Be sure to inform all members of your surgery team of all medications you’re taking, including supplements and over-the-counter drugs. Some can influence how long anesthesia lasts or interact with other medicines to cause unexpected side effects.
Plan to arrive at the hospital two hours in advance, giving yourself enough time to answer questions and meet with your care team.
Preparation
Preparing for surgery requires more than simply scheduling the operation – you also must arrange transportation, food and any other needs post-surgery. Make arrangements with friends and family who may provide transportation after surgery as well as support afterward; arrange to have someone drive you home afterward or stay nearby until recovery occurs.
Arrange all prescription and over-the-counter medications you need before your surgery, including pain medications. Ask your pharmacist to fill them to ensure you have enough to see you through recovery.
On the day of or morning of your surgery, use an antibacterial soap to brush your teeth and shower, and avoid wearing contact lenses or jewelry; store valuables at home or with someone you trust; follow your surgeon and pre-admission nurse’s instructions regarding when and where to arrive; bring photo ID and medical insurance card as required, wear comfortable clothing such as loose-fitting pants with button-up shirt (if applicable), bring denture case ( if applicable)
Anesthesia
Anesthesia is used during surgery to render you unconscious, making you susceptible to painkilling agents such as anesthetics. While generally safe, not everyone responds positively; to avoid problems associated with anesthesia visit your physician for a checkup and follow any instructions given about when and how much food/drink should be taken before the operation takes place.
As soon as you arrive at the hospital for any procedure, it is a good idea to bring along someone from your family or friend group who can assist in getting you ready and taking care of any belongings you bring with you. They may also ensure that everyone entering the room washes their hands thoroughly after entering.
Before entering the operating room, your nurse will ask about any medications you are currently taking and it would be a good idea to bring a list of these with you to hospital. When arriving for surgery, a hospital gown will be given out and any jewelry and/or piercings needing removal must be removed prior to changing into it; normally this timeframe requires about 2 hours’ preparation for optimal outcomes.
Surgery
Whenever surgery is recommended by a physician, the first step should be a thorough discussion about what procedures will take place and why. They will explain your condition to be addressed through surgery as well as its benefits to you and what can be expected during recovery.
On the day of surgery, be sure to follow all instructions regarding when and what time you must arrive and do before beginning the procedure. Signing paperwork and answering health-related questions are likely. Your surgeon and anesthesiologist must know about any medicines you are taking (including over-the-counter ones such as aspirin and ibuprofen), especially any blood thinners and ginkgo biloba that might increase bleeding risk or interfere with medicines used during or after surgery.
Shower with antiseptic soap and wear clean clothes before heading to the surgical facility. You will be prepared for surgery in a private preoperative suite where you will meet both your surgeon and anesthesiologist; depending on your surgery’s length of time or recovery room duration, several hours or even overnight may pass in recovery before moving on to a hospital room.
Recovery
Your doctor should discuss every detail of the surgery with you, from its purpose and benefits to what to expect during and after it. He or she should also address any questions or address concerns that arise regarding its execution.
Once your surgery is completed, you will spend between 45 minutes to two hours recovering in a recovery room where nurses monitor you. At this point, it may be beneficial for someone from your support network to come stay with you during this time.
Based on your type of surgery, nutritional supplements may be provided as part of your postoperative recovery. It’s essential that you follow all directions regarding their consumption as this could impede your healing and could potentially slow it down. It’s also important to inform your physician if you use any over-the-counter medicines or supplements that could interact with prescribed pain relievers; otherwise they could prescribe pain relievers that won’t interact negatively. Depending on certain requirements set by your physician post-surgery, nursing or rehabilitation facilities may be recommended by doctors postoperatively.
