If you’re gearing up for surgery, it’s important to understand what’s in store for you. Preparing to have any type of operation is never easy, but simply knowing what to expect can help you feel more at ease with the whole process.

After it’s been determined that you’ll be having surgery, you’ll likely be scheduled for basic examinations that can include everything from simple blood and urine tests to EKGs and chest X-rays, all to best show how your surgeon should proceed. Sometimes, these tests can show results that prove the surgery would place too much strain on your body to be advisable, but often they are just used as a baseline to measure your vitals against after the operation is over.

Before your surgery, you’ll have a meeting with the surgeon who will perform the procedure to discuss the details of the operation. He or she will give you a thorough explanation of everything involved in the surgery, as well as the expected outcome of the process. Of course, the surgeon will go over the risks and possible complications to ensure that you are fully informed. This discussion is extremely important, not only in the practical sense for making sure you and your surgeon are on the same page, but also for legal reasons. In the U.S., a patient is entitled to informed consent, meaning that you should always be presented the risks involved in any medical care you receive.

During the meeting with your surgeon, you’ll probably receive some specific instructions on how to prepare your body the day before the operation. These instructions change from procedure to procedure, but some remain much the same. In most cases where anesthesia will be administered, you’ll be asked to fast and abstain from drinking anything before the surgery, often beginning the night before. This isn’t designed to make you go into the OR with a grumbling stomach and parched mouth; rather, it’s to ensure you don’t aspirate on food during the surgery, since anesthesia can affect your body’s normal functions, including your gag reflex.

When you arrive at the hospital for your surgery, make sure that you have no foreign objects that might be lost during the procedure. That means you’ll need to remove all of your jewelry, as well as glasses, dentures, wigs, contact lenses, hearing aids, and hair accessories such as hair pins. While you might simply opt to hand these objects to a family member, it is often better to leave more valuable items, such as expensive jewelry and purses/wallets at home, where you can be sure that they’re safe and sound.

You should also mentally prepare yourself for the effects of anesthesia, especially if you’ve never been put under before. The anesthesiologist will give you sedative via an IV in order to put you to sleep very quickly, and then they’ll begin sending in the anesthesia. All you need to do is take a few breaths from the oxygen mask they’ll apply to you and wait a few seconds for the sedative to take effect. Almost all patients then slip into a dreamless sleep for the entire duration of the surgery. In fact, you’ll likely stay asleep until you’re transported to the post-operative care room, where you’ll slowly wake up.

If you want to learn more about preparing for surgery, turn to your doctor, surgeon, or even the hospital you plan to have the operation in. They will be able to provide you with more detailed information tailored to your particular needs and the type of surgery you plan to have.

John Soland is an experienced writer who has contributed to a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, he is able to offer advice in various fields, including health.

John Soland is an experienced writer who has contributed to a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, he is able to offer advice in various fields, including health. http://www.healthgrades.com/group-directory/pennsylvania-pa/wayne/laser-spine-institute-9961d422

Author Bio: John Soland is an experienced writer who has contributed to a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, he is able to offer advice in various fields, including health.

Category: Medicines and Remedies
Keywords: surgery, health, surgical centers