Supplements and Vitamins in Your Preparation for Surgery

Do not buy any herbal or organic vitamins. Continue these at least for two weeks after surgery, and longer if you wish.

Start two weeks before surgery:

• Vitamin C. Try to find time release. It should be pure Vitamin C and not be mixed with bioflavenoids or anything else. Take 1000- 2000 mg 1 or 2 times a day. Work up to this dose slowly as it may cause diarrhea. This promotes healing and is a free-radical scavenger.
• Zinc 50mg, 3 times daily, with food. This aids in healing.
• Coenzyme Q-10 100 mg in biosolv or gelcap form, twice daily. This is an immune booster, anti-oxidant, heart protectant, and promotes healing. It has no harmful side effects.
• L-Carnitine 500mg twice a day. This is essential to tissue recovery especially in patients over 40. It is also an immune booster. Make sure that your renal function is normal. It may produce a body odor and some GI side effects.
• MSM (Methyl Sulfonyl Methane) 1000mg tablet twice a day. This is a natural form of organic sulfur and an antioxidant, and has a great effect on growing hair, nails, and skin. It improves skin elasticity and thickness. MSM detoxifies the body, increases blood circulation, and reduces inflammation.
• Alpha Lipoic Acid 100mg twice daily. This is a powerful antioxidant and promotes healing.

Start one week before surgery:

• Vitamin K (Mephyton) 5mg, 2 tablets every morning daily for seven days before surgery, ending on the day before surgery. Dr. Romano will need to write you a prescription for this. This aids in blood clotting and decreases bruising.

Start 1 day before surgery:

• Arnica Montana. The dosages are confusing and go from lows of x to c to high in the m's. It is best in around the 30c dose. Put the tablet under the tongue the night before surgery, then two tablets three times a day for the next 3 days. Available in health food stores. This decreases swelling.
• Bromelain 500mg (or 600 GDU) 2 times per day and continue for five more days after surgery.. Available in health food stores. This is pineapple enzyme and decreases bruising.

Copyright © James J. Romano, M.D. – used with permission. This information may not be copied, duplicated or posted without expressed permission from the author.