Once you and Dr.Patrick C. Ryan 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 forward 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

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

Discuss with your doctor about options for preparing for potential blood replacement, including donating your own blood, medical interventions and other treatments, prior to surgery

If you are overweight, losing weight before surgery will help decrease the stress you place on your body.

If you smoke, you should stop or cut down to reduce your surgery risks and improve 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 your doctor. Surgery may need to me delayed until all infections have cleared up

Home Planning

Few tips are as follows:

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

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 anesthesia, 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 in controlling the pain