Many people ask “What can I take for a cold?”

This is a common question after Mini-Gastric Bypass. Unfortunately, as many people know, the cure of the common cold, a viral upper respiratory infection, remains elusive.  Nothing has yet been shown to be successful in the treatment of a "cold." In the case of the Flu there are some new medications that may help.

For Colds

Many people ask about:

1) Tylenol (Acetaminophen). It can be somewhat helpful for the aches and pains of a cold but in a Mini-Gastric Bypass patient Tylenol may risk damage to the liver, so we do not recommend it.

2) Aspirin, Motrin, Aleve, etc. These medications can help relieve the aches and pains of a cold but they are also known to cause ulcers in the new stomach of a Mini-Gastric Bypass, so we do not recommend them.

3) Vitamin C. in small doses probably does not hurt the stomach and may be of some help in reducing the length of symptoms of a cold. We do not recommend large doses of Vitamin C because they can irritate the stomach.

4) Echinacea remains controversial as a preventative treatment for colds.  The data that I have seen does not show that it works and because it has unknown effects upon the liver and stomach, we do not recommend it.

5) Zinc probably doesn't help cold symptoms very much but in small to moderate doses Zinc is probably OK.

6) Goldenseal No I worry about your stomach and Liver.

7) Cough syrup? Beware of alcohol, aspirin, Motrin or Tylenol type products in the syrup, it is usually not necessary and could be harmful. If it does not contain any of those offending drugs then it may be safe.

8) Antihistamines can sometimes help with the “runny nose” that comes along with a cold.  (Benadryl or Chlortrimeton) They are probably safe when used in small doses for short periods of time.

9) Nasal Sprays do no usually get into the blood stream in very high doses and thus are much safer than pills taken to help stop a runny nose.  Good choice for short term treatment of sinus problems but they can cause trouble in situations where they are used for more than a few days.  OK for up to 4 days.

10) Chicken Soup, Rest, Sleep, and Now you are talking! Probably the best advice is to recognize that you are sick and take time to rest and recover from the illness. 

This notice describes how information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can gain access to this information.  Please review carefully

Contact Information: -Telephones: *** CLOS West: 702-456-4643; Trish Lanman 702-376-3446, Sandy Brubaker 702-376-3647; Jennifer Brubaker 702-376-9339, Dr. Rutledge 702-215-9550; 989-450-8081 Kim Hazen 989-450-8081 *** CLOS Florida: Flo Ballengee 863-899-3463 Wayne Robbins 704-682-1549 Elizabeth Robbins 704-928-6693 Dr. Cesare Peraglie 407-922-3424

Email Us Anytime for Help: Email: Dr. Rutledge DrR@clos.net, *** CLOS West: Trish Lanman Trish@clos.net, Sandy Brubaker SandyB@clos.net Dr. Rutledge DrR@clos.net, Kim Hazen khazen@clos.net *** CLOS Florida: Flo Ballengee flo@clos.net, Wayne Robbins wr@clos.net Elizabeth Robbins epr@clos.net Dr. Peraglie drp@clos.net

Addresses: Address: *** CLOS West Office: Dr Robert Rutledge / CELOS, 98 E Lake Mead Parkway Suite 302, Henderson NV 89015, Office 702-456-4643, Office fax: 702-456-1173, Contacts: Trish Lanman 702-376-3446 Trish@clos.net, Sandy Brubaker 702-376-3647 SandyB@clos.net, Jennifer Brubaker 702-376-9339 Jen@clos.net, Dr. Rutledge 702-215-9550 Drr@clos.net Kim Hazen 989-450-8081 khazen@clos.net *** CLOS Florida: 40124 Highway 27, Suite 203, Davenport, FL 33837, Wayne Robbins 704-682-1549, wr@clos.net, Elizabeth Robbins 704-928-6693 epr@clos.net, Dr. Peraglie 407-922-3424 drp@clos.net

Warning: Gastric Bypass Surgery is a MAJOR surgical procedure. It can be associated with significant risks and complications, up to and including death. Weight loss surgery is a rapidly developing area of medicine. Bariatric surgery is filled with controversy. It is very important to take a careful and deliberate approach to considering surgery for the treatment of obesity.  

Disclaimer Notice:-Information on this web site is provided for informational purposes only.
-It is imperative that you consult your own physician regarding the applicability of any opinions or recommendations with respect to your symptoms or medical condition.
-Contact with this web site or Dr. Rutledge over the web site does not constitute a doctor patient relationship and for good quality medical care you must obtain advice and consultation form your own local physician.
-This site is intended as a resource for references on the treatment of obesity for health care professionals and educated consumers.
-The authors and editors have used sources believed to be reliable in their efforts to provide information that is complete and generally in accord with the standards accepted at the time of publication.
-Medical knowledge changes rapidly. In view of the possibility of human error or changes in medical science, neither the authors nor the editors nor any other party who has been involved in the preparation or publication of this work warrants that the information contained herein is in every respect accurate or complete, and they are not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information.
This information is not medical advice or diagnosis, nor is it to be construed as medical advice, medical information, medical diagnosis, or medical prescription for curing, removing, or preventing any disease, or related symptoms. You must seek the direct assistance, advice and evaluation of your own personal physician before acting on any information found herein. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
-Readers are Strongly encouraged to discuss and confirm the information contained herein with your own physician.
Copyright © 1998 The Center for Laparoscopic Obesity Surgery