Rita Simons' pre-surgery HRT claims need some context

What does this video actually claim?

Rita Simons shares her pre-surgery preparation routine, mentioning that her HRT "hasn't been behaving" and describing stress from quitting nicotine. She says she got a full hormone panel blood test and a glutathione IV to go into surgery "as strong as possible."

The video frames these interventions as medically sound preparation for surgery. She specifically positions the hormone testing and IV glutathione as ways to optimize her health before the procedure.

While she doesn't make specific medical claims about outcomes, the implication is that these steps will meaningfully improve her surgical experience or recovery.

Is hormone testing before surgery actually useful?

Getting hormone levels checked before surgery can be clinically relevant, especially for people on HRT. Estrogen affects blood clotting risk, and surgical teams need to know about hormone medications when planning procedures.

The American College of Surgeons recommends stopping estrogen-containing HRT 4-6 weeks before major surgery due to increased thromboembolism risk. However, this varies by surgery type and individual risk factors.

Simons doesn't mention adjusting her HRT based on the results, which would be the actual clinical purpose of pre-surgical hormone testing. Simply knowing the numbers without acting on them doesn't optimize anything.

Does glutathione IV actually help with surgery prep?

There's no good evidence that IV glutathione improves surgical outcomes or recovery. While glutathione is an antioxidant produced naturally by the body, the idea that boosting it via IV helps with surgery is largely marketing.

A 2019 systematic review in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found insufficient evidence for IV glutathione's health benefits in healthy people. The body tightly regulates glutathione levels, and excess amounts are typically excreted.

Some studies have looked at glutathione in critically ill patients, but that's very different from elective surgery preparation. The American Society of Anesthesiologists doesn't recommend glutathione supplementation as part of pre-operative optimization.

What about the stress and nicotine cessation angle?

Simons correctly identifies stress and recent nicotine cessation as factors affecting her hormones. Both can disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and impact cortisol, which affects other hormones.

Quitting nicotine before surgery is medically sound. The American College of Surgeons recommends stopping all nicotine products at least 4 weeks before surgery to reduce complications like poor wound healing and infection.

However, the timing matters. Acute nicotine withdrawal can temporarily increase stress hormones and cardiovascular strain. Ideally, you'd quit well in advance, not right before surgery.

What should you actually know about pre-surgery prep?

Real pre-operative optimization focuses on evidence-based interventions. These include smoking cessation (ideally 4+ weeks prior), optimizing nutrition if malnourished, managing diabetes and blood pressure, and following specific medication instructions from your surgical team.

If you're on HRT, discuss timing with your surgeon. Some procedures require temporary discontinuation, others don't. This depends on your individual risk factors and the surgery type.

Skip the expensive IV treatments unless there's a specific medical indication. Focus on getting enough sleep, eating well, staying hydrated, and managing stress through proven methods like exercise or meditation.