Vitamin C Forum

So, what do you do, when you're used to taking Vitamin C in large doses
and your eye doctor schedules surgery a week from now and tells you
to stop "all vitamins and supplements with no exceptions?"

I'm just a regular guy but I would ask the doctor why, and ask him for references to the research behind it and read that research myself while comparing it to others. If the doctor refuses or does not provide a clear answer it's time to find a new dr. Plus you can always just reschedule the surgery while your researching his claims. I'm sure there are plenty of other doctors with good customer service that want your business.

I understand what you're saying. Unfortunately, I can't reschedule it as there is a high risk for retina detachment, and he is one of the top eye surgeons in the state. He's already saved my vision once. Besides that, past experience has told me that all surgeons (at least six that I know of) are going to give the same speel. I knew about Vitamin E, being a blood thinner and I understand that but it is like oh, well, just show up for surgery, malnourished and oh by the way, no water after midnight either, so dehydrated. Its like being told not to eat food with vitamins. Makes no sense. Kind of a mute point at this time since I'm going in Thursday. I just wondered if anyone else was so sick of trying to convince a medical doctor that vitamins are actually GOOD for us.

sigh. I'm frustrated. Thanks for the input, appreciated.

Doesn't he know about rebound scurvy (or similar?) if a regular high vit C doser stops their VitC abruptly? I don't have the references but others on here would eg David etc.

I won't give you advice but here is what I would do -- and yes its easy for me to say --

Me, I would continue my VitC as normal & even increase it due to the stresses of surgery.
Yes doctor, I've been a good boy and listened to what you've said -- Listened being the operative word !!

These are my views and others may not agree or otherwise.

Good luck.

Kay wrote:So, what do you do, when you're used to taking Vitamin C in large doses
and your eye doctor schedules surgery a week from now and tells you
to stop "all vitamins and supplements with no exceptions?"

Hi Kay,

Admittedly, you are in a "pickle!" Having an [over]abundance of ascorbate in your system will give much protection from infection and other possible complications, not to even mention promoting faster healing. On the other hand, having an [over]abundaunce of ascorbate in your system will probably necessitate your doctor having to give you much more anesthetic [which he probably would not realize], which will [simply] be using up your ascorbate. http://www.orthomed.com/pain.htm I would say, unfortunately, there is no definitive, i.e. "black and white" correct answer [at least that I am aware of].

IF it were me, I believe I would approach it this way: I would keep up my daily "bowel tolerance" dosage of ascorbic acid until about 24 hours prior to surgery. Then I would stop dosing completely. I would have whatever plans in place that needed to be, to be able to start "bowel tolerance" dosing just as soon as I woke up, e.g. someone to "smuggle" it into me, if need be.

Just my view (and "good luck" on your surgery, Kay),

David

P.S. I would most certainly follow Jman's advice!

My wife was taking about 4G of VitC a day when she went in for surgery. I'm sure that 4G is nowhere near bowel tolerance for her. She woke up in the operating room near the end of the surgery. They hit her with more anesthetic and she did not wake up until she had been in her room for over an hour. I agree with davids, have someone bring VitC into the hospital so you can take C as soon as you wake up.

I'll be taking my C all the way home Thursday in the car!

thanks everyone. Maybe the build up in my system will carry me through.

I didn't know that about the anesthetic.
I don't want to wake up half-way through!

Maybe a little bit of a pre-emptive lie might be needed!
You could tell the anesthetist that you are a little difficult to sedate and that you woke-up early after surgery once before.
That might make them pay more attention to what they are doing.

Bless you Kay, good luck!!

Hi Kay,

Thanks, that is so nice. I guess a week without supplements won't do me in. But I will make up for it.

God Bless Kay

Get well soon and let us know your welfare.

We are all praying for you

This is from Dr.Cathcart's site:

"The effect of ascorbate on anesthetics should be studied. Barbiturates and many narcotics are blocked,so their use as anesthetic agents will be limited when ascorbate is used during surgery"

Your Doctor might be concerned that if your body is saturated with ascorbate and other vitamins going into surgery,it might affect the anesthesia used for your surgery.

Good Luck

Thank you both and that's very kind of you. I've been drinking Orange Juice
all day long.