unit depending on your underlying medical condition. You are expected to walk on the evening of your surgery, take deep breaths and use your incentive spirometer (a blue breathing exercise device) that will be given to you to decrease the chance of lung problems that may occur postoperatively. The morning following your surgery you will be taken to have a GI (gastrointestinal) study. This means, you will drink a few sips of contrast after which you will have several x-rays taken. This study is done to ensure there is a complete seal without any leakage in the area where your intestine is joined to the small stomach pouch as well as where the two parts of the small intestine are connected. Should this prove satisfactory, you will start sipping water and be encouraged to ambulate often.

Your discharge date will depend on your pain tolerance and return of bowel function. In general, most patients are discharged between 3-5 days after surgery. During surgery, a drain is placed into the left upper part of your abdomen. Usually your drain will be removed at the initial post-operative visit. Please empty your drain as needed or at least once a day. Make sure that you re-cap your drain so that the self-suction mechanism is functioning. To do so, remove the cap, squeeze out the fluid in the container and re-cap it while squeezed.

You should be on a liquid diet only for the first week. The liquid diet should include some protein source. You may use protein shakes and supplements liberally, as well as chicken broth and some other fluids of your choice. You should stay well hydrated so that your urine is of a clear or pale yellow color. Remember, your body needs the same amount of fluids, as it required before the surgery. Your ambulation and level of activity should increase each day. You may take a shower over the watertight dressings that were applied. Should any of the dressings become wet or partially peel off, you may remove it and leave the wound exposed to air.

The prescribed medications consist of maintenance therapy for life. These include vitamins, calcium, and usually iron supplements. Actigall, also known as Ursodiol, is recommended for those patients who did not have their gallbladder removed. The Actigall functions to decrease the chance of forming gallstones during the first five months after surgery when there is a rapid and large amount of weight loss occurring. However you may experience some side effects including a bitter taste in the mouth, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Should you have any of these symptoms please stop taking Actigall and restart it again a few days later. Since this is a fairly sized capsule, please open it and pour the powder into yogurt or applesauce. During the nighttime, take the liquid pain medication liberally. During the daytime, however, the medication may cause drowsiness thereby making it preferable to take liquid Tylenol. Generally, pain medication is not needed longer than two weeks postoperatively. It is not necessary to start all the prescribed medications right after your discharge, however; in general the medications should be started within seven to ten days from surgery. Iron (Ferrous Sulfate) is a prophylactic medication that is taken for long-term preventive measures to maintain a healthy blood count. It is no problem to skip a few days; however, overall it should be taken on a regular basis.

Your return to normal activity and work usually occurs between 2-4 weeks depending on your comfort level, pain tolerance, and the type of work. You should not drive a car or operate any machinery until you are comfortable and not taking any pain medication that may cause drowsiness. You should refrain from heavy lifting or strenuous activity. And finally, should you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to call the office at (718) 780-3288 or go to the Emergency Room.