Bariatric surgery offers the possibility of significant weight loss, a decrease in diseases, and improved quality of life. However, any surgery can cause you to feel worried about the recovery process. At Olde Del Mar Surgical, we understand this. That’s why we want to help you make your recovery process as comfortable as possible!

Most patients will be hospitalized for 2 to 3 days after surgery, and won’t be able to participate in normal activities for about 3 to 5 weeks. Patients will also have to deal with nutritional deficiencies, dietary changes, and physical restrictions following surgery. Given time and proper preparation, however, these issues can be overcome.

Essential Tips For Bariatric Surgery Recovery

Weight loss surgery recovery doesn’t have to be a time of suffering. The following products are meant to make recovery as comfortable as possible by reducing pain, providing more time for rest, reducing chances of injury, and much more.

1. Supportive Pillows

After surgery, you might not be able to sleep as comfortably on your side if that’s what you typically prefer. Having a supportive post-surgery pillow can make all the difference.

There are many pillow options out there that can provide extra support underneath your lower back and knees. By giving yourself this support, you’ll have less of a need to toss and turn to find the right position that won’t tug at your incisions and cause pain.

2. Comfortable clothes

During recovery, you need to focus more on comfort rather than style. If that means walking around your home in a less than stylish onesie, all the better. Loose clothing will be your best friend during recovery.

This is especially the case if you’ve had surgery on your pelvis, abdomen or lower back. The problem with tight clothing is they may rub against the incisions on your body, causing irritation. Loose clothing allows for ease of movement and provides the most comfort.

3. Water

One of the keys to an expedient recovery is to keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Consuming ample amounts of water will help to flush medications from your body used during surgery, such as anesthesia.

Water is also vital for decreasing your risks of contracting urinary tract infection, as well as helping manage pain levels. It might be a good idea to have a pitcher by your bedside table.

4. Help

This might not be a “product” per se, but having help readily available after surgery will make your recovery much easier. No matter how much you want to take your dog for a walk, wash the dishes, or put gas in the car, you might not be able to get these things done on your own.

That’s where family and friends enter the picture. Having a support system of people close to you will ensure you’re taken care of no matter how small the task. If you don’t have anyone to rely upon, there are services available that provide nurse aids to assist you in everyday tasks.

5. Quick and easy meals

Before your surgery, stock up on meals that are easy to make. There’s a good chance you’ll be too sore to make them yourself post-surgery. With that being said, bariatric patients are typically required to stick to an all-liquid diet during the first week of recovery.

As time progresses, however, your body will recover to the point where you can begin to eat more solid foods. As your body recovers, try to stick to healthy and nutritious choices. Ordering a pizza or visiting McDonald’s might be quick and easy, but eating foods bad for your body is a slippery slope back to picking up more weight.

6. Hand sanitizer

You’re already recovering from bariatric surgery. You don’t need to add infection to your troubles. The incisions made on your body during surgery will need time to properly close, which means they can become infected if you touch them with dirty hands.

Take the time to properly wash or sanitize your hands after every meal or when they become dirty. This will reduce the chances of complications during your time of recovery.

7. Entertainment

For some people, the worst part of recovery is waiting. There’s no getting around the fact that you’ll have to do a lot sitting and lying down as you wait for your body to heal. Admittedly, this can be extremely boring unless you’ve prepared ample entertainment before your surgery.

This can involve a small stack of novels, movies, video games or any other form of entertainment you can think of. The more you prepare prior to surgery, the better off you’ll be when it comes to keeping yourself entertained as you patiently wait for your body to heal!

Extra Preparation Tips Prior to Surgery

One of the best ways you can make your recovery as comfortable as possible is to make preparations beforehand. We’ve already covered a few things you should do prior to surgery, but here are a few more suggestions to keep in mind:

Schedule pet care
Place items you’ll need in convenient places
Schedule grocery delivery
Set up arrangements for caretakers before surgery
Clean your house
Keep walkways clutter-free

The more prepared you are pre-surgery, the more comfortable you’ll be post-surgery as you recover, so make sure you handle all of making the proper preparations to reduce headaches later on.

Recovering From Bariatric Surgery In Comfort

Bariatric surgery can be taxing on the body, but that doesn’t mean you can’t recover in relative comfort. Investing in the right products can make a world of difference, and you’ll find that with ample preparation your recovery time will fly by.

No matter what hardships you’re going through, know that Olde Del Mar Surgical will be there every step of the way.

Whether you need information on diet, supplements, or how you should move forward post-surgery, Olde Del Mar Surgical will have all the information and guidance you’ll need to keep you on the right track.

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7 Tips For a Comfortable Bariatric Surgery Recovery