Preparing for surgery

Preparing for surgery

Preparing for surgery involves both physical and mental preparation. Here are some steps that patients should take to prepare for surgery:

1. Understand the Procedure: Understand exactly what surgery is planned, its risks, benefits, and other options.
   
2. Health Check: Ensure you are as healthy as you can be. This includes being active, eating right, getting good sleep, and if you smoke, stopping as soon as possible. Children must eat healthy food and avoid junk food.
   
3. Medications and Supplements: Inform your doctors about all the medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal remedies you take. Some of these can increase the risk of bleeding or may interact with anesthesia.
   
4. Preoperative Physical Exam: A preoperative physical exam helps your surgical team determine if you are healthy enough to undergo anesthesia and surgery. The check-up is best done by the team who is going to look after the patient during or after surgery such as intensivist, physician and anaesthetist.
   
5. Arrange Support: Arrange support from family or friends during and after surgery, including transportation to and from the hospital. Ensure you have a room in the house which is kept clean in preparation for your arrival after surgery.
   
6. Insurance Coverage: If you have health insurance then ask our team if your surgery will be covered under the cashless option. Make sure your insurance coverage is in order before surgery.
   

If you have any concerns then its best to ask our team or speak to our resident medical doctors or your consultant.

What should I pack for my hospital stay

Here’s a checklist of items you might want to pack for your hospital stay:

1. Clothing: Comfortable pajamas (loose-fitting is best), a light robe for modesty, especially in a shared room, plenty of socks and underwear, slippers with rubber soles (to prevent slipping), and an outfit to wear home.
   
2. Medications: It is very important to bring the medications that you are taking regularly as some of these may be needed during your hospital stay.
   
3. Personal Care Products: A hairbrush or comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, skin-care products, and hair care products if you prefer your own. You might also want to bring products like tampons, sanitary pads, or panty liners.
   
4. Sleeping Aids: An eye mask for sleeping, as the room may not be very dark, and your own pillow(s) if you prefer them.
   
5. Entertainment: Books, journals, or electronic devices like a phone or tablet along with their chargers.
   
6. Food and Drink: If your treatment or procedure allows, maybe some snacks or drinks.
   
7. Legal Documents: For a major procedure, you can consider making a Medical power of attorney, if that’s your preference.
   

Remember, hospitals won’t take responsibility if personal belongings are stolen.

Please consult with your healthcare provider for any specific items you may need for your hospital stay.

How can I make my hospital room feel more comfortable?

Making a hospital room feel more comfortable can significantly enhance your stay. Here are some suggestions:

1. Bring Photos or Other Items From Home: Personalizing the space with photographs, or a cherished item can transform the feel of the room.
   
2. Have Personal Toiletries on Hand: While hospitals provide basic toiletries, having your own can be a game-changer. Consider bringing items like your toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, face wash, hairbrush, contact lenses and solution (if used), moisturizing lotion, and lip balm.
   
3. Bring Your Own Pillow: Hospital pillows are comfortable but typically one size for all. You can bring your own as long as it is very clean and you put a fresh cover every day over it.
   
4. Bring a Notebook and Pen: You can write down questions for your doctors and record the things that they tell you.
   
5. Bring Ear Plugs: Hospitals can be loud and you never know when your roommate will want to watch TV. Bring in ear plugs to block the sound.
   
6. Bring toys or educational material for a Child: If the patient is a child, their own toys can provide comfort. For older children, learning materials can help them pass time.
   

Remember, always consult with your healthcare team for any hospital restrictions. These small but significant changes can help make your hospital stay more comfortable.

Food, Diet, Nutrition at the hospital

Nutrition is important before, during and after surgery: Your body takes a hit when you undergo surgery. Apart from energy (calories) for regular work, it also needs extra calories and proteins for healing the wounds created by surgery. You must plan your diet and nutrition in advance and you can also take professional help of our team if needed.

Here are some tips for managing your diet and nutrition while in hospital

1. Bringing food from home: While you can bring your own home food there are some restrictions to this. We encourage you to bring simple food without much spice. Any food with a strong odour such as some fish items are restricted and cannot be brought to the hospital for possibly inconveniencing other patients
   
2. Hospital food: We have a tie-up with one or two of the nearby caterers who provide healthy simple food for patients. This is provided at a cost which will be included from your bill. Please remember that your insurance company is unlikely to pay for any food bills.
   
3. Food for children: Soft, non-spicy, easy to digest food is provided for children of all ages, at a cost, from the nearby canteen. If your child has special dietary needs then please let us know. Formula milk can be arranged, by the pharmacy, of all common brands, however its best to carry your child's own from home.
   
4. Consulting a dietician: All ICU patients are put on a special diet by our dietician. For most major surgeries it is recommended that you meet one of our specialist dieticians. For a charge, they will make a plan for your daily meals over your entire recovery period keeping in mind your food preferences.
   
5. Avoiding junk food: To ensure that your body is working optimally and enable faster healing, it is best to avoid most of junk food after your surgery for a week to ten days.
   

You can always call us and check with our nursing staff for more guidelines and help managing your food.

To book the dietician services inform one of the staff.