Surgery Preparation
Once you and Mr Panteliadis decide that surgery will help you, you will need to learn what to expect from the surgery and create a treatment plan for the best results afterwards.
Preparing mentally and physically for surgery is an important step towards 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, Mr Panteliadis will perform a complete physical examination to make sure you do not have any conditions that could interfere with the surgery or the outcomes.
- 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 Mr Panteliadis and your GP to see which ones you should stop taking before surgery.
- Discuss with Mr Panteliadis about options for preparing for potential blood replacement, includes donating your own blood, medical interventions and other treatments prior to surgery.
- If you are overweight, losing weight will help your recovery and improve your outcome. Discuss with Mr Panteliadis for further information.
- If you are taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications or any drugs that increase the risk of bleeding, inform Mr Panteliadis and get advice when to stop.
- If you smoke, you should stop 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 Mr Panteliadis. Surgery cannot be performed until all infections have cleared up.
- Arrange for someone to help with daily tasks like cooking, shopping and laundry.
- Put items that you use often within easy reach before surgery, so you will not 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.
Day Surgery Procedures
If you are having day surgery, remember the following:
- Have someone available to take you home, you will be unable to drive for at least 24-hours.
- Do not drink or eat anything in the car on the trip back 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.
- 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 in controlling the pain.