Fasting 10 hours before an operation - is water ok?

[Zeldasmagicwand]

I'm due to have my hernia repair redone next week due to the mesh failing after the original OP 3 years ago.

When I was in recovery last time, I threw up (projectile vomiting) as I came round and had a migraine headache. I had to wait a while for confirmation that I could take my migraine medication and the lights and noise on the ward didn't really help. I had to stay in hospital for an extra day to ensure I was properly recovered so I'm hoping it will be better this time.

I regularly suffer from migraines and one trigger is if I don't stay hydrated and eat regularly every few hours. It doesn't have to be a meal but something to keep my blood sugars stable.

My hospital letter says not to eat or drink after 5am the day of my OP.

I thought I'd be able to sip some water from a litre bottle and maybe suck the odd glucose sweet between leaving house at 6am (hospital long drive away) and OP (scheduled for afternoon). My non medical friend says absolutely not and it could cause complications.

Any lovely medics who can advise me?
What would other migraine sufferers do?

Best thing is to contact the doctor treating you and ask them.

Do not eat anything, do not suck on anything, do not drink anything.

The risk is that if there is anything at all in your stomach, you may throw up during surgery and the vomit will enter your lungs. This usually leads to a infection and a very painful death.

Risk the migraine (and I say that as a fellow sufferer so I know how bad they can be). You'll be on painkilkers after the op anyway and will be able to sleep it off so you wont feel to rough afterwards if you do get one.

Rule is 6 hours for food and 2 hours for water. Food includes milk (so no tea/ coffee etc) and any sweets.

ask the hospital.
when dc had an op recently water was allowed up until 2 hours before the operation.
anything else, juice included, only allowed for breakfast (op was early afternoon)

I’d phone to clarify but clear fluids (so water) until a couple of hours before is usually fine. No to sweets etc though.

You can drink clear fluids until 2 hours before surgery, in fact it is encouraged.

Give them a call and ask. I'm having an operation soon and while I'm not allowed anything to eat after midnight, I am allowed a cup of plain water or tea with no milk or sugar between waking up and 7am (admission time).

What time is your Op? I've read its 2 hours before for clear fluids. Dont have the sweet

Clear fluids up to 2h before. Water, clear apple juice (not cloudy / no fruit pulp), black tea/coffee (no milk), Powerade electrolyte drinks (not carbonated). No light food 6h before surgery (tea, toast etc) and nothing heavy (high protein/fat content) at least 8h before.

I’d avoid glucose sweets as some of us treat them like clear fluids (2h rule) but others treat them like food (6h rule) and you run the risk of your surgery being cancelled if the anaesthetist thinks you’ve eaten within the 6h window.

I had emergency surgery a couple of months ago and was no fluids at all. I was nil by mouth for 2 days waiting for a slot (could drink from 8pm till midnight once they knew I wasn't being operated on that day)

Thank you everyone for your speedy responses. I'll give the hospital a call tomorrow to double check and probably just take my water bottle with me and migraine pills for afterwards, just in case. Yes, I can cope with a migraine (had plenty of them over the years).

There's a tendency to give stricter advice than necessary because apparently people don't stick to it very well. Under the circs, ring and ask what they advise. They may be able to bump you up the list or give you more precise advice.

Do not consume any water or sweets. Your operation could be cancelled if medics think you’ve done so this is due to risk of aspiration into the lungs. I’d say absolutely not I’m a nurse. Good luck with your op x

My sister is Type I diabetic and when she was scheduled for surgery recently, things were very carefully planned, so that she was in hospital the night before, and then managed carefully so that she was taken first thing, etc. in order to manage her blood sugars. I would give them a call, and take advice, but be prepared for them to say that ‘nil by mouth’ really means that.

Any time I've had surgery it's specified nothing by mouth. I'd say no, not even water.

They could give your intravenous fluids, they did this for me once. It made for a better recovery.
Aspiration is really nasty so I don’t think I’d want to take even a minute risk, to be honest.

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/operations-tests-and-procedures/can-i-eat-or-drink-before-an-operation/

Says it is usually six to eight hours for food, and two hours for fluids. Clear fluids, such as water, black tea or coffee, or processed fruit juices, are usually recommended

I had surgery less than 2 weeks ago and it was exactly as Hic Draconis said.
I was also given fluids during the surgery and anti emetics as I have a tendency to vomit after GE.

I think double checking with the hospital is a good idea.

If it's routine surgery then water up to 2 hours only.You have to assume you're first on the list so 8-830 so no water after 6am.
If you find you're later on the list then ask the anaesthetist about when you can drink.We call the ward from theatrefor those later on the list if there are delays.
You will be routinely given a fluid drip to counter dehydration during the operation so a litre for a shortish operation.
After surgery you should be able to eat and drink though many nurses are cautious and only give water.I work in Theatres and we give water while you're in the recovery room.
Tell your anaesthetist about being sick last time so he/she can try and prevent it this time.
Hope all goes well

OP says her op is in the afternoon and she's leaving the house at 6am.

I’m an anaesthetist. The rules are that clear fluids (water/dilute squash/black tea & black coffee) are fine until 2 hrs pre-op. Food (which includes milky drinks) is fine until 6 hours pre-op. The rules around sweets/chewing gum are more controversial. Some anaesthetists will be happy with slightly more relaxed rules but not all so it’s not generally worth risking it. If it turns out you’re lower down the order of the list you should be able to drink for a while once you’re in hospital (but that needs to be confirmed on the day).

There is literally no such thing as ‘nil by mouth from midnight’...it’s a relic from days gone by.

There may if course be surgical reasons for a longer period if fasting (particularly in an emergency/where there’s concern about bowel obstruction and things like that or if bowel prep is needed) but you would be advised of that were the case.

Your best bet is to phone the preassessment unit & clarify. If they’re not able to help immediately they should be able to confirm with the surgeon (who will be familiar with the rules) or the anaesthetist who’ll be looking after you if they know who it is.

Hope that helps.

Check with the department tomorrow and request I V fluids as dehydration triggers migraine.

demented

I spoke to my surgeon at 7:50am who said my surgery would be mid morning at the earliest. At 8:20am I was on my way to theatre.

They needed further test results for the longer op that was before me. As my op was only an hour they swapped us around so they could do my op whilst they waited for the other patient’s results. It makes it easier to manage the list if everyone arrives ready to go.