Enhanced Recovery Programme for an operation

[jowatkins]

Basically what this consists of is taking 4 carbohydrate drinks (25g of carbs in each drink) in the evening before your operation and then 2 the day of your operation. The drinks consist of water, many types of sugar and lemon flavouring. After your operation you then have to have 3 high energy/high protein drinks per day, presumably high energy equates to high sugar.

I am type II diabetic, controlled by diet. If I have 100g of carbohydrate in one evening, on top of the carbohydrate in my 3 meals that day, I will feel really ill and probably spend the night on the toilet! I am sure that my liver and kidneys will be freaking out. I can't even adjust any medication to cope with that amount of excess carbohydrate.

I am so angry that my consultant put me on this programme when he knew I was diabetic without even explaining to me what it was and getting my consent. I spent a day researching the programme and whilst it seems a good idea for non-diabetics it seems madness for diabetics. It even says on the cartons `To be used with caution for diabetics'.

I am sure that any advantages of these drinks will be greatly outweighed by the strain on my organs immediately prior to major surgery.

Has anyone done this programme and what do others think?

Jo

 

[hanadr]

I haven't needed hospital treatment for 10 years, but WOULD NEVER let my BG get out of control. I can't think how it should work, since one characteristic of elevated blood glucose is delayed healing. NO WAY would I touch this programme. I'd discharge myself first.
Hana

 

[Sarah69]

Can I ask what the op is for? And why have they suggested this as opposed to eating normally?

 

[jowatkins]

It is for a full hysterectomy. I have rheumatoid arthritis and an underactive thyroid as well as diabetes. I have to come off my most effective medication for RA when I have an operation which usually results in me having a flare (unbearable pain in my whole body) soon after any operation.

I have also just had major surgery in the form of a spinal fusion with rods, pins and a bone graft. It will be 11 weeks inbetween operations. I am not happy about having this new op so soon but I am told that I must have this hysterectomy ASAP. It could be that my consultant actually forgot I was diabetic and put me on this programme as he was worried about all the other factors. I didn't question it at the time as it was never explained to me and I read all the details when I got home (to my horror).

I have just edited my first post as I realise that there is only 25g of carb in each drink but it still means that I will be taking 100g carb extra in the evening before surgery.

I have a pre-op appointment scheduled and I am certainly going to question this. I am inclined to refuse to do it. I may phone a designated nurse for more information beforehand and enquire what the reaction might be if I decline the programme so I can have an effective arguement at pre-op.

From my research this programme seems to be the latest `in' thing to hit the NHS and there is much info on the internet but as far as I can see there have been no studies which looked at the effect on someone with diabetes. In fact, they have been actively excluded from most studies. There does seem to be genuine benefits to a non-diabetic patient in better healing and less post-op infection but I still think that the bottom line is that they can usually send you home earlier!

I will let you know what the outcome is as I am sure that many of you will come across this if you have to have surgery.

Jo