Please choose from the following to learn more.
| Before Being Discharged | Evening Before Surgery |
| Going Home | Hospital Arrival |
| Morning of Surgery | Operating Room |
| Pre-Op | Recovery |
- After you leave the recovery room, you will be transferred back to the pre-op holding area (gastric band) or to a hospital room (RYGB or sleeve gastrectomy).
- Sit up on the side of the bed and walk as soon as you feel able (within 1-2 hours of arrival).
- This will help prevent blood clots in your legs.
- Coughing and deep breathing are a must to help expand your lungs, reduce post-operative fever, and prevent pneumonia.
- You can use a pillow or abdominal binder (the hospital will give you one) for support and to splint your incisions while coughing and deep breathing.
- It is normal to experience discomfort after surgery. Some common complaints are: shoulder pain, left-side abdominal soreness, nausea, gas pain, constipation/loose stools, weakness and fatigue.
- Some patients find using an abdominal binder very helpful (bring on with you or ask the nurse for one).
- Immediately report any complaints of sudden severe pain or shortness of breath.
- Have a liquid dinner.
- Do not eat or drink anything after 10 pm.
- Place your Scopolamine patch behind your ear. This will help control nausea following surgery. You can take it off three days following your
- surgery. Remove the patch if you have blurred vision.
- Patients with RYGB will typically stay one to two nights in the hospital.
- Patients with Sleeve Gastrectomy will be typically discharged to go home the same day, but if medically indicated and facility accommodates the patient could stay overnight.
- Patients with a Gastric Band will be discharged to home once tolerating clear liquids without difficulty.
- There is no medical or surgical reason why you are unable to wear your seatbelt after surgery. Please buckle up!
- Check in at Registration at the time given to you by the Nicholson Clinic.
- Here you will sign paperwork and get checked in.
- You may be asked to sign more consent forms even if you signed some at in our office. This is to verify to the hospital that you have been informed about this surgery and understand the procedure, its risks and expected outcomes.
- Take only blood pressure pills with a sip of water.
- Do not eat, drink or take any other medications.
- If it will come off of your body, leave it at home (ALL jewelry, piercings, watch, contacts, etc.).
- Do bring glasses and/or hearing aid.
- Wear comfortable clothing.
- Bring your C-PAP/BiPAP machine with you if you have one.
- If you give yourself insulin, take only ½ the usual dose the night before surgery.
- From Pre-Op holding, you will be transported on the stretcher into the operating room (OR).
- Your family will be instructed to wait in the surgery waiting room.
- Once you are in the OR, the anesthesiologist will give you medication to put you to sleep.
- When your surgery is finished, a nurse will call the waiting room to notify your family.
- The surgeon will speak with your family there.
- Next, you will go to Day Surgery (Pre-Op Holding).
- Here you will be asked to change into a gown and lay on a stretcher.
- Compression pumps will be attached to your feet or legs to promote circulation.
- The surgeon and anesthesiologist will meet you here and talk with you.
- The anesthesiologist will give you some medicine to relax you.
- You may have 1 or 2 family members with you in this area.
- You will wake up in the recovery room on a stretcher (gastric band) or in a hospital bed (RYGB or sleeve gastrectomy).
- A highly trained registered nurse will be with you at all times.
- You will have a button to push when you need pain medicine.
- For your safety, you may spend 2 to 4 hours in recovery.
- Family will not be able to visit here.
- There is no secure place for your belongings in the recovery room, so leave them at home or give them to a trusted family member or friend prior to your surgery.
- Cards and flowers are also not permitted in the recovery room.
