Can Someone Answer This Question, Please?

[AR Cattails]

It's a medical one. I have to have a medical procedure next month, a D&C. My question is why do they tell you to not eat or drink anything after midnight whether the procedure is early in the morning or mid-afternoon.

My appt. is at 2 p.m. and of course they told me not to eat or drink anything after midnight. I have no problem with the eating part but I suffer from dry mouth and I don't see how I'm going to make it that long. It seems like if your procedure is in the morning and you can't drink after midnight that you ought to be given a few more hours if your appt. time is in the afternoon.

Short of having to call them back to reschedule for a morning appt., has anyone here had an afternoon appt. for a procedure and drank water way past midnight anyway? Does it make a difference?

[Shepherd]

I just went thru this last Friday. My appointment was for 3 PM. The surgeon said I could eat light and drink UP TO 7 AM only. After that, nothing to eat or drink.

I also took a cup filled with ice and water, so I could rinse my mouth out and gargle a little... but it's critical you spit it all out, not swallowing any.

[AR Cattails]

Well, I'll try to get an earlier appt. time. I'm in no hurry to have it done as it will determine whether I have to have a hysterectomy done, although my gyn already told me he's pretty sure I will.

But if I can't I will just sip some water if I have to up until maybe 6 a.m. and then maybe such on a piece of ice if I have to...without swallowing.

Thanks WIHH and Shepherd. You both answered my question.

[Wisconsin Ann]

Stay up watching movies that make you laugh until after midnight and plan on waking up around 10am. Seriously. Solves two problems. You will probably have a really good night's sleep, even if you sleep until noon! Your dreams will be good 'cuz of the fun movies. (it does work) and 2ndly, you'll be hydrated and still have an empty tummy for surgery.

Possibly chew gum in the morning for the dry mouth? Or pebbles. Pebbles were used by people in the desert to keep salivation going.

good luck with your surgery

[Wolf mom]

I had hand surgery yesterday & was told the same thing.

Mine was not as intensive as yours, so I did have my AM coffee and chewed gum unil my 1PM surgery.

I did tell them I had water to take my AM blood pressure med and it seemed to be OK with the nurse.

[Shepherd]

Oh absolutely, if you can get an earlier surgical time, do it! I had no choice in the matter. 3 PM was all they had available and my surgeon booked it. But knowing it would be such a long wait without food and water, and knowing I have meds that have to be taken with food, my surgeon said to go ahead and eat something light, take my meds, then have nothing at 7 AM.

I would really recommend not sucking on ice cubes. Just keep a glass of ice water at hand to rinse your mouth out/gargle with - but it's really imperative you don't swallow any water. As WIHH says, you can aspirate into your lungs and that's very dangerous. Make a conscious effort everytime you go to touch your glass, to remember "I cannot swallow any of this!".

You'll do fine. But definitely, if you can get an earlier time scheduled, do it. Good luck with your procedure.