Pre-Op Instructions and Recovery Info - surgery preparation and postoperative guidance

Sep 27, 2026

Preoperative Instructions and Recovery Information provides guidance to help patients prepare for surgery with reduced fear and clearer expectations. It outlines how to choose an appropriate surgery date based on recovery timelines for laparoscopic outpatient procedures, laparoscopic hysterectomy, and open incision laparotomy. The document covers insurance coordination, contact information for scheduling changes, what to bring to pre-operative visits, consent expectations, medication and allergy management, preoperative testing, blood transfusion considerations, and practical packing advice for the hospital stay.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Choosing a surgery date

Insurance and contact information

Pre-operative visit and consent process

Allergies and current medications

Preoperative testing

Blood transfusions and related considerations

Preparing and packing for your hospital stay

Preoperative Instructions and Recovery Information This document is intended to help you to be prepared for your surgery, to reduce any fear, counteract any misinformation, and ease any anticipation about your upcoming surgery. As you read this, please highlight and underline any areas of concern, and write your questions on the sides of the pages so that you can be sure to ask them during your surgery-planning visit. Bring this material with you to every pre-operative visit and to the hospital so that you can read and refer to it after your surgery because it also contains your discharge orders. Your spouse, partner or friend who will be your main caregiver should also read this entire document to be most helpful during your hospitalization. Choosing a date for your surgery –Recovery from a laparoscopic outpatient minor procedure is one week. For a laparoscopic hysterectomy the recovery is two weeks. For open laparotomy incision surgery of any type, the recovery is six weeks. We build our office and surgical schedules around our commitment to your surgery date. Choose your surgery date to allow for your recovery and so that you will not have any reason to cancel your surgery at the last minute. Last minute cancellations waste time and resources because we cannot simply substitute another patient at the last minute. Insurance-Make sure that we have all your up-to-date insurance information so that we can obtain authorization for your surgery. We do this as a courtesy, so you will know your portion of the probable charges. Contacts-Please make sure we have your local and your cell phone numbers so you can be contacted by the operating rooms if needed for any last-minute change in the surgery schedule. 3201 E President George Bush Hwy., \#107 Richardson, TX 75082 Telephone (972) 276-‐9902 [www.advancedobgynassociates.com](www.advancedobgynassociates.com) Pre-operative Visit–Your physician will formally review with you your findingsand will explain the risks, benefits, and alternatives of your specific surgical plan. After that, you will be asked to sign consent forms for your surgery. Remember that these consents are written to assure your and our understanding of your proposed procedure. They are not contracts, so you can always change your mind. Ask all your questions, and know that there is no pressure to sign anything without your complete understanding and agreement. You will be given a folder for all of your surgical documents that will include both your copy of these consent forms, and the hospital’s copy with your admitting orders for blood work, EKG and Chest X-Ray. Please remember to give all of the documents in the“Hospital Documents” section to the nurses when you check in at the hospital. Allergies and Current medications: Please fill out the last page list of medication allergies and a list of all of your current medications with doses and frequencies, including herbal, naturopathic, and over-the-counter drugs. Stop taking any aspirins or Motrin, Nuprin, Advil, ibuprofen-like substances 3 days before surgery. Use Tylenol (acetaminophen) if you need pain relief before your operation. Stop all herbal remedies and nutritional supplements, Meridia, Fastin, Ionamin, Adipex and any amphetamines 7 days before your surgery. You must stop taking Mardil, Parnate, Eldepryl, Marplan Clorgyline, Brofaromine, Moclobemide and Tolozatone at least 14 days before your surgery. Stop all Plavix and Coumadin, 7 days before your surgery and discuss Heparin/Lovenox with your physician. Pre Operative testing: If you have had any blood work in the last few months, let us know, so we can avoid unnecessary blood-draws. Sometimes it is still necessary to draw your blood to establish recent baseline values prior to surgery and to cross match for possible transfusion. All patients with heart or lung problems need a recent Chest X-Ray and EKG. These tests may be ordered ahead of time or we may ask you to have them done after y

FAQs

How should a patient choose a surgery date based on recovery time?

Recovery is one week for a laparoscopic outpatient minor procedure, two weeks for a laparoscopic hysterectomy, and six weeks for open laparotomy incision surgery. The schedule is built around the patient’s chosen surgery date to avoid last-minute cancellations.

What medication changes are recommended before surgery?

Stop aspirin and ibuprofen-like substances 3 days before surgery and use Tylenol (acetaminophen) for pain if needed. Stop herbal remedies and nutritional supplements 7 days before surgery, and stop listed antidepressants and blood thinners (including Plavix and Coumadin) at least 7 or 14 days before surgery depending on the item, while discussing Heparin/Lovenox with the physician.

What should patients bring and prepare for the hospital stay?

Wear comfortable clothes that cover incisions for the drive home, avoid jewelry, and bring a toothbrush, necessary cosmetics, light sanitary pads, and any health aids. Wear glasses instead of contacts, and do not shave the surgical site before the operating room; shaving should be done only as essential by the surgical team.

Sep 27, 2026

Uploaded by Danger Angel