Post-Surgery Support: Finding the Right Resources

You know you’re ready to lose weight, keep it off, and get your life back; and you’re considering bariatric surgery as the way to do that.

Bariatric surgery is a powerful tool. But the truth is that your journey to living your best life doesn’t end the day you have surgery. What you do after surgery will have a huge impact on your quality of life. In this post, we’ll walk through what to do after surgery so that you can live the beautiful and radiant life that you were born to live.

How Can I Effectively Manage Pain and Discomfort Post-Bariatric Surgery?

At the Bariatric and Metabolic Center of Colorado, we were one of the first sites to pilot the use of the TAP block for bariatric surgery. The TAP block uses a long-lasting local anesthetic that dramatically reduces post-operative pain as well as the need for pain medication. Because of the TAP block, many of our patients report that they don’t need additional pain medication. We also use an advanced multi-modal pain reduction strategy which reduces pain, limits the need for narcotics, and improves your recovery.

That said, some patients do still experience pain after surgery. It is common for patients to experience pain at the incision site (though minimally invasive surgery can reduce this dramatically), or pain as a result of how they were positioned during surgery. Some patients experience pain in their neck or shoulders, as their body reabsorbs the gas that was used during surgery.

In spite of our multimodal pain prevention strategy, if you do experience pain after surgery, it is important to communicate it to your bariatric team. Depending on the severity of the pain and where it is located in your body, there are multiple treatments that we may recommend. We might recommend additional pain medication. You can also perform light physical activity, such as short walks the day after surgery. Physical activity can get the blood flowing, which enhances healing and also reduces the formation of blood clots.

Bariatric surgery recovery can sometimes feel like a long process, but we offer many recovery resources, many of which are implemented even prior to surgery, to make your recovery as smooth and easy as possible.

How Can I Prevent Postoperative Complications?

At a certified ASMBS comprehensive MBSAQIP center like the Bariatric and Metabolic Center of Colorado, complications are very rare. A 2012 study found that the 30-day complication rate from bariatric surgeries was only 1 percent for serious complications.

One reason for our historically low complication rate is that we work hard to prevent complications before they happen. We follow extremely careful surgical techniques designed to prevent complications. Our team has also developed extensive protocols and education for before, during, and post-bariatric surgery; and most complications can be prevented simply by following these protocols. We also work hard to get to know you as an individual, and your individual medical history and complications, so that we can mitigate additional individual risks that you may carry.

That said, if you do experience any complications, it is important to let your surgical team know immediately so that we can work with you to get them resolved.

One way to reduce the risk of complications is to be diligent about following the dietary plan that we will work with you to develop. For example, dumping syndrome is one of the most common complications following gastric bypass surgery, but dumping syndrome can be easily prevented just by avoiding certain foods.

Another way to reduce the risk of complications is to be diligent about taking your bariatric vitamins. 

What are the essential vitamins and minerals to supplement after bariatric surgery? After surgery you will need to take a bariatric grade multivitamin which contains the equivalent of a more powerful multivitamin, fat soluble vitamin resource, B complex and iron as well. Additionally, you will need to take calcium citrate with vitamin D3. Some patients will need to take additional individual vitamins depending on need. These vitamins will help you to get enough nutrition, since after surgery you’ll be eating less and depending on your surgery you may have lower absorption. This biggest key is consistently following the protocols laid out for you as these are designed to prevent deficiencies before they develop.

How Can I Regain Strength After Surgery?

Bariatric surgery isn’t just about losing weight. It’s also about regaining your health and getting your life back so that you can enjoy all the wonderful opportunities that Colorado has to offer.

After surgery, exercise will be a key part of regaining your strength.

It’s important to start slow. The day after surgery, you’ll start taking slow short walks within hours of surgery. Remember: your body is still recovering from surgery, and it’s important not to push too hard. Listen to your body and to your bariatric team. As time goes on, you can walk longer and gradually start to incorporate more intense forms of exercise such as cardio and strength training. We recommend that you avoid anything more intense than walking until 6 weeks after surgery.

As your body continues to heal and strengthen, you can gradually build up to harder workouts. We recommend that you build up to at least 150 minutes per week (30 minutes per day, 5 days per week) of moderately intense activity. If you are especially dedicated and wish to maximize your weight loss, you can go up to 300 minutes per week. No matter what, though, it is important to listen to your body. Stop and call a doctor if you feel sharp pain, chest pain, nausea, or extreme shortness of breath.

How Can I Maximize My Weight Loss After Surgery?

The best way to maximize your weight loss after surgery is to follow the recommendations of your bariatric team. Stick to the dietary plan that our team will work with you to create. Exercise regularly and gradually increase the intensity of your activity, without pushing too hard and risking injury.

It’s also important to take advantage of the post-surgery support networks that we offer. If you’re wondering “How important is it to follow up with healthcare providers after bariatric surgery?” the answer is “very.” Following up with our team is a great way to talk about and get support on any problems or issues that you may be experiencing, such as difficulty with a certain type of exercise or difficulty sticking to your diet in certain situations. We ask that you return for post-surgery support visits two weeks after surgery; at the 6-week, 3-month, 6-month, and one-year marks; and annually thereafter.

We also offer bariatric surgery support groups comprised of other patients. These groups can be powerful. They can help you to feel seen in your struggle and to help you to stick to your exercise and dietary plans after surgery. Patients who join these post-surgery support groups don’t just maximize their chances of long-term weight loss; they also often find dear friends and true companionship.

Taking the Next Step On Your Weight Loss Journey

You deserve to lose the weight, keep it off, and live the rich and beautiful life that you were born to live. At the BMCC, it would be our honor and our privilege to walk with you on this journey. 

Many of our patients report that the decision to undergo bariatric surgery was one of the best decisions they ever made.

“Dr. Long took the time to listen to my situation and he allowed me to voice my fears and concerns as well as ask several questions. He treated me like a valuable human being.”—Martha Lugo, gastric bypass patient.

If you’re ready to take the next step, Contact our Denver office today.