DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS AFTER SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY

First, we congratulate you for opening a new page in your life thanks to the surgery you have undergone. We recommend that you stay in Antalya for one more week. If you have to leave Antalya, do not worry. You will always be able to reach us via phone and internet. We will continue to follow you all the time. Our postoperative recommendations are below.

MEDICATION:
*PROTON PUMP INHIBITOR (STOMACH PROTECTOR) should be used once a day, for at least 3 months.
*VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS should be used once a day, for at least 3 months.
*PROTEIN POWDER (Glutamine) should be used at least 4 times a day, at least for 6 weeks.
*PAINKILLERS should be used only when necessary.
*ANTIEMETICS may be used if nausea and vomiting are present.

STITCHES-WOUND-DRESSING-BATHING: Your stitches (sutures) are hidden and dissolvable. They do not need to be removed, they will gradually dissolve by themselves. The drain insertion site will heal by itself.

48 hours after discharge, you may remove your wound dressing by yourself and you may bathe with warm water. After this, no more wound dressings will be required. Please contact us if you have pain, swelling or redness at the incision site, or drainage from the incision site.

DAILY LIFE & ACTIVITY: Get active. After being discharged, you can get back into your normal daily routine. You can start driving after one week. Light activities/exercises, swimming and sexual relations can be resumed after 2 weeks.

Within the first month after surgery, you may walk 3-4 km per day. In the second month, you can take long walks and go to gym regularly. These activities can reduce excessive skin sagging.

If you must travel for longer than a few hours (including plane) within the first month after surgery, you should wear embolism socks to prevent blood clot formation.

It is undesirable for women to become pregnant during the first year after surgery. Effective birth control methods should be used during this time.

OTHER DISEASES & MEDICATIONS: Unless you are instructed otherwise, keep taking the medication you used to take prior to surgery.

We advise all patients who have undergone obesity surgery (especially those with diabetes and hormonal/metabolic diseases) to schedule an appointment with an endocrinologist, 4 weeks after surgery.

We also recommend you get psychological counselling on the 4th week and on the 3rd month after the surgery.

If you have any other diseases, (such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, sleep apnea, depression, etc.) keep in mind that the medication you use for these diseases may require some adjustments following surgery. You should contact the doctors who prescribed your medications to discuss the necessary changes.

WATER & DIET: In the first month, it is very important that you drink at least 1.5 liters of water every day. Always carry a water bottle with you throughout the day. Drink frequently but in little amounts, taking only 1-2 sips at once time, but you get 1.5 liter per day total.

You will be adjusting to your new diet during the first month following surgery. You should remain on liquid food within the first two weeks after surgery, and on puréed food for the following 2 weeks. For at least one month, you should be under a dietitian's supervision. For a healthier weight loss, it is recommended that you are followed up by a dietitian for at least 3 months.

Please take smaller bites or sips than other people, chew more than other people, swallow slower than other people, wait longer between two bites than others. Because you have a much smaller stomach than other people do.

Do not place liquids and solid food side by side on your table. Do not eat and drink at the same time.

If the solid food gets stuck in your stomach, just wait. Do not drink water or lie down to overcome this feeling. Please calm down and wait. Just sit and wait for the food to pass.

WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR: Within the first month after surgery, there is a risk of leakage from the staple line on your stomach. However, this is an extremely rare complication. This warning is for precautious purposes only.

The most important signs of leakage are unease, palpitations, fever and abdominal pain. Have a THERMOMETER to measure your body temperature and a device to measure your heart rate (such as a digital sphygmomanometer) at home.

If you feel unease, palpitations, fever or abdominal pain, measure your body temperature and heart rate. If you have fever over 38°C or a heart rate over 100/min at rest, contact us immediately. These signs do not always indicate a leakage. However, prompt medical evaluation is required to look for a potential leakage. A timely diagnosed leakage is always easier to treat.

For successful post-operative long-term outcomes, follow these recommendations, as important as the operation itself. Get well soon. We wish you an easy weight loss process and a healthy life. Get well soon.

Bariatric Consultant Nurse Nihan YURT KOÇ - 0090 536 717 15 17
[email protected]

Bariatric Dietitian Aysun YURDAKUL - 0090 532 673 30 40
[email protected]

Assoc.Prof. Mehmet GÜLER MD. - 0090 530 663 92 20
[email protected]

Obezince Clinic - Medicalpark Hospital - ANTALYA - TURKEY