Question:
Yikes--how will I manage to not drink until 2pm??

My surgery isn't until 2pm in the afternoon, but naturally I still have the usual rule of nothing to eat/drink after midnight the night before. Every other surgery in my life has been at the crack of dawn, so being thirsty or hungry beforehand wasn't too much of an issue. Any tips on how I won't be dying of thirst/hunger? Did anyone else have an afternoon surgery? How did it work out?    — Laurie A. (posted on September 17, 2002)

September 16, 2002
suck on ice and spit out the liquid. Swish water in your mouth and spit it out. And then...just suffer and be glad your surgery is not at 5pm!!!. Sorry, this is a stupid rule...physiologically this is not necessary to have nothing by mouth (fluid wise) except about 2 hours before surgery, and in some countries, they do not make you skip fluids at all before surgery, but here, in the progressive USA, that is what they do!! Good luck to you!
   — Vicki L.

September 16, 2002
My surgery was at 9 a.m. Therefore, I did not drink anything from midnight the night before, or for a total of 9 hrs. My surgery went fine. I would actually suggest that you adjust the rules a bit and allow yourself to drink until 5 a.m. (if you're actually awake to do it!). This should make your wait a lot more tolerable. Good luck!
   — Terissa R.

September 17, 2002
My surgery was scheduled for 2pm *smiling thinking of that day* I had to be at the hospital at 11 so I slept as late as I could.. drank water until midnite... and to be honest, I was so nervous, happy, scared and excited.. it didn't matter. You'll get through it.. its one of the easiest parts.. the harder part for me was right after, I was no allowed water, only ice chips... that's harder...
   — Lisa C.

September 17, 2002
It sounds funny, but use chapstick to keep your lips moist. I don't know why it helps, but it will.
   — Amber L.