The day of surgery conjures up many emotions: excitement, anticipation and perhaps even a little trepidation. There is no reason, however, to stress about the experience. Dr. Ary Krau makes it a point to educate his patients as they prepare for the big day and make the necessary arrangements. In this blog post, he shares a helpful checklist for his patients to follow on the day of surgery. Read on to learn more.
Morning Of:
- Do not eat or drink anything after midnight.
- Do not take any medications or vitamins.
- Wash your body with the antibacterial soap provided by Dr. Krau.
- Do not wear any lotion, creams, hairspray or perfume.
- Take off any colored nail polish (clear or nude colors are OK).
- Dress in loose, comfortable clothing that zips or buttons in front.
- Wear flat shoes or flip flop sandals.
- Do not wear jewelry; take out any piercings.
- Take out contact lenses; bring eyeglasses and eyeglass case.
- Tuck your ID and medical insurance card in your wallet or purse.
- Double check the address to the surgery center.
- Wait for your ride to the surgery center (you cannot drive yourself).
After Surgery:
- Have your caretaker drive you home and help you get situated in a comfortable resting position.
- Hydrate with at least eight ounces of water every two hours.
- Keep your head and neck elevated and propped up on big pillows.
- Start pain medication as prescribed; keep a log or set a cellphone alarm to stay on a regular schedule.
- Eat a light meal (soup or Jell-O are good options).
- Ice the treated area with bags of frozen vegetables or ice packs.
- Keep your compression garment in place; it controls swelling.
- Call our office if you have questions about your medications, side effects or anything else.
- Don’t bend, strain or lift anything heavier than a paperback book.
This checklist should be supplemented with any other instructions given to you by Dr. Krau or our surgical staff. If you have questions about an item mentioned here or another instruction, please don’t hesitate to contact our office and ask to speak with the doctor. You can reach us by calling (305) 861-6881.