Having surgery on Friday, will it go ahead if I have a cold?

[Flossy13]

I’m having surgery on Friday (laparoscopy and hysteroscopy) and have avoided seeing people that have been unwell but I’ve woken up with a cold 😖

Will my surgery still go ahead if I’m not 100% well?

[kate24601]

Depends how bad the cold is I think. If it's a danger to your breathing to put you under, then they won't, but a generic head cold tends to be ok. I had a really phleghmy chest and a cough as well as a nose so snotty I could hardly breathe through a few days before, and was still bad on surgery day but they didn't bat an eyelid! x

[Flossy13 in reply to kate24601]

Ah bless you. I will see how I am on Friday then and mention it to them. It doesn’t seem that bad now but it could get worse. I hope not. 😬

[GlitterAndSparkle]

Hey! Bless you.

My lap two weeks ago tomorrow on the Friday before so 6 days before I started getting a cold by the Sunday I was full of it with 3 days to go till my lap and I was so down I thought noway of all times to get a cold.

I took paracetamol every 4 hours, decongestant tablets, rubbed vics vapo rub on my feet chest back under nose! Lol and rested bed by 8.30pm every night. Woke up the day of op and yep no better. I felt so poorly. I was sure it would be cancelled.

I phoned the afternoon before my op and told them which you should do they are prepared. And when I got there I told the anaesthetist and she said if your lungs are congested when I listen not going ahead but if they are clear a runny nose sorethroat and cough won’t stop it if you consent.

My lungs where clear and I consented. I’m sure you will be fine so long as your lungs don’t have infection or heavy with congestion. Try not to worry like I did! Xx

[Flossy13 in reply to GlitterAndSparkle]

Thank you for responding. That sounds reasonable. Most colds go straight to my chest but I’m hoping this one will just be a runny nose type thing. I don’t feel achy have a headache etc... so fingers crossed.

I was really late on my period so I’m now suffering with that too. It’s all come at once. Woo! Happy new year to me 😂

Let’s hope both of them go before Friday. 🤞🏼

[GlitterAndSparkle in reply to Flossy13]

Fingers crossed for you... I was also on during my lap! You’ll be fine!

Most colds that go to the chest aren’t always infection. Which I thought anything on my chest will stop my surgery I was coughing up all sorts but it didn’t. Don’t worry

And happy new year! Hopefully with improved health for you. Good luck hope it all goes well! X

[Flossy13 in reply to GlitterAndSparkle]

Do they give you disposable pants to wear or anything? I had to get in my gown so early last time with no pants on but I’m definitely going to need something as I’ll either be bleeding or spotting still.

Thank you very much. You’ve been really helpful.

[GlitterAndSparkle in reply to Flossy13]

Are you private or nhs?

I went privately and I got given seethrough (slightly misted cloudy) paper pants. Which could easily hold a pad but to be honest I think they whip them off as when I woke up I only had a pad inbetween my legs no pants on. I had a catheter put in too.

Just tell them your on and if they don’t need them off during surgery you will be able to wear your pad and they will take care of you before you wake up I’m sure another pair or the same left on. X

[Flossy13 in reply to GlitterAndSparkle]

I will definitely need them off as I am having a hysteroscopy. I’ll speak to them when they come round to see me. I’m sure they deal with patients on periods all the time. I need to stop worrying about minor things!

[GlitterAndSparkle in reply to Flossy13]

They do! It’s so hideous to us and we think oh my god they are going to see us like this or that or how embarrassing I always say whilst sat waiting to go down to theatre omg mum what if I let one rip whilst asleep or I had an accident!! And my mum worked in hospitals years and years ago and she said - believe me they are immune to it and forget about what you did!! They see so many patients. Don’t worry about the minors they really are minor to surgeons, theatre staff and nurses

They are there for that kind of stuff embarrassing or not just own it!! Xx

[Lulububs]

Yeh just let them

Know when ur there at hosp... i told them when turned up for mine and they just said ok were tell the surgeon.

They didnt seem to care. My bloods and blood pressure were all good so i dont thinl it matters as long as no infection on chest or anything.