Patient Form (option 1)

Please download or complete the patient form below and bring it with you to your next appointment.

Patient Form (option 2)

Please download and complete the patient form to bring with you at your next appointment.

Preparing for Surgery

Once you and our surgeon decide that surgery will help you, you’ll need to learn what “preparing mentally and physically for surgery” is an important step toward a successful result. Understanding the process and your role in it will help you recover more quickly and have fewer problems.

Working with Our Surgeon

Before surgery, our surgeon will give you a complete physical examination to make sure you don’t have any conditions that could interfere with the surgery or its outcome. Routine tests, such as blood tests and X-rays, might need to be performed before the surgery.

Fasting

You must have nothing to eat or drink for six hours prior to surgery. (You may take sips of water up until 2 hours before the operation and you may take your medications with a sip of water). You must not chew gum or smoke on the day of the operation.

Medications

• If you are on blood thinners such as Aspirin, Warfarin, Plavix, Iscover, Clopidogrel, Pradaxa, Dabigatran, Rivaroxaban, Xarelto or anti-inflammatory drugs (Brufen, Mobic, Voltaren, etc), they can cause bleeding during surgery. I will advise you about what to do with these drugs prior to surgery. You must let us know about these drugs and the decision to stop them is based on each individual patient’s needs.

• Diabetic medications: I will give you advice on whether to take your diabetic medications on the morning of surgery or not. Some diabetics will be admitted the night before the operation and be looked after by a diabetic doctor.

• If you are on Prednisone, you should not stop this drug suddenly.

• Cholesterol lowering medication should not be taken when you are fasting.

• If you are taking any alternative medications e.g. St John’s Wort, fish oil or garlic, you should stop these tablets one week before surgery as they may result in excess bleeding.

• You may continue to take a multivitamin.

• Continue to take all other medications, even on the morning of surgery with a small sip of water.

Other things to know

• Report any infections to our surgeon. Surgery cannot be performed until all infections have cleared up.

• You must bring all relevant x-rays to the hospital with you.

• If you smoke, it is in your best interests to stop completely as soon as you can. See your GP for alternatives or call Quitline (13 18 48) if you wish to seek advice.

• You should also abstain from drinking alcohol 24 hours prior to any surgery.

• Bring all your current medications with you to the hospital.

• Bring comfortable pyjamas, personal toiletries, small change for newspapers etc.

• Do not bring large amounts of cash or valuables.

Home Planning

• Arrange for a family member/friend 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 discharge

Have a family member/friend 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 anaesthesia, 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.

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 controlling the pain.

Frequently Asked Questions

For more frequently asked questions, please click here.