Preparing for Surgery & Procedure

Once you have decided with Mr Daren Francis that surgery will help you, you will need to prepare mentally and physically for surgery in order to increase the likelihood of 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, Mr Daren Francis 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 before the surgery.

Discuss any medications you are taking with Mr Daren Francis and your family physician to see which ones you should stop taking before surgery.

Discuss with Mr Daren Francis options for preparing for potential blood replacement, including donating your own blood, medical interventions and other treatments, prior to major surgery.

If you are taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications, you will need to stop taking them one week before surgery to minimize bleeding, however, it is always important to discuss your own individual circumstances so that risks can be weighed up appropriately.

If you smoke, you should stop or at the very least cut down in order to reduce the risks of your surgery 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. Note you will receive specific instructions for dietary preparation before your surery. It is important to mention if you are diabetic.

Report any infections to Mr Daren Francis.

Home Planning

Arrange for someone to help out with everyday tasks like cooking, shopping and laundry after surgery.

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 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.