What happens after gastric bypass surgery?
After your Gastric Bypass surgery, you will awaken in the post-op recovery room (many patients will have little or no recollection of being there, a normal side effect of the anesthesia used during surgery). Ordinarily, your breathing tube is removed from your throat as you begin awakening — usually before you are aware of it being there. You will be started on pain medication as soon as you need it. The IV line for fluids and medications that was started in the operating room will remain with you for your entire stay in the hospital. Although you won’t be allowed to drink water for the next day or so, the IV will give you your necessary fluids and you will be allowed to suck on ice chips after the first day if your mouth is dry. About four hours after surgery, the nurses will ask you to sit up, dangle your legs off the side of the bed and put your feet on the ground. They’ll check that your vital signs and pain medication are OK and that you are recovering normally. An hour later, the
