Preparing for Surgery

Once you and Professor Bain 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 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 Professor Bain

Before surgery, a complete physical examination will be performed to make sure you don’t 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.

• Advise Professor Bain is you are taking any of the following medication:
  • Warfarin, Plavix or any other anticoagulants
  • New anti-rheumatoid arthritis medication
  • Prednisolone
• 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 Professor Bain. Surgery cannot be performed until all infections have cleared up
• Arrange for someone to help out with everyday tasks like cooking, shopping and laundry after the surgery
• Put items that you use often within easy reach before surgery so you won’t have difficulty later

If you are having day surgery, remember the following:

• Have someone available to take you home and stay with you. You cannot 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
• For elbow / wrist / hand surgery, keep that extremity elevated and use ice as directed. This will help decrease swelling and pain
• Panadol is a good baseline analgesic. Stronger medications may be required for bigger procedures. 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