Before Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery

Admission

Unless your surgeon or anaesthetist has advised otherwise, you’ll be admitted to hospital on the morning of your surgery. In some case, such as if you have specific medical conditions, they may recommend coming in the night before so we can monitor you more closely and ensure you’re comfortable.

Please take a thorough shower before coming in, and bring along everything you’ll need for your hospital stay. If there’s anything you’re still unsure about or would like to ask, feel free to write your questions down and bring them with you. We’re here to support you, every step of the way. If your surgery is scheduled for the morning, you’ll need to stop eating and drinking from midnight the night before. If your surgery is in the afternoon, you may have a light breakfast at 6am, but please don’t eat or drink anything after that.

Medications

Bring all of your medications with you, including any over-the-counter or herbal remedies, so we can make sure everything is safely managed. Please continue taking your medications unless your anaesthetist or surgeon has advised otherwise.

During the admission process, you’ll meet several members of your care team, including your surgeon, anaesthetist, admission nurse, and theatre nurse. Each of them may ask similar questions, and while this might feel repetitive, it’s a key part of ensuring your safety. Please don’t hesitate to use this time to ask anything that’s on your mind.

Once you’ve been admitted and changed into your theatre gown and TED stockings (these help prevent blood clots in your legs), you’ll wait in a calm preoperative area until the operating theatre is ready. A warming blanket is often provided to help keep you cosy and relaxed. Just before surgery, a final safety check will take place between the theatre and admission staff. Then, when the time comes, you’ll be taken gently into the operating theatre.