Bariatric Surgery Journey

Bariatric Specialty Clinic, Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre

First Step| Wait Times| Assessment / Preparation| Surgery| At Home| Life After Bariatric Surgery

First Step

You will receive a letter confirming your referral has been received and accepted. You will then be contacted by the clinic to set up a time for your group orientation. This class discusses what bariatric surgery is, what is required to be successful and helps you to decide if this is the right decision you. It may take 6 or more months from the time you receive your letter to the scheduling of the group orientation class.

Wait Times

View Bariatric Specialty Clinic service listing under the heading of Access to see up-to-date information about our wait times.

Note: Acceptance into the program is not a guarantee that surgery will be an option for you. Each patient is assessed individually with a care plan is established for each patient

Assessment / Preparation

You will work with your team of providers to set goals, work on behavior change and develop healthy habits.

You will attend individual appointments and virtual classes to give you the information you will need for lifelong success.

You will meet with specialist physicians, such as internal medicine, psychiatry, as required

Once your team feels you are ready for surgery, you will have an appointment to meet with the bariatric surgeon to discuss surgical options. If you decide surgery is the right option for you, you will sign a consent for surgery and then be placed on the surgical wait list.

Note: From the date of signing the consent for surgery to surgical date may be 18 months or more.

We are aware that these wait times are discouraging.  We are actively working to address these issues.

Surgery

Medications

You may be prescribed the following:

When You Arrive

  • Go directly to Unit 24.
  • Once on the unit, you will confirm your identification and health history. You have followed instructions about what medications to take the day of surgery.

Your Surgery

  • You will be taken via stretcher to the operating room (OR) holding area. There you will meet one of the nurses caring for you and your anesthetist. You will be asked to confirm your identification, the surgery you will be having, review your surgical consent and discuss any other concerns at this time.
  • You will then be wheeled or walked to the OR and asked to move onto the OR bed.
  • An IV will be started in the OR.
  • After surgery you will be taken to the recovery room, where you will be closely monitored as you wake up from surgery.

When You Wake Up

At Home

Hygiene

  • You may shower once you get home.
  • Do not take a bath, use a hot tub or swim until your incisions are completely healed, usually one month after surgery.
  • Incision Care After Surgery

Physical Activity

  • For the first month after surgery, start with short walks a few times a day. As you feel better, you will be able to walk longer distances, more frequently. Remember- movement is medicine.
  • You may resume sexual activity when you are comfortable and feel ready to do so.
  • Do not carry or lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for 4 – 6 weeks. This would include grocery bags, laundry, suitcases. vacuum cleaners, pets and children!
  • Speak to your surgeon or your RN Case Manager about when it is safe to resume other activities and exercise routines.

Surgical Complications

Monday – Friday 8 am to 4 pm, you may call the clinic if you are unsure as to what to do. One of the RNs will advise you of next steps.

Life After Bariatric Surgery

Discharge from the Clinic

At the twelve month mark, you will be transitioned back to your family physician and community resources as required who will continue to monitor your ongoing health.

Understanding Your Weight After Surgery

  • Bariatric surgery is a tool to help you manage obesity and improve your overall health
  • People lose weight at different rates. Periods of rapid weight loss followed by periods of no weight loss are common in the first year after surgery. Some people will lose weight at a fairly consistent rate. Don’t compare your progress with others.
  • Many people expect to lose more weight than may be realistic. Therefore do not set weight loss goals. Having unrealistic expectation may bring up negative emotions when the goal is not met. Instead focus on improvements in your overall health overall wellbeing.
  • It is important it understand the concept of best weight. A patient's best weight is whatever weight they achieve while living the healthiest lifestyle they can truly enjoy. There comes a point when a person cannot eat less or exercise more and still like their life.
  • Weight regain of 5 – 10% after you have reached your lowest weight is not unusual. This weight would be your best weight.
  • You will likely still have obesity following bariatric surgery, but you will hopefully enjoy the many health and lifestyle benefits weight loss offers.

Nutrition

Relationships

  • Some people may be jealous or resentful of your weight loss and may try to sabotage your weight management efforts. You will need to be prepared to communicate assertively with these people. Invite them to change their attitude and become part of your support system. Sadly, if they are not willing to change, the relationship may have to end.
  • You may find a new confidence after weight loss which results in creating new and healthy relationships. Surround yourself with people who are positive and who support you.

Managing Mental Health

  • You might expect to experience only positive emotions and improved mental health after surgery as you have lost weight. However, as with any major life event, you may experience negative emotions as well, such as sadness, anger, stress, boredom, depression and anxiety.
  • You may have regrets about having had the surgery at all. Be prepared to experience both emotional ups and downs.
  • You can manage your mental health using resources already in place.

Suggested Resources