Physicians for Women > Patient Education > Pre-operative

Having surgery requires preparation. As a result, there are certain things that need to be done to ensure optimal safety and preparation.

The Week Before Your Surgery

You will have a preoperative visit. During this visit, we will discuss the nature of your surgery, what to expect, and any risks associated with having surgery. We will also answer any questions that you might have about your surgery.

Hospital

Any medications containing aspirin or ibuprofen will need to be stopped 5-7 days prior to Surgery. If these medications are essential, please let us know so that we may plan accordingly.

Not Applicable
See MA to Schedule Appointment

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If you are having major inpatient surgery, you will have a preoperative appointment at the hospital. This will give you the opportunity meet with the team that will be caring for you on the day of your surgery. You will also have any preoperative lab work needed for your surgery.

The Day Before Your Surgery and the Morning of Your Surgery

Try to have a relaxing day before your surgery. Do the things that you enjoy. It will keep you in a relaxed frame of mind on the morning of your surgery.

Not Applicable
Applicable

If you are having a major inpatient surgery or a complicated laparoscopic surgery, you may be asked by our doctors to do a major bowel preparation. This involves the following.

Clear liquid diet the day before your surgery. Clear liquids include any liquids through which you can see, such as black coffee, tea without cream, Sprite, Gatorade, etc.
Drink one full bottle of magnesium citrate. You can get this at the drug store.
Take a Fleets enema the night before your surgery.
Take nothing to eat or drink after midnight.
Take another Fleets enema the morning of your surgery.

Take nothing to eat or drink after midnight.

If you have any medications that are essential, these may taken with a sip of water if instructed at your preoperative visit at the hospital.

Leave all jewelry including wedding rings at home.

Take out contact lenses. If you need corrective eyewear, wear eye glasses.

Typically you must be at the hospital two hours before your scheduled surgery time. This allows adequate time for hospital registration, lab work, and anesthesia evaluation.

These are basic preoperative instructions. There may be situations where all of this information may not apply or may be different. If so, we will let you know of the changes. As always, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.