Question:
Has anyone eaten just 5 hours before surgery?

   — GreatDaneMommy (posted on July 26, 2005)


July 25, 2005
I had to fast 24 hours before wls surgery. Actually I've never had any surgery where I could eat or drink after midnight. What do you mean, eat five hours before surgery???
   — Danmark

July 26, 2005
Only if a person is looking to become high risk for complications would they drink or eat 5 hours before surgery. Normally it's after midnight you cannot eat or drink, but if you have a late afternoon surgery sometimes they will let you eat or drink something up to 8-12 hours before. Follow what the surgeon and anesthesiologist tell you!
   — zoedogcbr

July 26, 2005
with surgery they tell you dont eat or drink after midnight. If you have NOT followed your surgeons orders... please let them know. Eating before surgery and NOT telling them could mean death.
   — star .

July 26, 2005
If someone had eaten 5 hours prior to surgery I would question their ability to handle post op eating. I was required to fast for 24 hours, but it ended up being closer to 36.
   — RebeccaP

July 26, 2005
Most people need to be on a liquid diet the 24 hours before their surgery. It is very important that you tell the doctor that you had something to eat, you could regurgetate food into your throat while you are under and stop breathing.
   — ChristineB

July 26, 2005
Your surgery that you have worked so hard to get could very possibly be cancelled. I echo what someone else said already, If you can't do what's right now and what your surgeon wants you to do, then will you be able to survive in post op life? I am not blasting you at all. I know it is really hard but the bottom line is how bad do you want this surgwry to sabatoge yourself. If you do eat five hours before your surgery, you need to tell your surgeon. Sure, he will probably cancel your surgery but if he does it, you could regurgiatate and die on the table.
   — Delores S.

July 26, 2005
I had to be on a clear liquid diet for 72 hours before my surgery august 2001, I was serious about this whole weight loss thing and knew I had to follow my doctors orders to be successful. I had to completely fast after midnight on the day of surgery. I had to tell myself that this is a once in a lifetime chance to finally be healthy and thin. It is mind over matter and I was never good at that. But I did make it. In answer to your question. Do NOT eat or you may find out the surgery won't work or worse you may not be around to find out. I also agree with the others about the life or death thing. I did the self-talk thing about how it was only for a short time for a long term improvement. Please listen to your doctor and if you have eaten tell him(her). See I had to wait 9 months from the time my Cardiologist told me to have the surgery to live and I certainly didn't want to wait any longer. If you can just make it through the pre-op and have the surgery you will find that you have made a change in your life for the better. The question I have is: Will you be able to not eat after the surgery if you aren't able to prepare for the surgery? I hope you make it and get to live a great life after weight loss like the one that I have been given. I lobe my life now. I still have some heart problems, and arthritis, fibromyalgia and asthma but I am now in a lot less distress than before and my sleep apnea improved and I can walk. God Blees you and good luck.
   — bzerm01

July 26, 2005
I had to drink a citrate of magnisuim at 4 pm the day before surgery and be on clear liquids till midnight. At midnight nothing. I also wasnt able to eat post op till after i had a leak test....so if you cant make it thru this fast how will u follow eating rules after. LIKE liquids for the first 2 weeks.....then puree...... EATING BEFORE surgery isnt good. SORRY (((HUG))
   — fr1endly2

July 27, 2005
Dawna, I agree with everything the other posters have said and would like to add something. It isn't even about not being able to follow doctors orders pre-op meaning you won't follow the program post-op, it is more importantly about what eating 5 hours before surgery can do while you ARE IN surgery. If you eat and have food undigested in your stomach during surgery, you run the risk of having that food come back up on you and possibly choking on your own vomit. I know this sounds disgusting, but that is the truth. My doctor and nurses explained this pre-op and stressed how important this was. Just my two cents worth. Good luck and best wishes.
   — Stephanie W.

July 27, 2005
I was told to not eat after midnight and had my surgery at around 10am the following day. I know of someone that didn't follow directions. Dr opened her up, saw food and very politely closed her right back up. The surgery cannot be performed safely with food in the stomach. It is bad enough when surgery is on another body part. But it is being done on the stomach! There cannot be food in the digestive tract.
   — misha




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