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  • Will I need to follow a special diet after surgery?

    Yes. Immediately following surgery, you will be placed on a clear liquid diet for about seven days. From there, your bariatric surgeon will allow you to transition to thicker liquids, such as protein shakes, and then on to soft solid foods. Everyone is different, so your post-surgery diet may look different from others.

    Then, for the long term, with your new stomach pouch only able to hold three to six ounces of food, your diet will need to be more focused on high-protein, nutrient-dense foods, and we suggest changing your eating pattern to six to eight smaller meals throughout the day.

  • What kind of follow-up care does AdventHealth provide?

    Your AdventHealth bariatric surgery team is with you every step of the way, from your first surgery consultation to providing support throughout your lifelong post-surgery weight-loss journey. All patients are required to follow up with their surgeon within two to three weeks after hospital discharge, followed by visits at six weeks, three months, six months and one year. From there, depending on your situation, surgery patients are asked to come in for follow-up appointments every six months to every two years.

    In addition to follow-up care with your surgeon, your AdventHealth bariatric surgery team includes a variety of specialists to help you on your journey, including registered dietitians, mental health professionals and exercise physiologists to help ensure you're eating right, getting enough exercise and are in the right mental space to be successful for the long term.

  • How is duodenal switch surgery different from gastric bypass?

    Both biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS) and gastric bypass are types of bariatric surgery. However, there are some main differences in what happens during the surgery. During gastric bypass, your bariatric surgeon creates a small pouch from your original stomach and reroutes your small intestine, which helps suppress the amount of food you can eat and how many calories and nutrients are absorbed by the body. BPD-DS also creates a stomach pouch and redirects the small intestine; however, it bypasses a larger portion of the small intestine, helping to provide greater weight loss.

  • Can duodenal switch surgery improve conditions like Type 2 diabetes?

    Yes. This is why BPD-DS is generally considered the best bariatric surgery option for people who have severe obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

  • Is the surgery reversible?

    No, it is not fully reversible. While the rerouting of the small intestine can be changed, the stomach pouch cannot be reversed.

  • How long does the surgery take, and what is the recovery time?

    BPD-DS surgery usually takes between three and four hours to complete. And patients generally stay in the hospital for two to three days before being discharged to continue their recovery at home.

  • How do I prepare for duodenal switch surgery?

    If your AdventHealth bariatric surgeon believes BPD-DS is right for you, they will provide you with a full checklist of what to do before your surgery and what to expect after. You will be asked to switch to a liquid-only diet a few days before surgery, and you may also have to adjust some medications you're taking. Your surgeon will order some medical tests to be done before surgery, and may also ask you to make some lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking or starting an exercise program.

  • How much weight can I expect to lose after the surgery?

    Patients can expect to lose between 60 and 85% of their starting body weight within the first two years of surgery. Normally, post-surgery patients experience a rapid weight loss during the first three months, which then becomes a slower, steadier weight loss for the remaining 12 to 18 months.

  • Are there any fees for paying my bill online?

    No, AdventHealth does not charge a fee for online bill payment.

  • Can I make a payment by phone?

    Yes, payments can be accepted by phone by contacting our Customer Service team at 855-241-2455.