How often will I have to come for follow-up appointments?

Having proper follow-up after your operation is very important. For the first month after your surgery, you will be seen every two weeks for the first month, every three months for the first year, then every six months or yearly for a lifetime. During these visits, you will either be seen by your doctor or by a nurse. You will be counseled on your diet and exercise regimen. Lab Work will be drawn to make sure that you are as healthy as possible. An x-ray called an Upper GI will be done six months after your surgery to make sure that your Gastric Bypass staple line is still intact. Even though we will be seeing you in our clinic, you will still need to have a family doctor that can see you for any health problems not associated with your operation.
How much weight can I expect to lose after my surgery?
Most patients will experience a weight loss of 100 to 200 pounds during the first two years post-operatively. Weight loss in general stabilizes around the two-year period after surgery and a plateau phase will start to occur. The amount of weight that each patient loses varies from patient to patient. Ideally, you will not reach your ideal body weight, but your weight loss will be enough to make you see a difference. Optimal weight loss may be achieved, by strictly following the dietary and exercise regimens that we provide for you.

When will I be able to advance my diet to solid foods?

Your diet will be slowly advanced over a six to eight week period. Two weeks following surgery, your diet will consist of eating two ounces of soft foods for each meal. For each week following, you will start to re-introduce meat back into your diet. By eight weeks, your diet will consist of two ounces of fruits, meats and vegetables. You must always remember to chew your food well, take very small bites and take thirty to forty-five minutes to eat each meal. You will not be able to drink any liquids with your meals, so you must drink them thirty minutes before or after you have eaten.

What is the Dumping Syndrome?

This occurs when you attempt to ingest foods or liquids containing glucose or sugar like breads, sweets or ice cream. Your body is trying to get rid of the high sugar load that has rapidly passed through your small stomach pouch.

The symptoms that you may have are:
Rapid heart beat
Sweating
Dizziness
Lightheadedness
Sleepiness
Headache
Nausea
Diarrhea
Stomach Cramping
These symptoms may occur in any combination. They may be light or severe but should go away on their own.

Will I have to take vitamins?

Vitamins and minerals perform specific and individual functions in your body. They do not provide any energy, but they do help to maintain the function of cells in your body. Problems can occur if you do not get the proper amount. You will experience some hair loss during the first three to nine months following your surgery. This is only temporary.
Two weeks after your surgery, you will start taking multivitamins, vitamin B12, Iron and Calcium. You will have to take these for the rest of your life. All of your medications should be crushed, chewable or in a liquid form.

Is it safe to become pregnant after my surgery?

We believe that pregnancy can be safely undertaken once a stable post-operative weight has been achieved, usually 12 to 18 months following your surgery.
Although, several of our patients have become pregnant within this time frame and have borne healthy children, we STONGLY advise AGAINST pregnancy during this period, due to possible nutritional problems and unfavorable effects on the developing baby.
We STRONGLY recommend the use of birth control during this period.

How often will I have to exercise?

A proper exercise program is essential in order for you to have adequate weight loss. You will have to start exercising slowly and increase the amount that you do each day. Good forms of exercise are bike riding, walking, swimming, running, aerobics and weight lifting or training. You should set a goal of exercising seven days a week for forty-five minutes each day.