Dr. Hart and Dr Johnson Discharge Instructions for Weight Loss Surgery Office: 770-232-2911
Follow up in the Office
During your last pre-op visit at the office, you received an appointment for a follow-up visit in approximately one to two weeks after surgery. Our clinical staff will call you within a few days of your discharge from the Surgery Center to check on you. However, if at any time you feel that you are not doing well (fever greater than 101, persistent vomiting despite trying clear liquids only; spreading redness around the incisions, pulse rate 120 or greater) or if you have questions about your instructions-call the office at 770-232-2911. We are available 24/7.
You will see the dietitian for an appointment within 4-6 weeks after your surgery. If you have questions or concerns about your dietary instructions in the meantime, you may reach the dietitian at our office 770-232-2911 Monday-Friday from 8am-4pm. Our dietitian, Tracy, can also be reached by email: tsmith@atlantabariatrics.com.
Dietary Tips
Follow the post op dietary guidelines given to you by the dietician EXACTLY.
Do not advance your diet until your post op nutrition guidelines tell you.
Do not follow guidelines off of the internet or from friends who have had this surgery. Remember: Everyone is different!
Do not use a straw to drink. Do not drink carbonated beverages.
Vitamins
Start taking your multivitamins and calcium when you get home from the surgery center (your post op vitamin kit that you received at the office will last for 30 days).
For Gastric Sleeve Patients
MULTIVITAMINS: 2 per day-make sure they contain iron, or you are taking a separate iron supplement. These should be liquid or chewable; for example, Bariatric Advantage, Centrum chewable, Centrum liquid, or even children's chewable multivitamins with iron like Flintstones Complete.
CALCIUM: 2 per day-should be chewable form. Calcium citrate is required for best absorption. You want 1000-1200 mg per day (500-600 mg at a time), so two tablets per day is usually just right.
VITAMIN B-12: You can begin using the sublingual B-12 (in your post-op vitamin kit) twice a week.
For Gastric Band Patients
MULTIVITAMINS: 1 per day-make sure they contain iron. These should be liquid or chewable; for example, Bariatric Advantage (MM with iron), Centrum chewable, Centrum liquid, or even children's chewable multivitamins with iron like Flintstones Complete.
CALCIUM: 2 per day- should be in chewable form. Examples include Viactiv or generic calcium carbonate or calcium citrate tablets. Calcium Citrate or calcium carbonate is appropriate. Calcium carbonate is easier to find in chewable form and is over-the-counter. You want 1000-1200 mg per day (500-600 mg at a time), so two tablets per day is usually just right.
Make sure you remember to take your vitamin supplements after surgery. They are one of the keys to your success and good health!!!
Activity
Walk, walk, walk! Then walk some more! It is very important you stay active when you get home. You may walk up and down stairs. Your only restriction is NO HEAVY LIFTING (OVER 25LBS) OR STRAINING FOR ONE MONTH.
You may drive a car (assuming you could prior to surgery) when you no longer require pain medication.
Respiratory Care
If you use a CPAP/BIPAP machine for sleep apnea continue to use your machine after surgery.
Take the Incentive Spirometer (plastic breathing device) you used at the surgery center and continue to use it several times a day until you go to your first post-op visit.
Wound Care
You may take a shower 24 hours after discharge from the Surgery Center. Remove the dressing over your incisions, but leave the steri-strips (strips stuck on the skin over the tiny incisions) in place. Please allow the strips to fall off naturally.
Do not go swimming or get in a bathtub, hot tub, etc. until your incisions are completely healed. This generally takes 2-3 weeks.
If you have a drain in place when you go home from the surgery center, it will be removed at your post-op visit.
Medications
Your surgeon will review the list of medications you were taking prior to surgery and instruct you on which medications you will need to continue after surgery. We will go over this and provide instructions in writing at discharge from the surgery center. If you lose the paper or just have questions, please call us at 678-691-6257 or 770 232-2911.
Remember: NO NON-STERIODAL MEDICATIONS EVER! This means aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Naporsen, or Anaprox), Aleve, Excedrine, Bextra, Celebrex, Clinoril, Daypro, Feldene, Indocin, Lodine, Mobic, Orudis, Relafen, Tolectin, Toradol, Vioxx, Voltaren, Goodies Powder to name a few. For aches and pains after you are through with your pain medication, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is usually the safest, unless you have significant underlying liver disease. If your cardiologist insists that you be on an aspirin a day, make sure it is enteric-coated.
If you are taking hypertensive medications, you will need to make an appointment one month after surgery with your primary care physician or cardiologist to adjust your dosage of your high blood pressure medications.
A special note to diabetic patients
If you are diabetic, you will need to follow your blood sugar levels closely following surgery. Your surgeon will give you initial instructions regarding diabetic medications.
You will need to make an appointment to see your primary care physician or endocrinologist one month after surgery to adjust your dosages if you are taking any diabetic or hypertensive medications.
A special note about birth control
If you are a woman of childbearing age, you MUST remember to AVOID getting pregnant until your surgeon gives you clearance (usually 12-24 months post-op). Losing weight can make it easier to get pregnant, so don't assume that you are infertile just because you have been in the past. Remember that we do not currently have good data on how well some oral contraceptives (birth control pills) are absorbed after weight loss surgery. Please check with your gynecologist or primary care physician about appropriate birth control methods. This is IMPORTANT because if you become pregnant while you are losing weight rapidly, the nutritional stress on you and the growing baby can be enormous, and may predispose the baby to problems with the pregnancy including birth defects or miscarriage.
Work and travel
You should stay relatively close to the metro-Atlanta area during the first two weeks after surgery in case a problem arises. For patients who come from out-of-state, check with the surgeon for specific instructions.
During the first few weeks after surgery you may be at increased risk of developing a blood clot while traveling. If traveling by car, get out every 30-60 minutes and walk around. If traveling by plane, get up and walk around whenever possible and wear a good pair of compression stockings (can be purchased at a local drugstore).
If your job does not require heavy lifting or straining, you may be able to return to work within two weeks from surgery. Many patients with desk jobs return to work in one week.
Support group
Support group is an integral part of your success and requires a monthly commitment. The Atlanta Bariatric Center support group schedule can be located at www.atlantabariatriccenter.com
