The first 1-2 Weeks after surgery - - what is normal?

[Guest guest]

Even if the stomach is not cut as in other WLS procedures, new

Bandsters can still have considerable swelling the first few days or

1-2 weeks. It's the stoma that swells - the area underneath the new

band where the stomach is a bit constricted, starting to form the

upper pouch and lower, " old " stomach.

For some, the swelling can be significant and make drinking difficult.

For others, there is no problem at all with drinking freely.

It's essential to be able to get in enough fluids - minimum 64 oz a

day, and ideally 80-100 oz as all bandsters need. any degree of

dehydration is very bad, especially right after a major surgery like

banding. (Any surgery opening and entering the abdominal cavity is

considered a major surgery).

Problems associated with post-op dehydration include blood clots -

the major complication after abdominal surgeries - kidney infections,

low blood pressure, weakness and fatigue, muscle cramps, nausea and

vomitting, and more. In bad cases, there are electrolyte imbalances

leading to serious heart problems, and worse.

If one is having trouble getting enough in, try these things :

1. sip hot fluids continually - 1 tsp at a time if needed. Hot things

open and relax the swollen stoma. the band itself is not affected at

all. Cold things can close the stoma down further, so avoid them for

now. Keep track of the amt you drink, so you know.

2. a warm heating pad to the chest also opens and relaxes the stoma,

as well as increases circulation to speed healing. Use is for 30 min,

3-4 times a day - and try to drink especially well right after.

3. Get up and move around often -at least hourly during the day. the

more the better. If needed, take enough of the pain meds you got to

be able to move comfortably. This increases circulation, which also

speeds healing and lessens the chancs of complications, including the

very serious blood clots.

4. Be especially careful of any meds. all should ideally be liquid at

the post-op time, or at least TINY pieces, smaller than an aspirin,

or crushed. even tiny pieces may not get thru and cause additional

stoma swelling. Liquids are always far safer.

If you absolutely cannot get in the minimum 64 oz of fluid and are

having any of the above symptoms, you must get in touch quickly with

your family doctor, who may want to give you some IV fluids. This is

one of many reasons the family doc must know of your band plans, and

learn basic band needs to be able to help you.

It's very wise to see the family doc 1-2 months before banding, to

catch up on any put-off needs, like mammograms, colonoscopies, paps,

etc. these should be clear before we proceed to band surgery, and

this is our responsibility. This is also a good time to ask about the

test for the H Pylori stomach infection that up to 30-40% of those

going for WLS have. it needs to be treated before surgery if we have

it.

You may also benefit from some liquid advil if the swelling is a lot -

check with dr Kuri or your family doc on this. Advil is an anti-

inflammatory and very useful here for a few days.

There is also a document in the files about the fluids and eating the

first month that my be useful to new people. It's called " Foods - the

first month " .

Sandy r