Anyone have their surgery when they had a cold?

[songsmith 334]

My surgery is Monday (2/15) and last night I felt the cold coming on. Today it's arrived full force. I see my primary tomorrow.

But I'm fretting. Will they cancel my surgery? If they do does that mean I'll need to take (and pay for) all those tests again? Did anyone have a cold day of? What was your experience?

[con con 142]

The biggest concern with getting sick before surgery is your compromised immune system and a higher risk of infection especially if you have a fever. While your surgery may not be cancelled, it’s always best to tell your surgeon so they can make the call.

[songsmith 334]

Thanks. I am going to call his office tomorrow morning before I leave for the appointment with my PCP. I so want this over with, but I also want to be healthy. My main worry now is that they'll make me take all those expensive tests over again if I can't get an appointment near my original date.

[con con 142]

Which tests? Ekg? That was actually nominal. He might be OK doing the surgery with you having a cold. Just try and get plenty of rest and lots of fluids. Keep us posted.

[perforce 243]

I was told if I had a cold my sugary would be cancelled, but I was going abroad to do it, so get checked out by your surgeons office. It could be OK?

[grandmaofone 411]

I was on an antibiotic up until two days before surgery for a sinus infection. When my blood work came back it showed a high level of white blood cells and my surgery was NOT postponed. Good Luck!!

[songsmith 334]

I'm waiting to hear back from my case manager. I've come to terms with the possibility that the surgery will be postponed, namely by reminding myself that I'm super thirsty and people do have problems getting in regular fluids afterwards. Yes, I am grasping at bright side straws.

Right now, I hope they'll have me come in on Monday and assess my condition then. I feel worse today, so things are not looking good for short-term cold recovery.

I meant the endoscopy, which cost around $1200. Hate if I had to take that one again.

[sarah1732 18]

I had a cold the day of my surgery and woke up from anesthesia like I'd never had one to begin with!

[songsmith 334]

That is great

I had a cold the day of my surgery and woke up from anesthesia like I'd never had one to begin with!

Oh, I like the sound of that! Just got off the phone with my case manager. She spoke to my surgeon while I was on hold. He said come in Monday. They will only cancel if I have a fever or chest problems. (I suppose the anesthesiologist [sp?] also will have a say on that.) He also cleared me to take OTC cold medicine so long as the meds don't include aspirin or ibuprofen. So glad I don't need to extend (or start over) the liquid pre-op diet!

[Jessi01 1]

I had a cold the week of my surgery. I was horribly stuffed up, had a terrible cough, was achy all over, the whole works. I called my surgeon and he told me that as long as I did not have a fever, the surgery would continue as planned. He also told me I could take Tylenol Cold meds up until the day before surgery. I was sick all the way up until surgery, but my cough was subsiding. I never had a fever, so it went on as planned. The worst part was after surgery when I still had a little cough and it hurt my stomach so bad when I did.

[sweetsavannah 20]

The Sunday before my surgery on Wednesday, i woke up with a terrible cold and went through a whole box of Kleenex! Like you, I was so nervous that they would cancel my surgery. I emailed my surgeon's office and made the nurse aware. Then I went in for an appointment with my PCP that Monday and she ran a blood test to make sure I didn't have an infection. Thankfully it was just a cold -- nasal spray and Tylenol Cold and Flu (the extreme one) did the trick and I felt MUCH better on Tuesday...but I feel your pain because I was so worried!

My advice is to see your primary care as soon as possible. Get a blood test and take some OTC meds. Make sure you don't have an infection or fever for your own peace of mind. Best of luck to you!