Pre-op is a strange way to describe an evening bicycle ride, don\’t you think?

I have oral surgery scheduled for 8 am tomorrow. I know I won\’t be able to ride beforehand. I mustn\’t have any solid food for at least six hours prior to the procedure. If I try to go out there for a ride of an hour or more on an empty stomach, I\’ll be a miserable case of the bonk!

In addition, no liquids for two hours before surgery. I may have a small amount of water to swallow four capsules of antibiotic one hour before the surgery; but that\’s it. Trying to go for a ride without water is asking for major trouble. Dehydration is not fun.

After I\’m back home post-procedure, trying to ride would be foolish. The sedation might not be sufficiently worn off, and I probably will be taking pain medication besides. Hence my decision to go for an evening ride on the road bike.

Today I\’ve been feeding myself up, so I won\’t be too hungry pre-op. I got Chinese take-out for lunch. That was almost two meals right there! I\’m having a few extra snacks this evening. I can go to bed a little later than usual, because I don\’t need to get up tomorrow at 4:30 am if I want to get my ride in.

Am I feeling nervous about this oral surgery? No, not really. I\’ve been through it before. The hardest part will be keeping myself from absent-mindedly eating tomorrow morning!