The first hours after Gastric Sleeve
Gastric Sleeve surgery aims to lose excess weight and get rid of obesity. It is based on reducing the size of the stomach by removing 70% of its normal size, thus achieving a feeling of satiety when eating small amounts of food. Also, the surgery helps get rid of the hunger hormone, which is secreted from the discarded stomach part.
Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is a simple surgery. It is performed through only 4 to 5 small incisions. The duration of the surgery ranges from 40 to 45 minutes.
There are many questions about the first hours after sleeve gastrectomy. Let us answer all your inquiries.
What is the strength of the pain? And how to deal with it?
- The post-operative pain is the same as any other laparoscopic surgery, such as appendectomy or cholecystectomy.
- The location of the pain is in two areas, one of which is in the upper abdomen, just below the chest, and the other is in the right side.
- The pain intensity may reach its highest levels within the first two to three hours, but there is no need to worry with Dr. Mohamed Abo El Naga for installing the electronic pain reliever device, in the cannula, during the surgery. This device is responsible for injecting your body with an appropriate amount of analgesic medications every period to relieve pain.
When can I start moving and getting out of bed?
- After the first three hours have passed, you can now begin to sit on a chair and move your legs.
- Then, start walking out of the room for 5 to 10 minutes. These 10 minutes are repeated every hour for 5 hours to ensure the movement of blood circulation in the legs and to protect against clots, in addition to the use of the blood thinner medications that the doctor prescribed before the surgery, you continue administration several days after the surgery.
When can I start drinking and how to drink?
- You can start drinking water from the first day but in a certain way.
- Drink through sipping as if you are drinking tea or boiling soup to ensure slow drinking.
- Do not use the straw to avoid air entering the stomach.
- You should walk while drinking. If you feel pain, stop drinking, and walk without drinking for two or three minutes, the pain will disappear, then you can continue drinking in the same manner.
What are the permitted drinks and their quantities?
- At first, you can only drink liquids to adapt to the small size of the stomach.
- The amount of fluid required per day is 2 liters. One liter is water and the other is sugar-free transparent liquids, such as mint, apple juice, pineapple juice, or berry juice.
- The body needs this amount of fluid to ensure its hydration and the stimulation of blood circulation, thus preventing clots.
What are the allowed sleeping positions and movement degrees?
All sleeping positions are allowed. So choose what suits and satisfies you.
It is permitted from the first day of the surgery to ascend or descend the stairs.
When can I leave the hospital?
You can leave the hospital within 24 hours of the sleeve gastrectomy surgery, with adherence to the prescription advised by Dr. Mohamed Abo El Naga.
How long is the recovery time?
Expect a short recovery period that does not exceed 5 days. Get ready to go back to your life, but with confidence and challenge, to complete what you have started in the path of a slim body, and expect to lose about 60% of excess weight within 12 months.
