How to manage pain after gastric bypass surgery
For patients interested in gastric bypass surgery, recovery pain can be a concern. However, Salem Health Bariatric Surgeon Catherine Boulay, MD, said there are many tools to manage it.
What is gastric bypass surgery?
With gastric bypass, the stomach is divided, with a small pouch created to hold food. This pouch is only about one ounce, or roughly the size of an egg.
A piece of intestine is connected to the pouch to create a new pathway for food. This creates a feeling of fullness much faster for people, and because part of the intestine is “bypassed,” not all calories of the food get absorbed.
Patients can expect to lose about 70% of their excess body weight over the first 18 months after surgery, combined with lifestyle changes. For the average patient, Dr. Boulay said, that can mean 50 to 100 pounds.
“The goal is not to have the patient reach the weight described as ‘ideal body weight’ on a BMI calculator after surgery, as this will not look or feel healthy,” Dr. Boulay said. “The surgery helps get the weight off during this time, but lifestyle change with healthy eating and regular exercise is the key to what keeps the weight off after surgery.”
Tools for pain management
Dr. Boulay said recovery starts even before surgery. Salem Health Bariatric Surgery Center patients will see an exercise therapist to begin getting in shape before the procedure. Patients also work with a nutrition counselor to be prepared for upcoming changes.
During recovery, which can be painful, Dr. Boulay and her team have multiple tools to help patients manage their pain.
“Our patients receive injections into the muscles during the surgery,” she said. “Then, [following surgery], we use two types of over-the-counter pain medicine, with narcotics if pain is not controlled. Other methods that help control pain include gentle stretching, frequent walking and a heating pad.”
What to expect after bariatric surgery
For this bariatric surgery, patients usually spend one night in the hospital, and Dr. Boulay recommends taking the next two weeks off from work.
“The postoperative pain is similar to most other minimally-invasivelaparoscopic surgeries, such as gall bladder, appendix or hysterectomy,” she said. “Our office usually keeps in close touch by phone for the first week after surgery to stay in contact, and our patients know they can page their surgeon with any concerns that arise.”
In the month after surgery, patients will meet with their surgeon and dietitian multiple times.
“Patients can sometimes get told by friends and family that they have taken the ‘easy way out’ in losing weight with bariatric surgery,” Dr. Boulay said. “Nothing could be further from the truth!”
Comprehensive patient care
Could bariatric surgery be right for you? Click here to learn more about the care options available at Salem Health Bariatrics.