Preparing for Surgery

Date/Time of Surgery

Instructions Before Surgery

Do not take in any solid food or milk and creamer products after 11 pm the evening before your surgery or procedure, unless otherwise instructed.

Up until 2 hours before the time you check in for your surgery or procedure, you may continue to drink ONLY clear liquids.  The ONLY acceptable clear liquids during this time include:

• Water
•  8 ounces of BLACK coffee or tea (no milk, creamer or non-dairy creamer) 
• Juices – apple, cranberry – anything you can see through (without pulp), No orange juice! 

• Starting 2 hours before your check-in time, stop all liquids.  This includes chewing gum and sucking on hard candy.
• TAKE only the medication(s) you have been instructed to take with a sip of water.
• DO NOT smoke, chew tobacco, or use any recreational drugs the day of your surgery.
• Please follow these instructions strictly.  This will avoid unnecessary discomfort, delays, or possible cancellations during and after your surgery or procedure.

Other Special Instructions

• You must have a responsible adult to take you home and stay with you overnight.  This should be a friend or family member. 
• Driving a car, operating machines or appliances, making major decisions or ingestion of alcohol should be avoided for 24 hours after having anesthesia.
• A bath or shower with anti-bacterial soap is highly recommended for 3 days prior to and the night before or day of your surgery or procedure.  This is to help decrease the risk of infection.
• Wear clothing that will be comfortable and easy for you to put on following your procedure.
• Please bring your insurance card and a photo ID.  Also bring your pharmacy card, if you have one.
• Please only bring enough money to pay for your copay.
• Please bring a list of your current medications with doses, times, and the reason you are taking them.
• DO NOT bring jewelry, hairpieces, contact lenses, etc.  Bring a case for your glasses or hearing aids if you wear them.
• DO NOT wear make-up, perfume or lotion, especially on your face or the surgical site.

These medications need to be stopped 7 days before your surgery date:

• Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
• Naproxen  (Naprosyn, Aleve, Anaprox)
• Diclofenac  (Voltaren, Cataflam)
• Indomethacin  (Indocin)
• Etodolac  (Lodine)
• Flurbiprofen (Ansaid)
• Ketoprofin  (Ordis, Oruvail)
• Nabumetone (Relafen)
• Oxaprozin  (Daypro)
• Piroxicam (Feldene)
• Salsilate  (Disalcid)
• Sudlinac  (Clinoril)
• Meloxicam (Mobic)
• Fish Oil
• Vitamin E
• CoQ10  

Other supplements

• Aspirin*  (Fiorinal, Norgesic, Soma, Ascriptin, Robaxisal)

*-If your doctor prescribed Aspirin for you, please contact your prescribing doctor and let them know you are going to have surgery.

*-If you are taking Aspirin preventatively and without a prescription, please discontinue use 7-10 days prior to your surgery.

It's okay to take:

• Tylenol or Acetaminophen

If you are taking Coumadin, Eliquis, Plavix, Pradaxa, Xarelto or other blood thinners, you must contact your prescribing doctor before your pre-operative appointment or surgery date to see if you need to continue or stop these medicines.