Learn Everything to Know About Recovering from Gastric Bypass Surgery

• Your physical therapist or nurse should assist you in standing at your bedside, sitting up, and dangling your feet the first night after surgery. That could hurt at first, but you’ll get used to it. Day by day, you will feel your energy renewing and your pain fading.

• You’ll need to get up and walk around the room at least thrice a day beginning the day following surgery. There should be no hesitation in completing the required breathing and leg exercises. Even though it may be challenging at first, it is very important that you make every effort to go for a walk.

• If you have trouble breathing or coughing, your physical therapist or nurse can teach you how to do both. They will demonstrate how to use an incentive spirometer, a tool that can increase lung capacity. Breathing deeply and coughing will help release any secretions in your lungs and throat, which will help you avoid getting pneumonia. Improved blood flow and lessened need for anesthetic are two additional benefits.

In order to take a deep breath:

• Inhale completely.
• For nearly two seconds, hold your breath, and then let it completely.
• Do it at least three more times.

To cough properly:

• Taking a deep breath is the first step toward a proper cough.
• Coughing is allowed, but only if it comes from the chest and not the stomach. For comfort, try propping yourself up with a pillow underneath your stomach.

To strengthen your legs and feet, try the following exercises:

• At the foot of your bed, push down with your toes as if you were pressing down on something.
• Stretch out with your toes pulled up toward the top of the bed.
• Move your right hand around your left ankle in a circle.
• Do the steps outlined above at least three times.

A Dedication of a Lifetime Is Required

Bariatric surgery is merely a tool to help you lose weight, but you still need to make changes to how you’re thinking and feeling in order to keep the weight off for good. After having bariatric surgery, you should start taking vitamin and mineral supplements. Always watch what you eat and keep up your exercise routine to keep your body in shape.