The week before your surgery is a time filled with excited anticipation and perhaps the nagging worry that any pre-op surgery patient feels. Many questions run through your mind and you may begin to feel overwhelmed and as though you have lost control.
There are many thing that you can do to feel in control of the procedure you are about to have. While you must rely on the skill of the bariatric surgical team on the day of surgery, you can take your fate and success into your own hands by following all the proper pre-op instructions.
1. Avoid or restrict the drinking of carbonated beverages: Carbonated beverages are infamous for causing gas. You need to limit the amount of these beverages you drink during the week before surgery so you do not have any additional gas or associated discomfort to deal with.
2. Avoid or restrict the amount of alcohol you drink: After your surgery, your liver may become extremely sensitive. Because alcohol damages the liver and is considered a toxin, you could be setting yourself up for pain and further liver damage by drinking during the week before your surgery.
3. Practice breathing and coughing: Being under anesthesia can increase your risk of pneumonia so coughing after surgery to expel mucus is extremely important. Because of the nature of your surgery though, you won’t be able to cough as you normally do so you need to practice splinting your abdomen with a pillow. Simply place the pillow over your abdomen and your hands on top of that, put a little bit of pressure on the abdomen and then cough. Practicing this before surgery is a must. It is also important to consciously breathe deeply. Fill your lungs with air and hold it for three seconds. Release the air with force as though you are blowing out a candle. Practicing each of these techniques three or more times a day during the week before surgery will help make it easier once surgery is complete.
4. Adjust your medications: Your doctor will discuss with you any changes you need to make in your medications during the week before surgery but, in general you should stop taking any blood thinners, herbal medications that thin blood or pain relievers with aspirin. You should also stop taking vitamin E and all appetite suppressants.
5. Eat only clear liquids until midnight: You can eat a normal breakfast in the day of your surgery, but after that you must take nothing but clear liquids like water, gelatin, popsicles and coffee until midnight. After midnight you cannot take ANYTHING by mouth other than the medications you have been instructed to take.
6. Pre-admittance: You will need to complete your hospital pre-admittance several days before the surgery. At that time you will have lab work, a chest x ray and an EKG. If you become ill in the days before surgery notify your doctor so that he or she can ensure you are safe for surgery.