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Preparing for Surgery or Procedure

Preparing for surgery
Preparing for procedure

:: Preparing for surgery

Once you and your Doctor decide that surgery will help you, you'll need to learn what to expect
from the surgery and create a treatment plan for the best results afterward. Preparing mentally
and physically for surgery is an important step toward a successful result. Understanding the
process and your role in it will help you recover more quickly and have fewer problems.

Working with Your Doctor

Before surgery, your doctor will give you a complete physical examination to make sure you
don't have any conditions that could interfere with the surgery or its outcome. Routine tests,
such as blood tests and X-rays, are usually performed a week before any major surgery.

Discuss any medications you are taking with your doctor and your family doctor to see which
ones you should stop taking before surgery.

Discuss with your doctor options for preparing for potential blood replacement, including donating your own blood, medical interventions and other treatments, prior to surgery.

If you are overweight, losing weight before surgery will help decrease the stress you place on
your new joint. However, you should not diet during the month before your surgery.

If you are taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications or warfarin or any drugs that increase
the risk of bleeding you will need to stop taking them one week before surgery to minimize
bleeding.

If you smoke, you should stop or cut down to reduce your surgery risks and
improve your recovery.

Have any tooth, gum, bladder or bowel problems treated before surgery to reduce the risk
of infection later.

Eat a well-balanced diet, supplemented by a daily multivitamin with iron.

Report any infections to your surgeon. Surgery cannot be performed until all
infections have cleared up.

Home Planning                                                                                 

Arrange for someone to help out with everyday tasks like cooking, shopping and laundry.

Put items that you use often within easy reach before surgery so you won't have to reach
and bend as often.

Remove all loose carpets and tape down electrical cords to avoid falls.

Make sure you have a stable chair with a firm seat cushion, a firm back and two arms.

Make sure your shower or bath is safe and easy to get in and out of. Handrails, non slip
matsand suitable stools to sit on are helpful for personal safety and comfort.

:: Preparing for Procedure

If you are having Day Surgery, remember the following:

Have someone available to take you home, you will not be able to drive for at
least 24 hours.

Do Not drink or eat anything in the car on the trip home.

The combination of anaesthesia, food, and car motion can quite often cause nausea or vomiting. After arriving home, wait until you are hungry before trying to eat. Begin with a light meal and
try to avoid greasy food for the first 24 hours.

If you had surgery on an extremity (leg, knee, hand or elbow), keep that extremity elevated
and use ice as directed. This will help decrease swelling and pain.

Take your pain medicine as directed. Begin the pain medicine as you start getting uncomfortable,
but before you are in severe pain. If you wait to take your pain medication until the pain is severe, you will have more difficulty controlling the pain.