Instructions prior to my surgery
Prior to surgery ALL patients must undergo: Preoperative studies Evaluation with our psychologist, and in some cases with our psychiatrist Evaluation with our internist or a trusted internist, endocrinologist or cardiologist It is necessary that you understand exactly what will happen before, during, and after surgery. PREOPERATIVE NUTRITIONAL PLAN AND THE IMPORTANCE OF FOLLOWING IT Due to the experience of Dr. Rey Romero and his multidisciplinary team of specialists, in addition to the support of publications that point out this, the Center for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery requires that patients follow a pre-operative diet prior to surgery. The number of days of this diet will largely depend on the patient's Body Mass Index (BMI). Roughly speaking, we can say that a patient with a BMI of 30-40 should follow a diet for 3 days, patients with a BMI of 41-45 should follow a diet for 5 days, and patients with a BMI of 46-55 should follow a diet for 7 days. There are some cases in which the patient must follow a diet for more than 10 days. Remember that each patient is different, and the number of days that the diet is required in each case will be provided by our nutritionist according to the previous evaluation and the data provided in your medical history. The nutritional plan before surgery is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT for the success of the surgery. The greatest advantages of this plan are the rapid loss of intra-abdominal weight, which decreases the size of the liver and fat within the abdomen. This increases the space within the cavity, improves vision and makes the procedure technically easier. And how does that benefit the patient? Performing a simpler procedure produces many benefits for the patient, such as: Fewer incisions will be made, since no additional instruments will be necessary. Fewer incisions lead to a better aesthetic result and less postoperative pain. It reduces the possibility of complications, such as bleeding or injury to an intra-abdominal organ. It reduces surgery time, which translates into less anesthetic medication and less nausea and discomfort after surgery. All of this translates into a faster recovery. WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON'T FOLLOW THE PREOPERATIVE DIET? First of all, let's hope you don't do it, as we mentioned, it is of the utmost importance. If you break the diet, no matter how small, you must inform a member of our team, who will evaluate how much you went off the program, adjust the diet to continue or in some cases it will be necessary to suspend and reschedule the procedure. Remember that if you did not follow the diet properly, and we have to suspend the surgery for this reason, we can only reimburse part of the procedure, not all of it. That is why we invite you to follow it to the letter. If you think you will not be able to follow it, it is possible to be admitted to the hospital days before to help you follow it, or use other methods. Remember that you can always talk to one of our team members, we are here to help you. Some frequently asked questions from our patients before surgery CAN I SMOKE? Smoking is MANDATORY 10 days before surgery and 10 days after surgery. Although we will always recommend that you stop smoking permanently. If you can avoid smoking long before and after, even better. This is very important since smoking inhibits proper tissue healing, which increases the risk of complications such as leaks, and also increases the risk of forming blood clots and some lung problems. WHAT MEDICATIONS CAN I TAKE BEFORE SURGERY? 10 days before surgery, you must inform your surgeon or our medical coordinator of the medications you are taking. You must stop taking any dietary supplements or natural vitamins (such as cat's claw, shark cartilage, ging sen, garlic tablets, vitamins of any kind, special juices, etc.) ... no matter how natural or natural they are, they could interfere with your coagulation at the time of surgery, so you should avoid taking them at least 10 days before your surgery. In short, EVERYTHING you take 10 days before surgery must be reported to our team so we can tell you what you can or should take and what you should not. Anticoagulant medications must continue to be suspended for 1 month after the surgical procedure. CAN I EXERCISE BEFORE SURGERY? Yes, you can take short walks or light stretches. At least 10 days before surgery you should avoid heavy physical exertion, such as sports, running, swimming or any strenuous activity before surgery. The reason is because you could have an unnoticed injury that prevents us from performing the procedure properly. CAN I DRINK ALCOHOL BEFORE SURGERY? It is strictly prohibited 10 days before surgery. Not even wine. Also 4 MONTHS AFTER surgery, alcohol will also be prohibited. After that, you can drink, but in a controlled and restricted manner. WHAT SHOULD I DO THE DAY BEFORE MY SURGERY? Relax. Go for a walk, if you are not from the city, you will enjoy it more. You can visit museums, sit on the beach or go to the movies. Or simply stay at home or in your hotel, watch a movie or do office work. If you prefer to go to work, you can do so, but keep in mind to stay away from temptations, you should not break your diet. If you have any skin disease, you should report it to your surgeon. If you come from another city, you probably have preoperative studies scheduled, and an evaluation with our internist and psychologist. Wear comfortable clothes and go to have the studies done on an empty stomach for 6 hours. You will be in communication at all times with our patient coordinator by phone or WhatsApp. As you can see, you will never be alone, someone from our team will always be with you. Try not to go to bed late, get up early the day before so you can sleep well. If for some reason you are nervous about surgery, you can try taking Melatonin 5 mg, one tablet 15 minutes before bed. In Mexico, they are sold in any pharmacy without a prescription. The most common brand names are: Benedorm, Normolem or Melatol. When you get up, do not drink water or eat anything. If your blood pressure or diabetes medication schedule is early, you can take your pills with very little water, just enough to help you swallow them. Only take the medications that were prescribed. You can brush your teeth and rinse your mouth, but DO NOT SWALLOW ANYTHING. Take a bath with the soap of your choice and go to the hospital at the time indicated by your coordinator. REMEMBER THAT THE MORE HELP YOU SEEK THE BETTER YOU WILL FEEL! We have seen that if your friends, family, and acquaintances are informed, your process can be more pleasant. You can also help yourself in different ways such as individual or group therapies. The decision of whether or not to tell your friends and family about the surgery is completely yours, however, you should take into account that the recommendation from centers specialized in bariatric surgery and our team is to tell the truth. Mention the fact that you have had surgery! This will facilitate your weight loss process, cause less stress, and will prevent you from having to go through bad times by having to lie all the time. Do not wear yourself out hiding it, your friends will suspect a few weeks after surgery, because your weight loss will be very evident.
