As a patient... 

You will report to the admitting office, and after completing some paperwork, you will be directed to the Pre-Op area on the 2nd floor. Your relatives will be allowed to stay with you until you are called into the operating room.

In the Pre-Op area you will receive a special gown and stockings. An IV will be placed in your hand or arm in order to start fluids and administer antibiotics. A nurse and the anesthesiologist will interview and examine you.

You will then wait to enter the Operating Room. The time of surgery that you have been given is only an estimate. All surgeries take as long as necessary to provide the best results, which could sometimes result in a delay of several hours. We understand you may be anxious, and we will do our best to make you comfortable. Please remember that when you are the patient in the operating room, the surgeon will take as much time and care as necessary to successfully complete your procedure.

When it is time to bring you into the operating room, your relatives will be instructed to wait in the surgery waiting area. You will be escorted to the OR by the operating room nurse.

You will be asked to move onto the OR table and given medications to help calm you and make you sleepy. At this time the anesthesiologist will place an oxygen mask on your face and anesthesia will then be administered through your IV. Once you are asleep a tube is placed in your airway to provide your heart and brain with oxygen since your lungs fall asleep.

The surgery begins. It lasts about 1 hour. The surgeon will speak with your family in the waiting room when the procedure is finished.

You will have two small pain pumps inserted during surgery. These pumps will continually release pain medication to the operative site. They will remain in place for 3 days and be removed at home.

You will wake from surgery in the recovery room. You may not remember anything, but your surgeon will talk to you in the recovery room. You will remain in the recovery room for at least 2 hours. You might experience some nausea and/or pain. This is common.

After a short stay in the recovery room you will be transferred to South 7 where you will stay until you are discharged. You will be assisted with walking in the halls (to help promote blood circulation and prevent blood clots) and performing deep breathing exercises with an incentive spirometer (to help expand your lungs and prevent pneumonia) the same day as surgery.

The day of surgery you will be started on clear liquids. It is important to take in small amounts of fluid throughout the day. You will also have clear liquids the day after surgery. Your diet will advance when you arrive home.

The day after surgery you will have a study performed to identify leaks in your new digestive system. Once your surgeon is satisfied that your digestive system is functioning properly, you will be discharged. Most of our patients are discharged before noon the day after surgery.

Once you're home, it is important that you follow the instructions you've been given. Following prescription instructions is vitally important. We will provide you with a pain medication prescription and any other necessary prescriptions.

You may feel very tired and may need lots of help during your first week at home. You should have a friend or family member stay with you for 1 - 2 weeks. Estimate that you will be out of work for 2 weeks following Gastric Bypass.

You will have follow-up appointment to see Dr. Syn one week after surgery. This appointment will be scheduled for you before you leave the hospital.

Please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Syn's office with any questions or difficulties you may be experiencing. Your surgeon is available at all times. The Bariatric Nurse Specialist is also available by pager at all times.