Expert: Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based - 7/23/2008

Question
Hello Doctor Jackson.

Please excuse this question being boorishly long, but I want to provide as much info as I can for your expert opinion.

I’m having a routine vasectomy done in about 43 hours from this posting.  I’m getting general anesthesia.

The sheet the urologist gave me when I made my appointment listed a number of drugs to avoid for a week prior to procedure.  No problem.  But it also said to call them if I come down with fever or sore throat within one week.  I did get a sinus infection, which included some fever and mild sore throat from drainage.  I have battled that over the past 24 hours, but I’m feeling a bit better now.  I’ve battered myself with vitamin C and have only taken one sinus/allergy tablet: chloropheniramine maleate 4mg / phenylphrine 10 HCL.

I’ve avoided taking garlic as instructed on the sheet—which I believe helps recover from colds—and I avoided vitamin E.  However, last night I did take about 15 drops of grapefruit seed extract (GSE) which I then looked up to see consists, at least in part, of tocopherols—which I know to be vitamin E.

So my questions are:

1) Will the GSE cause a problem for bleeding, even though I consumed it nearly 60 hours prior to surgery?

2) Will my sinus infection cause a problem?  I hope to be mostly recovered from it by then.

3) Finally, I take sublingual allergy drops, which the urologist has been made aware of.  These drops are simply concentrated levels of the allergens themselves (pollens, trees, etc.).  I think that taking them last week partly sparked this little infection—that plus high exposure to mold and wearing myself down over the past week.

Otherwise, I’m a health-conscious, regularly exercising, lacto-ovo-vegetarian.  My concerns arise from the fact that I haven’t had a medical procedure done since a tonsillectomy at age 5.  I’m more concerned about the surgeon canceling/rescheduling the procedure than I am fearing complications!

Any light you can shed on these variables would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks for your time!

Answer
Hi Chris
That is a remarkably organised urologist you are seeing! Most of my colleagues wouldn't bat an eyelid if you were on Vitamin E, garlic or any of the substances you have mentioned.
So my answers
GSE - no problem
Sinus infection - as long as it has settled that will be fine, they might be a bit anxious if it hasn't or just warn you that the anaesthetic might make it a bit worse. This is unlikely to be a problem though.
Allergy drops - no problem.
You should be fine.
Kind regards
Dr Ian Jackson