Knowing what to expect when you come for an operation is the best way to make things go as smoothly as possible. There are some measures you can take before the operation that can help you feel more comfortable on the day of the operation, and help things go more smoothly.
Before the operation:
Unless you have a good reason to do otherwise, try to have a good meal the evening before surgery. On the day of surgery you will need to go for a period without eating, and a good meal the day before can make you feel less hungry, and also give your body the fuel it needs to recover just after the operation.
Continue taking all your regular medication, unless instructed otherwise. Sometimes medications that thin the blood, such as aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin or similar, should be stopped - you will be informed if this is the case, but if you have any questions, please ask. Remember also to bring all your regular medications into hospital with you.
Occasionally, you will be given some medication to take before the operation. Examples of this might include ear drops to settle infection before surgery, medications to help blood clot if you have an issue with bleeding, or steroid medications before polyps are removed from the nose.
If you are having surgery as a private patient, then the hospital and my secretary will contact you regarding pre-authorisation from your insurance company (if applicable).
Depending on the type of operation you are due to have, and the hospital you are having it in, you may have a preassessment appointment. This may be a telephone appointment or a face to face appointment, and is done by specialist nurses and anaesthetists. They will discuss any medical issues that you are known to have, and take steps to make sure that these are appropriately dealt with during the operation.
If it is your child having an operation, you may want to talk to them about what will happen to help prepare them. What you say to your child will depend on their age and level of understanding - you know your child best so trust yourself to find the right words. Some points which might be helpful to mention are: - they will not be able to eat that morning so they may feel hungry - there might be some waiting so they can pick some toys or games to entertain them - when they have the procedure they will be fast asleep and won't feel anything - they may feel a bit sleepy after the operation - if they feel sore after the operation they should tell some so they can have some medicine to help
On the day of the operation:
Please bring a book / iPad / toys for children as you will have to wait before your operation. It takes some time to be checked in by the nurses, seen by the anaesthetist and surgeon and have all the paperwork completed. Even if there isn’t much of a wait, you will have a period after the operation when you’re waiting to recover or go home etc....
You need to have an empty stomach when you have a general anaesthetic. This is to reduce the chance of vomiting when asleep. To make sure, you are not allowed to eat or drink before the operation. The details of this will be sent to you before the surgery. Usually, the period of time before the operation you are allowed to eat and drink is: - 6 hours for any food (or any drinks that contain milk including coffee) - 2 hours for ‘clear’ fluids - 1 hour for small volumes of water If you bring someone to wait with you before the operation, we ask if possible for them to also refrain from eating and drinking
Before the operation, you will be seen by your anaesthetist. They will talk to you about your general health and allergies. They will make sure you are well enough to have a general anaesthetic. With children, they will discuss the options for anaesthetic that are most comfortable.
Before the operation, you will be seen by Mr.Nash or one of his team. They will answer any questions you might have about the operation. They will run through the operation and ask you to sign a form with the details of the operation to confirm your agreement. This is called consent, and the process starts in clinic when discussing the risks and benefits of each option to manage a condition. If you have anything you would like to ask about the operation, please take this opportunity to ask it.
After the operation:
Usually you will be able to go home on the same day, or otherwise, the morning after surgery.
Regular paracetamol and ibuprofen is generally enough to manage most of the pain and discomfort after surgery. Please let the team know if you are unable to take either of these medications. When you can take both these medications, it is usually best to take them regularly, and by alternating them, it is possible to maintain a consistent level of pain relief. Pain tends to affect you more at night, so even if you are doing well, it can be useful to take medication before bed to ensure you get plenty of rest.
After ear surgery, you may be advised to keep your 'ear dry' for a 6 weeks. The easiest way to do this is to use a piece of cotton wool, smeared in vaseline, to seal the ear canal when having a bath or shower. The head should not be submerged under water, and when under the shower, the ear that has had an operation should be facing downwards, away from the direction of the water. The reason for this is that the ear canal heals like a graze - it needs dry air to heal properly.
You will need some time off work after surgery / your child will need time off school after surgery. The length of time depends on the nature of the operation, and the nature of the your work. You can discuss this before the operation, and if needed, letters can be supplied to give to school or work.
Follow up appointments are arranged on the day of surgery, or shortly after discharge from hospital. If you have any queries about your appointment, please contact the hospital - the details are below.
For information about the hospitals Mr.Nash works at, please see the following pages: