DURING THE WEEKS BEFORE SURGERY:
- DO NOT take aspirin, aspirin-containing drugs (Advil, Motrin, etc.) or Vitamin E for two weeks prior to surgery (see drug sheet for complete list).
- Take Vitamin C, 1000 mg per day, beginning 1 week before surgery.
- DO NOT SMOKE 24-HOURS PRIOR TO SURGERY!
- Get prescriptions filled. Purchase Arnica over the counter at any health food store (Henrys, drug store of pharmacy). Take according to directions on package (Helps bruising and swelling).
- Arrange for transportation to and from surgery, YOU CANNOT DRIVE YOURSELF, PLEASE HAVE DRIVER WAIT IN THE WAITING ROOM DURING YOUR SURGERY. Your recovery period is included in the surgical fee.
DAY BEFORE SURGERY
- If you are going to have general anesthesia, you are NOT to have ANYTHING to eat for 8 hours or to drink (including water) for 6 hours before your surgery appointment, except to take all medications as usual (with a sip of water). See list of medications not to take 14 days/2 weeks before surgery.
- If having surgery at a hospital, you need to follow that hospitals pre-anesthesia protocol.
- Importance of cleanliness:
1. Bathe prior to surgery with particular attention to the head, face, and neck areas.
2. Brush teeth and use a mouthwash prior to your appointment.
3. Be clean shaven (if applicable).
4. Cleanse beard and/or moustache (if applicable).
5. No facial makeup or long earrings.
6. No acrylic nails or nail polish or long finger nails.
DAY OF SURGERY
- Wear short sleeves and loose clothing for easy accessibility to upper arms. Bring jacket or sweater.
- Do not wear contact lenses.
- Arrive 20-30 minutes before your scheduled surgery time unless it is the 8 o’clock appointment. Your responsible adult driver must be with you and remain in the lobby for the duration of the surgery.
- If having surgery at a hospital, you need to arrive at time according to that hospital’s protocol.
- Leave all jewelry and valuables at home.
AFTER SURGERY
- It is recommended that you take 1000 mg of Vitamin C.
- Taking medication on an empty stomach may cause vomiting.
- Rest and elevate head.
- Call our office if you experience any problems such as excessive pain, swelling, bleeding, nausea, and vomiting.
- If you have gauze in your mouth bite down hard on the gauze that the doctor placed for one hour. After the first hour, replace the gauze in your mouth with new gauze for an additional hour. After two hours you should not need any more gauze. However, if you still have bleeding from the surgical sites, then place more gauze for an additional hour. Remember that some blood in the saliva for the first week after surgery is not unusual.
- Apply cold to decrease bruising and swelling for the first 24-48 hours; warm compresses after 48 hours.
- Driving is permitted no earlier than 24 hours after anesthesia, if not taking any pain medications.
- Avoid heavy lifting, straining or bending over for two weeks.
- Drink clear fluids in small sips for the first few hours until you feel your stomach is settled (no nausea present). Then increase fluids the rest of the day to prevent dehydration. If no nausea for two plus hours after surgery then you can incorporate a diet of soup, jello, oatmeal, apple sauce, and broth, etc.
- Start fluids after the two hours of continuous gauze pressure. Start with water then advance to juice (Gatorade) then to soup. Advance diet slowly, and stay on soft, non-chew, diet for one week.
- Start your medications after you have something in your stomach.
- Take all prescribed medications as recommended. If pain does not subside with the prescribed narcotics (usually vicodin or norco), you may take an additional 2-3 ibuprofen/advil along with it.
- Rinse with warm salt water (1tsp salt in a glass of water) or diluted hydrogen peroxide (½ hydrogen peroxide, ½ water) after every meal.
- Brush teeth normally, but be gentle when brushing in the back of the mouth.
- No spitting or using a straw for one week or until you return for your follow up appointment.
At least (14) days prior to surgery, do not take aspirin or any medications containing aspirin. If you have any pain and need some type of medication TYLENOL IS PERMISSIBLE.
If you are on any blood thinner medication (Coumadin, Persantine, etc.) these must be discontinued 2 weeks prior to surgery. Check with your physician prior to discontinuing these medications.
THE FOLLOWING DRUGS CONTAIN SUBSTANCE WHICH CAN THIN THE BLOOD.
ADVIL
ALEVE
ALKA SELTZER
ALKA SELTZER PLUS
ANACIN
ANACIN MAXIMUM STRENGTH
ANEXSIA WITH CODEINE
ANODYNOS DHC
APC
ARTHRITIS PAIN FORMULA
ARTHRITIS STRENGTH BUFFERIN
ASA WITH CODEINE (#2 #3 #4)
ASA COMPOUND CAPSULES
ASA ENSEALS
ASCRIPTIN
ASCRIPTIN A/D
ASPERGUM
ASPHAL G
B-A
BAYER
BAYER DECONGESTANT
BAYER TIMED RELEASE
BC TABLETS
BUFFERIN
BUFF-A-COMPOUND #3 CAMA
CAPRON CAPSULES
SHINESE HERBS, GINSENG, ETC
COPE
COGESPIRIN
CORICIDIND
DARVON COMPOUND
DARVON COMPOUND 65
DRIED LEECH EXTRACT
DOLCIN
DOLENE COMPOUND 65
LODOR
DURADYNE
DURAGESIC
ECOTRIN
EMPIRIN WITH CODEINE
EQUAGESIC
EQUAGESIC M
EXCEDRIN
FELDENE
FIORINAL
FIORINAL W/CODEINE (#2 #3 #4)
FIZRI POWDER
4-WAY COLD TABLETS
GEMNISYN
GINKGO BILOBA
IBUPROFEN
MEASURIN
MEPROGESIC
MIDOL
MOMENTUM
MOTRIN
NAPROSYN
NILAIN
NORGESIC
NORGESIC FORTE
NOVAHISTINE W/ APC
PABIRIN
PAC
PANDODYNES SANLGESIC
PERCODAN
PERCODAN DEMI
PERSISTIN
QUIET WORLD TABLETS
RELAFEN
ROBAXISAL
SAL-SAYNE CAPSULES
STANBACK TABLETS
STANCO
ST JOSEPH’S ASPIRIN
SUPER ANAHIST SYNALOGOS
SYNALOGOS DC
TALWIN COMPOUND
TRAMINICIN
TRIGESIC
VANQUISH
VIROMET
VITAMIN E
ZACTIRIN
ZACTIRIN COMPOUND
ST. JOHNS WORT
SAM-E