Question:
How long before surgery should you start fasting?
My doctor gave us a pre op sheet telling us no food after midnight the day before surgery. It seems to me I should stop eating before this, wouldn't there still be food in my stomach? — Cindi S. (posted on February 22, 2003)
February 22, 2003
Well I wouldnt gorge myself on a last supper and finish exactly at
midnight. Have a normal dinner and snack, the day before surgery dont
overeat.
— bob-haller
February 22, 2003
Every doctor is different, but mine had me do only clear liquids the day
before, and then nothing after midnight. It was HARD just doing the clear
liquids for a DAY, and I wondered how I'd do it for a week after surgery!
LOL! But, it's totally different. TOTALLY! And even now, if I don't feel
well, I go back to liquids for a day, and it's not a big deal. You'll be
amazed and how things change after surgery. GOOD LUCK! I'm sending good
thoughts your way!
— Diana L.
February 22, 2003
My doc's orders were clear liquid dinner the night before, nothing by mouth
starting at midnight, show up at hospital at 4:30 AM.
I had a light lunch, snack, clear liquid dinner, some jello and water
between then and midnight. Then nothing at all.
— Diane M.
February 22, 2003
My doctor said clear liquids after noon the day before surgery and then
nothing after midnight. I have to be at the hospital at 11:30.
— Alicia B.
February 22, 2003
You can doublecheck with your surgeon, but mine had the same rule as yours.
I didn't have to spend two days cleaning out my colon, or on a diet to
reduce my fatty liver, or have a mandatory weight loss requirement, before
surgery. This is one of those things that seems doc-specific. Maybe you
should just eat light the night before, rather than have a big meal, but I
had no problems and simply followed my doc's orders about no eating or
drinking after midnight the night before surgery.
— Suzy C.
February 22, 2003
I had my last meal of prime rib and a baked potato at 11:00 pm the night
before my surgery, and was in surgery at 6:00 am the next morning. I
haven't had one complication from the surgery at all. You need something in
your system, because you must have a bowel movement before you can leave
the hospital. Your surgeon has followed the rules he gave you for all of
his surgeries, if you trust him to do the operation, trust him on this.
Open RNY 11-11-02, down 100lbs
— dkinson
February 22, 2003
Listen to me because I know from experience. The sooner you start fasting,
the better! I was told exactly what you were told, "Don't eat after
midnight." Wrong!!!! They should have told me not to eat too much
for at least a couple of days. When I got my surgery date I started eating
as if I was never going to see food again. But let me tell you what
happened. I am sure it will gross you out but it's for your own good. The
day after surgery I started throwing up for three days straight, Black
Vomit!!! The smell and sight of it was enough to kill the rats in New York
City. It was actual SHIT coming out of my mouth. So do me a favor, before
you put any food in your mouth, think about it!!!!
— Regina C.
February 22, 2003
MY dr had me start a liquid diet ( all liquids except alcohol or milk
products) two days before surgery....and then nothing at all after midnight
night before surgery.. it seemed to work just fine for me. Good luck!
— Cynthia M.
February 22, 2003
You are all lucky (except the person with poop coming out of her mouth,
which I don't really think is possible, but who knows?). My Doc requires 6
WEEKS of Optifast prior to surgery! I am stuffing it in as fast as I can
now, because in 1 and 1/2 weeks, it's back to those yucky shakes. I have
heard generally that no food after midnight is the rule, although I agree
with other posters --don't overdo. Have your last meal 2 nights before.
— [Deactivated Member]
February 22, 2003
My first thought was: all surgeons are different. After reading the
responses WOW is that true. My doctor says, no solids after 3p the day
prior, clear liquids up to midnight. I also have to drink a bottle of
magnesium citrate to clean me out. Best of luck to you....
Peg L/rny/3/7/03 5ft 6 inches 306 lbs
— Peg L
February 22, 2003
Standard operating procedure for most places is "nothing by mouth
after midnight' before surgery. That usually includes liquids as well as
food. I had to be on clear liquids for 24 hours before, as that was my
surgeon's preference. They will be operating on your upper GI system, and
whatever you eat up until midnight will most likely have moved on the the
nether parts of your GI system. There will be no food in your stomach.
Eat what you want, or switch to clear liquids (nothing red) the day before
if you wish.
— koogy
February 22, 2003
INGA as a nurse working in the ER, several years ago a patient was brought
in from the nursing home with a severe bowel obstruction. She started
vomiting and it looked like and smelled like poop. She died a short few
minutes later. So, it is possible.
— Delores S.
February 22, 2003
I asked my surgeon who requires a 2 day bowell prep of mag citrate and day
2 of antibiotics and this was his answer. Being totally cleaned out gives
us a bit more room since we doi the surgery LAP, the day 2 of antibiotics
decrease the risk of infection while minimizing bacteria in the gut that
leads to ulcers post op. This statement really cleared up my wonderment.
— bob-haller
February 22, 2003
INGA and everyone: AS for bowel movements coming out of the mouth -- IT
HAPPENED TO ME! I had a complete bowel obstruction and had emergency
surgery last NOvember 30. By the time I made it to the OR, I was vomitting
pure blood. I remember becoming conscious after surgery and getting
cleaned up. I was still paralyzed and unable to respond but I could hear
and feel everything. The staff in recovery exclaimed 'She has crap in her
hair! Let's get the good shampoo out!' I was really confused about that
comment. Then, they completely washed my head (as well as my body). I
asked an anesthesiologist when I was awake in the ICU a few days later what
had happened. She told me that, as soon as my head was lowered, feces
started to literally flow out of my nose and mouth! She said that's how I
got the stuff all over my hair and it was pretty urgent in the OR for
awhile! I was in really, really, REALLY bad shape. I required 5 blood
transfusions in the OR (and one that I remember in the ICU days later).
The surgeon had to remove 3-5 feet of my small bowel because it had become
necrotized and deadened. I'm so glad he was able to reconnect things and I
had a smooth recovery (albeit rough the first week). THANK GOD I am alive
to tell the tale! :):) Thank GOD for my wonderful surgeon, Dr. Herron,
who got me through those dark hours! I wouldn't have thought that one
could have feces coming out of the mouth but since I had a COMPLETE
blockage, everything just came up! I was really hanging unto my last
thread of life - and I realize that now all the more with the post about
the elderly woman who died of the intestinal blockage not long after
throwing up feces. I'm just glad I wasn't conscious when that occured. I
freaked out enough when I was vomitting blood! Praise the Lord, and I MEAN
IT! :) All the best, (lap BPD/DS with gallbladder removal, January 24,
2001 Emergency internal hernia-complete blockage/resection/BPD-DS
revision/appendectomy (THE WORKS), November 30, 2002 PREOP: 307 lbs/bmi
45 NOW - 2 years post-op: 150 lbs/bmi 21)
— Teresa N.
February 23, 2003
Wow, I sure stand corrected. I guess the thought of poop coming out of the
mouth of so awful I just couldn't fathom it!
— [Deactivated Member]
February 23, 2003
Go with what your surgeon says. My surgeon had the same rule. He did not
require any cleaning out. My open RNY was at 12:00 noon the next day. The
surgery took 45 minutes, and I had no complications (well, a bit of
asthma). From what I have seen, all surgeons have their own rule. If you
trust your surgeon ( and if she or he has done lots of WLS), trust his/her
rules!
— Beth S.
February 23, 2003
I would do as your doctor instructs. The only thing is, I would not take it
to the letter and eat and eat, right up until the stroke of midnight. The
most important thing would be to drink a lot of fluids up until the last
minute. I have had some bad experiences with dehydration when it comes to
starting an IV/drawing blood. A nurse told me to always make a point of
drinking plenty of fluids the day before blood tests. I am actually going
for my gallbladder removal tomorrow (16 months after my RNY). I was told no
food or drink after midnight for this surgery. I will probably stop eating
after 6PM, but drink bottled water until bedtime. I was on liquids for two
days prior to my RNY. I was lucky not to have to do any of the bowel prep
stuff. Every surgeon is different in what they require. Just as you are
trusting them to do the surgery, you need to trust their presurgery
requirements as well.
— Julie S.
February 23, 2003
Red liquid can be mistaken for blood.
— Toni C.
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