The Day Before Your Visit
Whether your surgery or procedure requires you to stay overnight or not, there are some important things you need to do and remember the day before your visit.
Obtaining Your Arrival Time
You will receive an automated phone call between 3 - 5 pm the day before your surgery telling you what time you should arrive. If your surgery is scheduled for a Monday, you will receive your call the Friday before.
Pre-Operative Instructions
It is important to follow these instructions in the days leading up to and night before your scheduled visit:
- Do not eat or drink anything after midnight before surgery including mints or candy, except clear liquids, which are permitted up until 2 hours prior to the scheduled arrival time, unless otherwise instructed by your physician.
- No liquids should be consumed after midnight if there is a history or symptoms of gastric reflux (GERD), nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, abdominal pain, or cancer of the stomach or esophagus.
- Liquids to avoid include: milk, cream, high caffeine beverages and energy drinks, orange or pineapple juice, smoothies and milk shakes, and alcoholic drinks.
- Allowable clear liquids include the following: water, sports drinks (i.e. Gatorade, Powerade), apple or cranberry juice, black coffee or tea without cream/milk, carbonated beverages and sodas. Note: Limit caffeinated beverages to less than 16 ounces.
- Take only the medications your doctor has instructed you to with a sip of water.
- You may brush your teeth and use mouthwash, but do not swallow.
- Call your surgeon ahead of time if you do not feel well or develop any signs of illness, cold, fever, sore throat, chest pain or difficult breathing.
- Remove and do not wear any makeup or nail polish to your scheduled surgical visit.
