Preparing for surgery
Preparing for surgery
Once we both decide that you need to have surgery, you will need to learn what to prepare yourself mentally and physically. Understanding the process and your role in it will help you recover more quickly and have fewer problems.
Working with The Office
- Before surgery, you will have 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 at the hospital a week before the surgery.
- Discuss any medications you are taking to see which one you should stop taking before surgery.
- Discuss your 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 is advisable. 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.
- Report any infections to your Gynecologist Sugar Land Dr. Tom Nguyen. 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 Procedure
If you are having Day Surgery, remember the following:
- Have someone available to bring you to the hospital and to take you home
- Do not drink or eat anything in the car on the trip home The combination of anesthesia, 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 and carbonated beverages for the first 24 hours.
- Take your pain medicine as directed. Begin the pain medicine as you start getting uncomfortable, 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.