Question:
What about a last meal
My surgeon's instructions are to eat or drink nothing after midnight. My family and I are planning on eating an early supper 5 or 6 of Italian food ( my favorite). This just seems kind of wrong to me. What do you guys think?? I was also wondering if I should do some kind of enema or something before my surgery to kind of "clean everything out" I obviously will check with the nurse but as always cherish all of your advise. By the way, speedy response will be greatly appreciated. I am leaving Mon (12th) afternoon and will check bevore I leave Thanks — Faith B. (posted on July 9, 2004)
July 9, 2004
Have your "last meal" the day before the eve of your surgery. My
surgeon wanted me to have a small meal finished by 7pm the night before my
surgery. You don't want all that food in your intestines when you are
undergoing surgery in that area. Bad stuff.
— [Deactivated Member]
July 9, 2004
I agree with the last post. Have your meal two days before surgery. That
way you will have no problems. I was told to eat a liquid diet the day
before my surgery. I had to take a laxitive. It was done before bed that
night. My mother had to take three the day before. She had to space them
out throu the day. Remember all dr's are different. Yours may give you an
enema in the hospital. Good luck.
— Cameron Van Winkle
July 9, 2004
My Dr had me on full liquids a week before surgery, and clear liquids 2
days before. Has your Dr given you instructions like that? If not, I
still wouldn't have anything too heavy the day before. Good Luck to you.
— KellyJeanB
July 9, 2004
I wouldnt do that. My Dr. advise me that 2 weeks prior to my surgery I am
to go on a high protein diet and 2 days prior to the surgery clear liquids.
I would call you Dr. just to find out. You dont want anything complicating
your surgery good luck!
— srtchick
July 9, 2004
Is your wls lap or open? It could be the difference. Maybe your surgeon
is one of those who will just suction all the undigested food out of you
when you're open. My surgeon said npo after midnight and no bowel prep but
I had been eating light for 3 days anyway. I had my RNY open. If a person
is having wls lap, that is probably the reason for liquid and clear diet
for a week or 2 before surgery. Hard and time consuming to suction out
food through a lap port. You're leaving Monday, for, I assume, surgery on
Tuesday?, have that Italian meal on Saturday and enjoy! Have salads and
soups and tons of water on Sunday and Monday.
— mary ann T.
July 9, 2004
The mistake I made pre op was thinking each meal was my "last
meal"
I can tell you that this will NOT be your last. I would stick to the light
or liquid meal as its better before a abdominal surgery. You WILL be able
to eat all your favs again...PROMISE!! My DR didn't require a bowel prep,
check with yours to see what the plan is. Best of luck!
— ZZ S.
July 9, 2004
My surgery is on Monday the 19th and I have to take 1.5 oz of Phospo soda
Saturday morning and nothing but clear liquids from that point on! They
told me this would give them a better view (lap) and so that there would be
no undigested food left in my old stomach. I am having my favorite meal
on Friday the 16. Good luck to you!!
— jennifer S.
July 9, 2004
I had a lap RNY 17 months ago, with no prep other than having nothing to
eat or drink after midnight of the night before surgery. Not a planned
thing, but my husband and I ended up being out for dinner for the 4 nights
before surgery---Chinese, steak, Italian then Thai. I healed well with no
ill effects. I would though, follow the advice of your doctor.
— Fixnmyself
July 9, 2004
I'm just 6 weeks post-op and the day before my surgery was all liquids. You
may need to consider having this meal tonight instead of tomorrow. They
want your system cleansed and empty so that when they cut into your
intestinal tract it should be empty.. This way it reduces the chance of
getting an infection inside your body from foreign gunk floating around. 3
years ago I had to have an emergency surgery because the surgeon cut my
esophagus in half while doing lap surgery and the nurses kept telling me to
eat and drink, I'd feel better and be able to go home sooner. I did and
felt worse.. I convinced them to keep me an do more test to see WHY I WAS
SO SICK.. They did a barium swallow and found my esophagus cut, therefore
all that I had been drinking and eating was floating in my abdominal
cavity. I was back in surgery where they OPENED me up just like for GBP
surgery. This was to repair the esophagus and to clean me out so that
peritenitis didn't set in.. Then stayed in intensive care for 11 days. NOT
FUN.. Im sorry I was so long winded, but thats one reason you need to be
CLEANED OUT. Second reason is because your intestines go to sleep to when
you are put to sleep. It takes them several days sometimes to wake up and
get bowel sounds again.... I would have my final dinner tonight. You can
eat & drink "liguids" up until midnight so have yourself a
cup of broth or popsickles before going to bed.. BEST WISHES TO YOU AND
HOPE YOU HAVE A SPEEDY RECOVERY.. TAKE CARE
— smoore_911
July 9, 2004
I also drank a SMALL bottle of magnesium citrate.. Lemon flavor.. It tasted
like lemonade the day before surgery. I stared it about 5pm. My last an
final BM was at the hospital while in the holding area. It is a mild
intestinal tract cleaner
— smoore_911
July 10, 2004
I was advised NOT to do the infamous "last supper" the night
before. It was recommended that if you wanted to do it, do it at least 10
days before your surgery. Of course they told me this 4 days before, but
oh well. I was very intent on have all the sugar out of my liver so that
my surgery would not be so complicated.
Good luck to you on your endeavor. I haven't regretted one moment.
— Donna T.
July 10, 2004
I was put on a clear liguids diet for the two days prior to surgery. My
surgery was on a Monday so on Saturday I started clear liquids and drank
some Fleet phosphate laxative, something that cleaned me out. I then could
have nothing after midnight Sunday.
— jforten
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