Pre-op Procedure

Hi all -

My surgery date is July 30th and I got a call today to schedule my preop procedure which is set for the 21st and my final visit with my primary doc is the 23rd.  My surgeon's office has still not contacted me to go back for another appointment and I have to start my preop diet on the 16th! Aren't I supposed to go back to talk about my preop diet or should I just refer to the paperwork they gave me during my consultation?  Also, the lady on the phone that scheduled me for my preop procedure advised that I'll need to start fasting.. does she mean for the surgery or is she referring to my procedure on the 21st? I'm really confused.. can anyone tell me what this preop procedure is exactly? This is my first surgery EVER so I don't know how this all works.

Just call- you have very valid questions and we here would only be guessing on what your guidelines are.  

I agree! Calling and asking is definitely the best bet in this situation.

Don't call until you have read your paperwork.  It is probably clearly spelled out for you and calling can be annoying when it is obvious you did not read your directions.  Might as well stay on the good side of the office people as best you can.

I did read my paperwork but they gave me a lot of information during my consultation and a lot of different packets since I've started this whole process.  I just thought that they would call me before starting the pre-op diet.

Not necessarily.

What are you having done pre-op?  An endoscopy?  EGD?  If you're having either of those, then yes, you need to fast.  If you're having bloodwork done, then yes you need to fast. 

Figure out (from your paperwork) what you will be having done and then determine if you will need to fast.  And yes, you will have to fast the night before your surgery (most likely--I know I did).

Good luck...my sleeve surgery was my first surgery ever too and I was terrified, but in the end it wasn't awful. :)

I would make a list of questions and call them. It should be laid out for your pretty clearly. They shouldn't leave it a guessing game. I don't know what kind if pre-op "procedure" there might be. I didn't have something like that.  Best wishes!

It's probably an EGD that you will have before your surgery. You will need to fast for that. Two weeks before your surgery you will start your liquid diet.  Even with all the paper work if you have any questions you should not hesitate to call. This is a big decision.

I'm having my surgery on 7/28 and I've learned that I'm pretty much on my own. I also was given tons of packets of info and when I saw my NUT we spent 2 hrs going over EVERYTHING from preop to post op. I got a call from the hospital today and they registered me and also set up a lab appt for the 17th for standard preop blood work. I'm starting my preop as we speak. Sometimes I feel alone in this process but everyone I've come across throughout this process has always said, "if you have any questions don't hesitate to call" so I've done that a couple times and I feel confident in what I'm doing. Good luck to you and don't stay with any doubts, this is a HUGE surgery and you need to know everything so ask away!

Thanks for all the responses. I did find my pre op diet information in all of my paperwork so I'm pretty good on that. I think my appointment on the 21st is bloodwork since I've already had an endoscopy done. Am I supposed to not eat or drink anything the night and morning before bloodwork or should I my pre op diet as I would on any other day? I suppose I'll call on Monday I just don't want to be a pest!