Be A Post-Op Pro: 3 Ways To Monitor Yourself After Your Duodenal Switch Procedure

Immediately after your duodenal switch surgery, doctors and nurses will take very good care of you, checking your vital signs frequently to make sure you're in good shape. You should definitely join the post-op team by monitoring your own sensations, pain levels and reactions to foods. Once you get home and begin to recover, you should continue to check yourself in the following 3 ways:

1) Carefully choose your diet and supplements.

The surgeon who performs your duodenal switch procedure will discuss diet with you both before and after your procedure. You will also be given dietary literature when you're discharged from the surgical facility. This material will explain the recommended foods to eat as your body gets used to post-op digestion.

For the first few weeks, you'll be limited to soft foods like meatloaf, applesauce and cottage cheese. It may help to plan your menus before your surgery to make it easier on yourself afterwards.

Remember that each patient will have his or her own specific dietary requirements, including the need for protein and supplemental vitamins. A diet that worked for another patent may not be best for you. Listen to your health care providers so you'll have the nutritional support you need to heal.

Pay careful attention to your diet when you first begin eating solid foods again. It may be helpful to try foods one at a time, and to jot down what you eat for a month or so, noting any reactions you may have to various foods. Share any unusual experiences with your surgeon.

2) Pay attention to your blood sugar levels.

While some studies suggest that duodenal switch surgery offers superior glycemic control in type 2 diabetes, when compared to other gastric surgeries, there is still a risk of hypoglycemia after any gastric surgery.

Your body's absorption of nutrients and fats will be affected after duodenal surgery, and so will its ability to absorb glucose.

You should plan to have extra testing supplies available after your procedure to monitor your blood glucose levels a bit more frequently. Let your doctor know about any dips or spikes, and be sure to document the foods and liquids you consumed prior to any abnormally high or low readings.

3) Listen to your body and be aware of any changes.

While duodenal switch appears to offer the most promising long-term results when it comes to weight loss, it does have risks like any surgical procedure.

Infection is always a concern, so let your doctor know if you feel any unusual pain, swelling or burning sensations in your stomach. Any pus or other strange or foul-smelling discharge from incision sites should be reported to your doctor right away. Take your temperature if you believe you may have an infection.

Also report any unusual nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

Monitoring your own health and nutrition, and sharing your findings with your health care team, is the best way to ensure you'll have a successful post-surgical outcome after your duodenal switch procedure. For more information about the procedure, contact a clinic such as Weight Loss Specialists of North Texas.

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