Pre-Op Cold

[Nevermore 38]

My surgery is Monday (1/6/14).

Right before I went to bed last night, I started sniffing. I woke up at 1:30am with my head full of congestion. It's my worst nightmare coming true.

Two weeks before surgery, my cousin (who lives with me) came home from work with the full blown flu. Through much OCD handwashing, quarantining her to her room (my husband threatened to put in one of those prison door slides for food , and making her go to the doctor the next morning, I managed to avoid it.

Christmas day (cousin still in recovery), my hubby and I go to visit his family. We're there three days and four people in the house come down with the flu. I wash. I dodge body contact. I get the heck out of there!

I've taken great pains not to get sick just before surgery. Now, I'm all stuffy. I rushed out and got some Zicam lozenges and nose spray.

Anyone have any further suggestions for keeping the bugs at bay? If this postpones my surgery, I'll be livid.

[Comfy_Blue 285]

Oh no! I completely understand your pain because I teach first grade and believe me their personal hygiene habits leave MUCH to be desired. In the two weeks leading up to my surgery, I hand sanitized my hands raw, wore a hat and coat buttoned up under my chin everyday, wiped my desk down with Clorox wipes before eating my lunch, etc. And I STILL got a bug about a week before surgery.

If you have the option, I would highly recommend taking off from work and staying home to rest. On those rare occasions that I come down with something on a Friday, I find that if I literally stay in bed resting and sipping lots of Water and broth on the weekend, by Monday I usually feel much better. I also take NyQuil at night and sometimes during the day to help me rest comfortably.

Not a doctor, but I feel like when your body is sleeping, it can focus on fighting the germs with all it's strength. But when we're awake, we're spreading that strength out to do other things like walking, talking, driving our car, reading, etc.

That's what works for me anyway.

Good luck and I hope your surgery doesn't get post-poned, but if it does, don't be upset. It feels like it, but it isn't the end of the world. But again, I know that you're eager, because I was too.

[Nevermore 38]

Thanks! I am not working at the moment, so that's a plus. I was actually considering doing exactly what you said. Just dose up and stay in bed. I was concerned about the NyQuil.. but I just checked and it has acetaminophin (not supposed to have ibuprophen or aspirin before surgery) so it's okay! Thank you, Lord!

My biggest concern with postponing the surgery is not actually postponing the surgery. I've waited long enough, another week or two wouldn't be a big deal. It's staying on or redoing this liquid diet. I think I might eat my couch and kill Ronald McDonald if I had to do that. The good news of that is that I would definitely be able to plead insanity without question. heh

[dlc0963 22]

I am scheduled for Tuesday, January 14th and I have also come down with a nasty cold which was on the heals of food poise ing. I'm very worried that when I see the doctor on Monday he will delay the surgery.

[loveelaura 52]

I asked my surgeon about this and he said as long as it's not a sinus infection and there is no green stuff coming out, I'll be good to go. I know every surgeon is different though so maybe get into contact with yours. His/her answer may put you at ease !

[loveelaura 52]

I'm flying out for my surgery so I've also been taking preventive measures-- hand sani, Vitamin C drops, etc lol

[dandrassy 15]

My surgery is the 8th. I came down with a bad cold last Sunday. I called my primary doctor for meds and have been slowly feeling better. My pre-admission testing went well yesterday so I'm set for Wednesday. I would go by the other good suggestions and stay in bed all weekend. I'm definitely taking it easy until my Wednesday. Dreading my all liquids on Tuesday!

Feel better!

[MrsG 329]

Oh no!! My husband swears by Emergen-C and will drink it 3 times a day til he feels like the colds not coming on anymore. When he is sick hell still drink it 3 times daily and it lessens the longevity of the cold. Idk, but he hasn't been sick with a cold for a long time! Good luck and hang in there!!

[mona832 20]

Oh noo! I hope you are doing much better by now

[Amanda Nicole Hosaflook 65]

I'm in the same boat. I have surgery Wednesday and have had a terrible cold all week. I can't take anything either. Blah...

[dlc0963 22]

My cold has now gone into my chest and I have a horrible cough. I see the surgeon today and I guess I will find out if this will delay the surgery in any way. Fingers crossed no because I don't want to so another two weeks of the liquid diet if you know what I mean.

[Nevermore 38]

I called my surgeon and he basically told me that if I can breathe clearly and had no fever for a week before surgery, then it'll be fine. The anesthesiologist grilled me pretty hard about it. I still has a lot of drainage but could breathe fine and never got a fever. I'm day three post op now. It made the recovery process harder since my throat was already bad from the drainage and then added 36 hours with nothing to drink, but I made it. Thanks for the help and responses everyone!