Category: Preparing for Surgery

Preparing for Surgery with ClearFast: “Ask Your Doctor!”

We’ve seen those commercials time and time again—the ones that always end with: “Ask your doctor…” Fortunately, when it comes to going under, there’s one legitimate question you actually should ask your doctor about surgery prep. Today, we’ll cover:

• Why you should ask your doctor about using ClearFast for your surgery prep
• Why fasting before surgery is now seen as outdated
• Why top-rated hospitals recommend a clear, carb-rich pre-op drink in place of fasting before surgery
• Talking to your doctor about ClearFast

Now, let’s dig in…

We’ve all been there—you’re preparing for surgery at your pre-op appointment, and, while you had a list of questions to ask your doctor, you suddenly you find yourself at a loss for words. Doctors, after all, are healthcare experts and asking them questions or broaching brand-new subjects with physicians can be intimidating. But, we’re going to let you in on a little secret: ”Ask your doctor!” (that phrase we hear on so many pharmaceutical commercials these days) is actually one of the best ways you can advocate for yourself during your surgery prep process.

Fasting Before Surgery?

Talking to your doctor is especially important when it comes to the idea of fasting before surgery. Patients are often given the typical, old-school instructions to follow the “no food or drink after midnight” rule—and we don’t want to feel like we’re stepping on our doctor’s toes by questioning this approach. However, more and more modern research is pointing to the fact that preparing for surgery with the right preop drink (rather than abstaining from all liquids) actually makes for a safer, more comfortable experience before, during and after surgery. After all, heading into surgery starved and dehydrated is often a recipe for discomfort, stress and an increased hospital stay.

Enhancing Your Recovery Time

In fact, top-rated hospitals across the world have now begun implementing Enhanced Recovery Programs, which outline different steps doctors and patients should take in order to enhance a patient’s recovery process after surgery—which ultimately lowers the cost for hospitals and makes for a better experience for patients (no patient has ever left the hospital saying they wished they could stay longer, after all!).

One of the key pieces of these Enhanced Recovery Programs is preparing for surgery with a clear, complex carb-rich beverage to hydrate and nourish before surgery—a simple step that has been proven to reduce post-op nausea and vomiting, decrease the risk of post-op infection, and ultimately shorten the time between going under and getting to go home!

Talking to Your Doctor about ClearFast

As part of your surgery prep process, then, it’s important to ask your doctor if your hospital has one of these Enhanced Recovery Programs and, if so, if drinking ClearFast is right for your procedure prep. Why spend the night before surgery starved and stressed, and head into your procedure dehydrated? Asking your doctor about ClearFast can be the difference between a stressful, uncomfortable surgery experience and a seamless one—but you’ll never reap the benefits of our preop drink if you don’t ask. (So your doctor hasn’t heard of ClearFast? Not to worry! We’ve developed a comprehensive, robust medical professionals section of the ClearFast website where physicians can find studies, research and other helpful information regarding preparing for surgery with the ClearFast preop drink.)

Overall, it’s important to remember that doctors deal with tons of different patients and unique healthcare circumstances every day, and there’s no way any human being (even the best doctors in the world) can know every single thing that’s going through each individual patient’s mind. Advocating for yourself at your doctor’s office—while always following their informed advice, of course—is a key when it comes to preparing for surgery.

Talked to your doctor and ready to order ClearFast for your surgery prep? Order your ClearFast Preop Drink here to get a major leg up on the dreaded surgery and recovery process—or reach out to the ClearFast team at support@drinkcf.com if you have any questions about the process at all.

Surgery prep and going under can be daunting and stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. More and more modern research teaches us that working a clear, carb-rich beverage into your surgery prep routine can increase your comfort before your surgery, increase your safety during your surgery, and lead to enhanced recovery time following your procedure. For the drink to work better and absorbed it is important to prepare it correctly and in the right crockery (in Ukrainian посуда). It all comes down to hydrating and nourishing your body before a big challenge—which is one of the best ways to ensure you go in and come out strong! To help you as your prepare for your procedure, then, we’ve rounded up our top four expert tips for proper surgery prep. Read on for four ways to make your surgery prep and surgery recovery as comfortable and painless as possible.

1. Get Moving
   • Prepare your body for the upcoming challenge of surgery. The stronger and healthier your body is going into your procedure, the better your recovery experience will be!
   • If you don’t normally exercise, start several weeks before your procedure is scheduled so that you have time to make a noticeable difference in your strength, flexibility and overall health.
2. Stop Smoking
   • If you have a smoking habit, it’s time to quit. Smokers are at a higher risk for complications both during and after a procedure. For example – smoking weakens the immune system which can put you at risk for infection and impair wound healing
3. Listen Carefully & Speak Up
   • Pay close attention to the instructions your physicians give you. This isn’t a situation where you want to be feeling unsure.
   • Unanswered questions can increase your anxiety. Your physician has probably done this more times than they can count, but it’s all new to you. Don’t be shy about understanding your procedure.
   • Answer questions honestly about medical history and about your current health (ie. if you come down with a fever the day before your procedure). Keeping information hidden to avoid a canceled surgery can put you at risk.
     
4. Hydrate & Nourish –  Here’s where we come in! Hydrate and nourish your body with ClearFast during the “fasting window.”
   • Hydrating with ClearFast makes it easier to place an IV. The nurse won’t have to poke your arm over and over trying to find a vein!
   • Nourishing with complex carbs lets you go into surgery strong! Starving your body can cause complications that slow down your recovery or even send you back to the hospital. For example – high blood sugar levels caused by starvation put you at a high risk for infection. Starving your body also increases the acids in your stomach which are dangerous if you aspirate them during surgery.
   • Make sure to finish your last bottle at least 2 hours before your surgery (if you have gastroparesis, consult your doctor).