Weight loss is rapid, with the majority typically occurring in the first four months of treatment.
The adjustments to your eating habits and your continued efforts to stay active will greatly influence your results.
This varies from person to person. Generally, if pain or discomfort occurs, it feels sharp and cramp-like. It is normal to have some pain or discomfort in the days following the procedure. It should not last for more than a few days after your procedure.
For this pain, you can take Tylenol (acetaminophen) as needed (please follow the instructions on the bottle). If given prescription pain medications post-procedure, please take as advised.
If experiencing persistent pain lasting more than 3-4 days post-procedure, worsening pain, or abdominal distention (bloating), please inform your doctor.
This also varies from person to person. If experiencing nausea, it generally only lasts the first few days up to a week post-procedure.
For this nausea, please take the Zofran (ondansetron) as prescribed. If other anti-nausea medications were prescribed, you can alternate between them.
You may be dehydrated. Make sure you have a sip of water every five to ten minutes to help rehydrate. It is recommended to drink 1.5L of fluid a day to help prevent dehydration. Water infused with electrolytes or coconut water can also help.
Also, you can start taking multivitamins if you haven’t already.
A low-grade fever in the first three days post-procedure is normal, but if it lasts longer than this, please call the office.
For the fever, you can take Tylenol (acetaminophen) every 6 hours (DO NOT take more than the recommended dose as stated on the bottle).
This is a common side effect of the scopolamine patch. Please remove the patch. Please note, this symptom could take several days to completely resolve.
Please do not drive or operate heavy machinery if experiencing this symptom.
If blurred vision persists several days after removing the patch, please call your doctor’s office.
You may take over-the-counter MiraLAX 1-2 times daily, as well as Senna 1-2 tablets at bedtime as needed.
If given a prescription for constipation, such as a suppository, you may take this as well.
Please be sure you are following the guidelines to stay hydrated, as this can have an impact on bowel movements.
You can resume light exercise one week after your procedure. Please avoid abdominal exercises or heavy lifting until after you are given clearance to resume these exercises at your one-month follow-up visit.
Acid reflux is a common post-procedure symptom. Be sure to take the anti-reflux medication given post-procedure. If you are still experiencing symptoms, you may try adding over-the-counter Pepcid at night (start at the lowest dose and increase as needed).
If you are currently on a liquid diet, feeling hungry is not uncommon. To help with this feeling, be sure you are following the guidelines and contact your nutritionist. This feeling will further improve when you start to eat solid foods around week 2.
Be careful not to overeat beyond the recommended diet guidelines. This can lead to abdominal pain, discomfort, risk of loosening the sutures, and ultimately, weight gain.
All patients are advised to abstain from alcohol for 3 months following the procedure. However, it is recommended to minimize or avoid all alcohol for 6 months for better weight loss.
Your tolerance to alcohol may be affected after the procedure. Proceed with caution.
Generally, it is safe to resume sexual activity 2-3 weeks post-procedure.
It is strongly recommended to follow up with a nutritionist or dietitian weekly for up to a year. This is included in your weight loss program.
You can fly on day 3-5 post-procedure, to ensure you are feeling well before you travel.
While this varies from person to person, generally, patients return to work within 3-5 days after the procedure, with some returning to work the next day.
For gastric balloon patients, you SHOULD NOT get pregnant while the balloon is in place.
For ESG/bariatric revision patients, it is recommended that pregnancy be delayed for about 6-8 months post-procedure.
