Practical
Before surgery: a 14-day prep checklist.
What to ask, what to stock, what to stop. A practical countdown to the day of surgery.
The two weeks before surgery is a narrow window for preparation. Most of it is about not doing things. Not eating certain foods, not taking certain medications, not skipping the questions you should be asking. None of this is medical advice, and your surgeon’s instructions always overrule what you read here. With that said, here is a practical countdown.
14 days out
The pre-op visit is your single most important conversation. Bring a complete list of every supplement, vitamin, herbal product, and over-the-counter medication you take, including dosing. Bring your prescription list separately. Ask which of these your surgeon wants you to pause and when. Stock the basics for the first two weeks of recovery now, while you have time and energy: easy meals, electrolytes, ready protein, a thermometer, and whatever ice or compression your procedure typically calls for. Your surgical team will tell you the specifics.
7 days out
Many surgeons restrict certain supplement and medication classes in the days before surgery, including some that affect bleeding or interact with anesthesia. The exact list and the timing depend on the surgeon, the procedure, and your medical history, so confirm your specifics in writing. Hydration and sleep stop being negotiable in the final week. Both shape the body’s resilience going into surgery and coming out of it.
72 hours out
This is the rest window. Most people overestimate their stamina the day before surgery and underestimate how much sleep they should be banking. Easy meals, plenty of water, protein at every meal. Confirm transportation home from the procedure, confirm who is helping you the first 48 hours, and confirm any pre-op nutrition or skin-prep instructions your surgeon gave you.
The day before
Follow your surgeon’s fasting instructions exactly. Pack what you need the night before, lay out comfortable post-op clothing, and get to bed early. If your surgeon has cleared you to take any of the Recovery Laboratories formulas pre-op, take them only on the schedule they have signed off on.
Educational, not medical advice. Your surgeon and care team know your procedure and your history, so their instructions come first. Talk to them before you start, stop, or change any supplement.
Written by
Recovery Laboratories
Editorial team
