So your doctor recommended a Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy procedure, huh? Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. This surgery can sound scary, but it’s a common treatment for stomach ulcers, acid reflux, and weight loss surgery. The good news is that with some preparation and recovery time, most patients thrive after this procedure.
We will walk you through exactly what to expect before, during, and after your Roux-en-Y. You’ll learn how surgeons create a small pouch from your stomach and reroute part of your small intestine to bypass most of your stomach and the first part of your small intestine. This helps reduce stomach acid and improves digestion. By finishing this article, you’ll feel fully prepped and ready to tackle your procedure confidently.
Table of Contents
What Is a Roux-en-Y Gastrojejunostomy?
A Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy is a surgical procedure that creates a new connection from your stomach to your jejunum, the middle section of your small intestine. In this procedure, your surgeon will:
- Cut your stomach to create a small pouch at the top
- Cut your jejunum and connect the end of it to the new stomach pouch
- Close off the rest of your stomach from the jejunum
- This allows food to bypass a large portion of your stomach and small intestine.
The benefits of this type of gastric bypass surgery are significant weight loss and reduced risk of obesity-related health problems like diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. You’ll feel full sooner while eating and be satisfied with smaller portions.
Benefits and Indications of Roux-en-Y Gastrojejunostomy
Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy can benefit those suffering from ulcers, GERD, or other stomach issues. This surgical procedure reroutes your stomach and the upper part of your small intestine to help with digestion and reduce symptoms.
The most common reasons for having this type of gastric bypass surgery are:
- Severe acid reflux or GERD that hasn’t responded to medication or lifestyle changes. By altering the path of your stomach contents, reflux is reduced.
- Persistent ulcers in the stomach or duodenum that won’t heal. The surgery removes the portion of the stomach where ulcers form and attach the remaining stomach to the jejunum.
- Obesity. Roux-en-Y is one type of weight loss surgery that reduces the size of the stomach and causes changes in gut hormones to suppress appetite. Significant weight loss is typical, often 60-80% of excess body weight in the first year.
After surgery, you’ll follow a strict diet progression to allow your stomach to heal. At first, you’ll only be able to eat liquids and pureed foods. Over time, you can eventually advance to soft foods and solids. It’s important to go slowly and follow your doctor’s recommendations to avoid discomfort, pain or nausea.
What to Expect After Surgery
After your Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy surgery, the recovery process begins. Here’s what you can expect in the days and weeks following your procedure.
Pain and discomfort
It’s normal to experience pain, soreness, and discomfort for a while. Your doctor will prescribe pain medication to help manage this. Follow the directions carefully and let your doctor know if your pain is improving or worsening.
Dietary changes
Your diet will start with clear liquids, progressing slowly to soft foods, and then to regular foods as tolerated. This gradual process allows your digestive system to heal and adjust to the changes from surgery.
Fatigue
Recovering from major surgery often causes fatigue and tiredness for several weeks. Get extra rest, limit activities and visitors, and ask friends/family for help with chores like cooking, cleaning, errands or childcare.
Follow-up care
You’ll have frequent checkups with your doctor after leaving the hospital. Blood tests, endoscopies or X-rays may be needed to monitor your progress. Be sure to report any concerning symptoms immediately and follow all instructions carefully for optimal recovery and health following your Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy.
Conclusion
So there you have it, the basics of what to expect with a Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy. It may seem like a complicated procedure, but your skilled surgeon performs many surgeries and has a highly trained team to support your recovery. While the first few weeks of adjusting to your new anatomy may be challenging, focus on following your doctor’s diet, activity, and medication recommendations. Be patient through the ups and downs, connect with others who have had similar experiences, and maintain an optimistic outlook.