As you recover at home, you will need to follow your surgeon’s instruction exactly.

During your first few days at home you will be on a restricted liquid diet. You will have been given exact instructions during your pre-operative education class regarding your diet progression.

You will be able to shower on the second day after surgery.

You should take a short walk on the day you get home from the hospital and increase your activity as you feel comfortable. Do not do activities that make you overly tired.

You will see your surgeon approximately one week after surgery and again at 3 weeks after surgery.

You will not be able to drive until your surgeon allows you to do so. This is usually at least 24 hours after you have stopped taking narcotic pain medication.

Depending upon the type of job you have, you may be able to return to work as soon as one week. Most patients are able to return to work by 3 weeks. Your surgeon will let you know when you may return to work.

You may find that you may feel weak for several weeks after surgery. This is normal. You will begin to regain your strength as you recover from surgery and as your diet progresses. By 3 months you should begin to feel “normal.”