Properly preparing for gastric bypass surgery can help make the procedure and actual recovery process much smoother.
In order to qualify for gastric bypass surgery you must have a body mass index (BMI) that is 30 or more. Patients that qualify for gastric bypass surgery are often immobile or unable to drive. In this case you will need an experienced bariatric transportation team to safely and comfortably get you to doctor appointments and your surgery.
Stellar Transportation has the experience, equipment and compassionate team of drivers for superior non-emergency medical transportation for bariatric patients.
What Happens During Gastric Bypass Surgery?
Gastric bypass surgery includes two main components. First, the stomach is stapled into two sections, a small upper and larger bottom. The top section of the stomach is where the food will go, and is approximately the size of a walnut. That means you won’t be able to eat more than 1 ounce of food, as that’s all the top section of your stomach will be able to hold.
The second step of the surgery is the bypass part and includes connecting the small part of your small intestine to the small upper pouch in your stomach. As a result, food travels directly from the pouch into the new opening and into your small intestine causing you to absorb fewer calories.
Surgery may be performed in one of two ways. The surgeon may make a large incision in your stomach to access the intestines, stomach and any other organs necessary. The other option is called laparoscopy and includes using a tiny camera to see inside of the stomach. The latter option is more technically advanced and results in less scarring and a quicker recovery.
How To Find The Best Surgeon For Gastric Bypass Surgery
The quality of the surgeon you hire for the job will influence the success of your surgery. It’s important to find a reputable and experienced doctor. Key points to check for include:
- Doctor is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery.
- Doctor is a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
- Doctor has high success rates, previous patient examples you can look at and maybe even speak to.
- Do they offer any after care programs such as support groups you can turn to for further help following surgery and throughout recovery?
Make sure to ask your doctor about the most common patient complications and side effects they see following surgery.
There are a number of highly acclaimed surgeons that specialize in gastric bypass surgery around the nation. If you plan to use a doctor outside of Florida, Stellar Transportation offers long distance non-emergency medical transportation to anywhere in the US at affordable rates.
What Happens Before Surgery?
There are a number of things doctors often require or recommend prior to going under the knife for weight loss surgery. Some of these things include:
- Undergoing a thorough physical exam to make sure you are healthy enough for surgery.
- Along with a basic physical exam, you may also be given blood tests and an ultrasound of your gallbladder.
- Undergoing treatment or regular exams to ensure any preexisting medical conditions are under control prior to surgery. Some of these conditions include high blood pressure, diabetes, heart or lung problems.
- Nutritional counseling with a certified nutritionist to prepare you for successful healthy eating post-surgery.
- Enrollment in special support classes that go over what to expect and how to make the most out of your surgery.
- You may also want to meet with a counselor to ensure you are emotionally prepared for the lifestyle changes required after surgery.
What To Disclose To Your Doctor
If you think you might be pregnant you must tell your doctor this. A pregnancy test will be performed to ensure you are not pregnant prior to surgery. If you are pregnant, you will have to wait until after giving birth to undergo surgery.
It’s also important to disclose any medications you currently take.
If you smoke and need help quitting you should discuss this with your doctor. Smoking increases recovery time and makes it more likely you will suffer from blood clots.
What To Expect The Week Prior To Your Surgery
The week leading up to your surgery you should stop taking any medications associated with blood clots such as ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin, vitamin E, aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), and more. If you’re unsure about a certain medication make sure to speak with your doctor about it beforehand.
What To Expect The Day Of Surgery
Know ahead of time if there are any medications you need to take the day of your surgery. Take these medications with a small sip of water.
Carefully follow all instructions regarding the number of hours you must stop eating and drinking prior to surgery.
Arrive at the hospital on time—we can help with that!
Losing Weight Prior To Surgery
Many doctors recommend you lose weight prior to your surgery in order to prove a commitment to change. Weight loss surgery helps make it more feasible to lose the weight but it still won’t be easy and requires commitment and perseverance as well as a complete lifestyle change. Typically, a doctor will ask you to lose anywhere between 15 and 30 pounds.
How Much Weight Can I Expect To Lose After Surgery?
On average, within the first two years following surgery you can expect to lose around 50% to 70% of your excess body weight. It’s important to remember this is not a quick or easy fix. It will take time to recover from surgery and start to see results. It also requires hard work on your part, just as any form of healthy weight loss does.
The Best Bariatric Transportation In Melbourne
Stellar Transportation provides leading bariatric non-emergency medical transportation to patients of all weights and sizes. Our compassionate team is always 100% focused on providing safety and comfort to our passengers, which we ensure through state of the art vehicles and equipment, as well as experienced, knowledgeable and friendly drivers.
Contact us today to get a free quote!