Help! I have a cold/flu & blood test on Thursday - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

everleigh · 02-09-2010, 06:38 AM

I woke up this morning with an extremely swollen throat, runny nose & eyes, and now, very emotional brain.

I have my pre-op blood testing on Thursday & do not have time to be sick.

I was originally supposed to have surgery this Thursday & it got pushed back because of vitamin deficiencies based on the pre-op bloodwork that was done a couple weeks ago. I was devastated.

Now I've been doing everything they want me to & taking excess vitamins but I'm apparently very ill... my glands are VERY swollen. Usually, I would go to the PCP dr today & get some antibiotics but won't that mess with my bloodwork & labs on Thursday?

Anyone have any knowledge on this? Would just being sick within 2 weeks of surgery push it back as well? I'm currently supposed to be on the 18th.

laurajh · 02-09-2010, 06:46 AM

Well when I came down with a minor cold when I was scheduled to have my thyroidectomy, and they postponed my surgery because of that. Your health has to be 100% before they'll put you under for any surgery.

And no doctor should be giving out antibiotics for a cold or flu, which is viral.

poet_kelly · 02-09-2010, 06:58 AM

Antibiotics should not affect your pre-op blood work, no. However, if you have a cold or the flu, antibiotics will not help. Colds and flus are caused by viruses and antibiotics are not effective against viruses, only bacteria. If you have the flu, you can get an antiviral drug that will shorten the duration of the illness. I'd call your PCP.

Whether or not being sick will postpone your surgery depends on how sick you are. If you're having trouble breathing, they will not want to put you under anesthesia. If you have a fever, they will probably want to postpone. If it's a little cold, probably won't matter.

Kelly

everleigh · 02-09-2010, 07:47 AM

Thanks for the responses so far. I know I've been explained the difference between bacterial & viral based illness before

I don't know why I can't seem to remember it when it comes to antiobiotics, etc.

Thanks for the reminders.

I am going to call the PCP in a little bit then the Endo who is actually doing my labs and ask what they think. I may end up calling the surgeon's office too if it looks like there will be more delays.

I'm not having a hard time breathing but I am dealing with a very swollen throat. It's like I have tonsilitis (but I don't have tonsils). I am sitting next to my vaporizer right now, drinking water & a protein shake. Crossing my fingers this bug goes away. My ears are pretty plugged up too. Ughhhhh

Totally agree with what you guys said, I would rather be as healthy as possible going into surgery than not & would prefer the drs to be cautious on my behalf as well.

I'm just so frustrated because I've been doing all of these changes to prepare for surgery & it seems like my body is doing everything it can to stop me .

I'll post what happens after I make my phone calls. Thanks guys.

Highlandlass · 02-09-2010, 10:01 AM

Try gargling with warm water and little salt added several times a day. It helps!!! Keep hydrated as well but remember too, that you can't have any neck swelling and the surgery - they will be inserting a tube down that sore throat of yours, so you must be 100% healthy!!!! Let us know how things go for you!!!

everleigh · 02-09-2010, 11:52 PM

Rhonda- thanks for the warm water + salt plan. You know what's funny is I started doing that this afternoon.. my mom suggested the same thing when I called her to gather support for my personal pity party.

I have an appt with my PCP later today & still potential bloodwork on Thursday that I'll keep. I figure even if they push surgery back, I'd like to know where my vitamin levels are from last time.

Will let you all know what happens.

Highlandlass · 02-10-2010, 06:50 AM

See how moms think alike!!! I'm still trying to shake a cold and the first thing my own daughter told me to do was gargle with salt and water - she said "follow your own advice mom!"
We'll be waiting for your post to let us know what your PCP has to say!! Hope it goes well.

tals08a · 02-10-2010, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by everleigh

I woke up this morning with an extremely swollen throat, runny nose & eyes, and now, very emotional brain.

I have my pre-op blood testing on Thursday & do not have time to be sick.

I was originally supposed to have surgery this Thursday & it got pushed back because of vitamin deficiencies based on the pre-op bloodwork that was done a couple weeks ago. I was devastated.

Now I've been doing everything they want me to & taking excess vitamins but I'm apparently very ill... my glands are VERY swollen. Usually, I would go to the PCP dr today & get some antibiotics but won't that mess with my bloodwork & labs on Thursday?

Anyone have any knowledge on this? Would just being sick within 2 weeks of surgery push it back as well? I'm currently supposed to be on the 18th.

I had the worst cough runny nose and feeling of YUK before I went into surgery. I wasnt coughing up anything but I was still misarable. My daughter gave me the cough and runny nose I am sure I had a ear infection as well. My throat was raw from coughing and sore as could be. I didnt go to the dr because I was nervous that they would cancel my surgery so I suffered through it. I did a warm water and salt gargle and drank tons of hot water with lemon and honey, also a teaspoon of honey by its self. Not that these helped a ton but it did make me feel better for a little bit. I went in for surgery and the dr's noticed that I had a cough but didnt make mention of anything to me about not doing it. Instead I was put under and woke up with the dryest mouth ever. I had to cough still and it was painful. I would double over in pain with the cough. But after another week it finially passed. Best of luck. Try to not take any over the counter drugs they will see those in your blood work. I would just try the old chicken soup method.