Preparing for Surgery/ 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
Home Planning


Working with Your Doctor

Before surgery, Dr. Olbourne 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 the
   surgery.

Discuss any medications you are taking with Dr. Olbourne and your family physician to

see which ones you should stop taking before surgery.

Discuss with Dr. Olbourne on 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. However, you         should not diet during the month before your surgery.

If you are taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications, 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.


Preparing for a 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 (arm, hand, leg, knee, foot), 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.