No milk products X 3 days pre-op

[janiee 0]

Does anybody know why I am supposed to be off any milk products for three days(pre-op) and have a bowel prep the day before surgery?

Surgeon also told me that I will have a catheter in for 24 hours until I go home the next day.

[faithmd 14]

Well, some docs, especially those who primarily do the RNY still use the same guidelines for their band patients (meaning the bowel prep and leaving a catheter in). Is your pre-op diet for three days supposed to be Clear liquids? If so, then that's ther reason for no milk products. But if you can have anything, then that makes no sense. I'm thinking a steak will leave more residue in your bowel than a glass of milk would.

I would put my foot down and say no catheter, personally. There is no reason for it unless you are physically challenged in some way. The surgery is around an hour (little more, little less, depends) and then a short bit in the recovery room. All total I think I was away for a bathroom for about 5 hours. I can hold it for that long, how about you? And the MOST important thing to do post-op is to get up. If you have to pee, that's a great reason to get out of bed.

If you have said that if they can't band you then it's okay to convert to bypass, then I totally agree and understand the bowel prep. But if not, then I have a problem with a bowel prep pre-op. They aren't working anywhere near the bowel. But it is YOUR surgeon's requirement. I cannot advise you to do something against what s/he wants. If it bothers you, then I'd talk with him about it pre-op.

[janiee 0]

Thanks Faith:)

My surgeon is very experienced with the bypass and I think he has only been doing the lapband for about three years, so I have a suspiction that he has all of his patients do the same pre-op. I have been on Optifast mixed with milk since last Wed.(no food)ughhh!!!!

I am going to ask him about the cathater because I want to walk as much as I can after surgery without the darn cathater getting in my way:)