Medical Clearance
If your doctor has instructed you to obtain medical clearance prior to surgery, you will need to see your primary care physician in order to be cleared. This will include having blood work done, an EKG and a chest x-ray if necessary. These tests will be ordered by your primary care physician, who will review the results and provide your surgeon with a detailed medical clearance for your procedure. Your medical clearance must be obtained no more than 30 days prior to your scheduled procedure and generally takes place two to three weeks prior to surgery.
Pain Medication
Stop taking Advil, Motrin, Ibuprofen, Aleve, Naprosyn, Naproxen, Feldene (piroxicam), Aspirin, and/or any other regular anti-inflammatory or aspirin-containing products 7-10 days before surgery. However, you may use your pain meds, such as Vicodin (hydrocodone/APAP), Percocet (oxycodone/APAP), Darvocet, etc.,up to the day of surgery.
Other Medication
Stop taking all herbal medications 14 days before surgery. Stop taking Vitamin E about 10 days before surgery. If you take Coumadin, Plavix or any other blood thinner, it should be stopped 7 days before surgery by your primary care doctor. If you need to be on a substitute blood thinner (not aspirin), please contact us with all the information on the medications. Insulin: Directions should be given to you by your primary care doctor and/or the anesthesiologist at the hospital at the time of your Pre-Admission Testing (P.A.T.). Check with your primary care physician if you do not have those directions or you have a concern about any other medications that you take on a regular basis.
Day of Surgery:
No eating or drinking after midnight the night prior to surgery Do not swallow toothpaste or eat hard candy or chew gum. If you must take medication for your heart, blood pressure, or diabetes:
- Try to take them as far away from your surgery time as possible.
- Take only a small sip of water.
- Before surgery, tell the nurse and/or anesthesiologist the name of the medication, and the amount and time it was taken.
- Please bring a list of medications that you take with you to the admissions nurse. This will aid her in taking your history.
For Hospital Procedures Report to Admissions:
- Report two (2) hours prior to your surgery time.
- You will be taken to the same-Day or pre-op holding area. Family and friends will be allowed to be with you once you are settled in and ready.
- Once you go to the operating room, your family/friends will be directed to the waiting area. They will be able to see you when you get to your hospital room.
- Prior to surgery, you will meet the Anesthesiologist and the Nerve monitoring team. You will also meet your surgeon again. You will be asked to sign a consent. Please ask any questions you may have.
Recovery Room:
You will wake up in the recovery room (PACU), where you will be monitored and be given medication for pain, as needed. Usually, you will be there for 1-2 hours, or possibly several hours longer, until your hospital room is ready. Your family will wait in the main lobby of the hospital. After surgery, your surgeon will speak with them. They will be able to meet you in your room after you leave recovery.
For procedures at an Outpatient Surgery Center:
If you are having surgery at an Outpatient Surgery Center, you will receive a call from them informing you of your arrival time. This generally happens 1-2 days prior to your surgery. You will be discharged a few hours after your procedure unless your physician has instructed you otherwise.
Going Home:
Discharge instructions will be given to you at the time of your discharge.