Question:
I am scheduled on Thursday and I am getting a cold

I am scheduled for Surgery on Thursday and I am starting to get a cold. Can someone have surgery with a cold? what are the risks? Will it complicate things? Anyone have experience with this?    — [Anonymous] (posted on July 8, 2001)

July 8, 2001
I has surgery on a Monday and started with a cold on Thursday. I took Coldeeze around the clock until Sunday night and it really did work. I doubted it would but by Saturday I was feeling pretty good.
   — Shannon S.

July 8, 2001
I caught Bronchitis 2 weeks before surgery. Took antibotics but still had a horrible cough. I was afraid to tell the doc, but told the anestheseaologist the day of surgery. The antibiotics they give you in the hospital helped.
   — Cheryl C.

July 8, 2001
I had a stuffy nose and the anestigioligist (sp) said he would take care of it . Be careful with the medicines you take for your cold, anything other then tylenol can make your blood thinner and cause more bleeding. This happened to me, had to have 2 pts blood and 2 pts plasma because I was not clotting. Scared the begeebies out of me. Good luck and you will be in my prayers. Karen
   — KAREN T.

July 9, 2001
I had the same problem. My first surgery was scheduled for May 30th. On May 26th I came down with a sore throat, cough, the regular cold symptoms. I called my surgeon and he said absolutely not. He said "why risk your life for surgery that can wait a few weeks?". We have a risk of pneumonia anyway, why greater the risk? I am glad I waited. Of course, I have had another cold since then and still have not had surgery!! Good Luck in whatever you should do.
   — Denise H.

July 10, 2001
Hi. I did the same thing before my surgery. I was so scared that I wouldn't be able to have surgery. Our family has a "cold formula" now. I don't know what works the best of this mixture but it has worked for us for a couple years now. As soon as we have any sign of a cold...we start taking three things. Echinacea, Cold Eze (with zinc) cough drops and Vitamin C. My cold seems to come to a halt when I do this. Especially, if I catch it early. My niece was going through nursing school and got us started doing this and it's worked ever since. I still had a little cough when I went for my preop testing. They checked me out and said I was fine for surgery the next day. I also asked if the "cold formula" might harm me in any way when mixed with the surgery/anesthesia and they said that No...I would be fine. All went well. I would ask your surgeon or his nurse before taking it..but I think it would help you. Good luck!
   — Nicole P.

July 10, 2001
I came down with a cold several days before surgery...I was upset that this happen, because I had gone through all winter without the flu or a cold...and Boom, a few days before surgery I get the runny nose, sore throat watery eyes and all. But I started downing the Zinc every 2-3 hours...and I felt 100% better right before surgery...Also, drink tons of water, that will flush your system out. Well I had to be on a clear liquid diet 24 hours before surgery anyhow, and that really helped me out. Good Luck on your surgery and getting rid of your cold. I am 4 months Post-op and down 88 Pounds WoooHooo!! =o)
   — Kimberly N.