Been reading alot of posts . Some make me thoughtful, and some give me hope. But some make me giggle.....NPO is latin for:

N nothing

P per (latin for by)

O os (latin for mouth)

Which is loosly translated to mean: nothing by mouth.

The danger in anesthesia is that as you intubate a person and they have food in their stomach they could aspirate the stomach contents. Hence anesthesia keeps you NPO after midnight for surgery.

I see that there is a great range of pre-op restrictions to food some liquid for 1-2 weeks and some just a reasonable diet and NPO 24 hours before the procedure.

I think the doctors that restrict calories 1-2 weeks prior to procedure are being kinder to the pt.

I went from 3300 yes 3 3 0 0 cal per day to 600/day post op. It was like hitting a freight train of hunger. It left me very weak and tired after surgery. Now .....back to today's posts.... love em!

Just hang in there you will get use to it. It will all be worth it!

cheri