Question:
Does it matter if you have a cold when you go into surgery or will they reschedule?

   — Renee B. (posted on March 9, 2009)

March 9, 2009
My surgeon told me he would reschedule if I had a cold. My GP gave me nasal spray to ward off congestion.
   — kristina838

March 9, 2009
It does matter and most surgeons and anesthesiologists will not operate if you even have a sniffle...The anesthesiologist can cancel or postpone your surgery as well as your surgeon if he suspects you are sick. They only postpone by a week or two to let you heal! My surgeon made us all go get ZICAM before surgery to prevent any colds and make any we do get move out really fast! I LOVE the stuff works amazing!
   — .Anita R.

March 9, 2009
They gave me antibiotics a week before the surgery and told me they weren't worried about it, but if the anesthesiologist thinks you are having breathing difficulties, you'll either be postponed or wake up with a trach or a sore throat from a breathing tube, so it's best to arrive sniffle free. Good luck with your new life. I'm loving mine. :) Dusty @};-
   — Dusty Ray Vaughn

March 9, 2009
My surgery was set for 3/11 and I have a cold and they have already postponed it. My doctor told me that there is no way he would even consider surgery on anyone that has a cold. Risk of pneumonia too great.
   — troggdog73

March 9, 2009
Most will postpone. You don't want to be having an anesthetic when any part of your airway is already compromised. Seems like 90 per cent of WLS patients get a wicked cold just before surgery LOL - we talked about this on another board recently and were all comiserating with each other. I had a brutal cold and minor pneumonia thru January but by 2 weeks out it was largely gone. They did proceed because I was feeling so good a week ahead of surgery but they sure monitored me closely!
   — mountainmike

March 9, 2009
See your primary care doctor. I woke up with sniffles 2 days before surgery, went to primary and she decided it was allergies and gave me a nose spray. The surgery went forward. Good luck!
   — Muggs

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