Hi All:

I have -- for the first time in, like, 10 years -- a horrible head cold and cough. I'm battling it with all the forces in the Universe, both homeopathic and traditional, am on a course of Z-Pack antibiotics, just in case, and am taking it easy. I know that if I don't get better, they will cancel my surgery, and that is NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!!

Anyway, I only have to get down to 189 for my surg -- a loss of 9 pounds....and I'm almost there with 9 days remaining. In order to stomach the medication, I'm eating some Ritz crackers in addition to my two Protein shakes and one Lean Cuisine a day.

Has anyone else been sick close to their surgery date?

Blue

Hope u feel better. Without a clean bill of health from my family doc and my surgeon , no one would come near me. That's most cases I believe. Don't get discouraged. U need to be on top of your game.

Hey bandtwin! Everyone around me has had bronchitis and I have had the bad, productive cough. I went to the Dr. a week ago and was told it wasn't in my lungs, so they didn't give me anything for it. I was hoping for a zpack too, just in case. I told them of my surgery. But no go, so I've been fighting it OTC ever since. The cough is better, but its not completely gone. I go for an xray and ekg on Monday, so I HOPE it's even better by then. I do not want to postpone this... (Mainly cause I've been 6 days on the preop diet and I will be mad if that has to be extended or repeated!)

Hope you get better!!

Oh boy, binab, I have the exact same thing....we really ARE twins! LOL

We HAVE to kick this! I'm flying to San Diego a week from tomorrow.....I am taking every precaution and am prepared to cancel surgery (the thought of coughing after abdominal surgery = terror) but I don't wanna!

We have a week. Let's kick this thing to the CURB!

Blue

It seems to me that you will have ample time to recover from your cold. Just prior to my surgery last February, my asthma returned after being essentially dormant for over 20 years.

My PCP said that breathing issues, whatever the cause will interfere with the safety of administering anesthesia...and can cause surgery to be postponed.

Get your rest, take the advice of your doctor. I hope you are well in time for your surgery...

Nine days should be plenty of time to kick your cold and cough. Drink plenty of fluids and tea.

I understand eating with your meds, I'm the same way and if I dont eat, I get very nauseous. I would not eat Ritz crackers, as I think they are high in fat .. You would be better off with dry wheat bread toast or Rye Vita crackers.

It's best to begin to focus on adjusting your eating patterns now to those you will need to comply with post op. Dry toast of any description/content and crackers are prime culprits for precipitating stuck episodes post op.

I definitely understand the limitations of taking medications on an empty stomach; I don't tolerate that well. What you want to do is to coat the lining of your stomach. Though I understand that dairy products may increase the production of mucus in your body, and are not the best choice now, in the future consider drinking some 1% milk or eating SF very low fat yogurt when taking your meds will be helpful.

I'd try some no sugar added natural applesauce to take along with your medications. You can even take the meds with your Protein shakes. But stay away from the dry wheat products; they are not your friends post op.

I don't do dairy, but applesauce is a great idea, and I have some here. Thanks for that!

Are you staying at the hampton inn by chance? I'll be there the 27th, & 29th having surgery with dr almanza aug 28th in tijuana...

No, I'm at the Marriott in Tijuana on the 26th, then spending the 27th in the hospital, flying home on the 28th.... :-(