Gastric Bypass Patients

Careful follow-up visits have long been documented to enhance the success of the operation. New information will be given to you at each appointment. It is imperative that you keep every appointment, as each stage of your recovery offers new challenges. We will be able to offer you a number of solutions, if we are aware of your situation. If you have any dietary or lifestyle questions or problems, please contact our Patient Advocates or Nurse. 

First Post-Operative Visit
One week after surgery we will evaluate your post-operative status and your surgical wound. You will meet with a Patient Advocate to review the dietary/nutritional counseling you received pre-operatively, and receive information regarding taking supplements, unless you were instructed by a provider to begin supplements before surgery.  

Second Post-Operative Visit
Two weeks after surgery your progress will be evaluated, and some or all of your staples will be removed, depending on how you are healing. If they are not all removed at this visit, we will have you return in approximately one week (3 weeks after surgery) to remove the remainder of the staples. 

Third Post-Operative Visit
Four weeks after surgery your post-operative status is again evaluated. You will meet with a Patient Advocate to discuss beginning Dietary Period II, and receive any additional counseling that may be needed.

End Of 20-Day Food Diary
Nine to twelve weeks after surgery at the Introduction to Solid Foods, you will begin filling in the 20-Day Food Diary that you must keep daily. When this diary is completed, patients are to mail in the diary to the Advocate, or call to schedule an appointment to meet with the Advocate.

Subsequent Office Visits Until Goal Weight Acheived Once a month until goal weight is achieved, we will continue to check your post-operative status,  weight loss, and discuss your nutritional status.

Goal Weight Achieved
When you have achieved your goal weight, appointments are every three months.  These quarterly appointments are very important for our follow-up of your progress. This schedule helps us closely monitor your nutritional weight loss status. It helps us help you make a successful adjustment to the surgery and stay healthy.

Ongoing Communication
If at any time you are having medical problems, please let us know right away. 

Life-Long Labwork
It is very important in monitoring your progress and allows us to provide proper medical care for you.  Lab tests must be drawn every three months during the weight loss stage, starting three months from your surgery date.  Thereafter, you will need to have labs drawn every six months life-long.

We can provide lab requests if you are outside our local area or if your insurance requires you to go to a "preferred" lab.  Make sure the lab sends us your lab results. 

Please visit the lab work area of the SWLC website for further details.

Continued Follow Up
We have found that those patients who adhere to the follow-up schedule do very well in their weight loss and maintenance of good health. For your success, it is imperative that you comply with this scheduled follow-up, which includes appointments, lab work, and communication. We encourage that you track these on your calendar to stay current.

Out Of Town Patients
The follow-up schedule also applies to you. If you live 150 miles from our office and are unable to come in monthly, your visits may be replaced by phone calls from you to our Patient Advocate or Nurse. Please track these weeks on your calendar to stay current.

Call us to obtain your lab slips when due and have the lab fax or send us your test results. Please call in monthly until you are at goal weight. You should call in every three months thereafter, sooner if you are experiencing problems or weight regain.

PLEASE NOTE: If you cannot keep your office or phone appointments, please contact us at least 24 hours in advance to allow another patient to use the time. There is a $25.00 charge if you do not call to cancel your appointment 24 hours in advance.