Your pre-op appointment is often the last long conversation you'll have with your care team before surgery day. It's also easy to walk out and realize you forgot to ask the one thing you were worried about. Bring this list, write the answers down, and you'll leave with a plan instead of a pile of questions.
Before surgery day
- 1. Which medications and supplements should I stop, and when? Include prescriptions, over-the-counter pain relievers, vitamins and herbal products.
- 2. When do I need to stop eating and drinking? Fasting rules have changed at many hospitals, so ask for your exact cutoff times.
- 3. How should I prepare my skin? Some care teams ask you to shower with a special soap or avoid shaving near the surgical area.
- 4. What time should I arrive, and how long will the surgery take? This helps whoever is driving you plan their day.
In the hospital
- 5. Will I go home the same day or stay overnight?
- 6. How will my pain be managed, during and after? Ask what you'll take at home and how often.
- 7. When will I be expected to get up and walk? Many patients are up within hours, so it helps to know ahead of time.
Once you're home
- 8. Which movements should I avoid, and for how long? Think lifting, bending, stairs, showering and sleeping positions.
- 9. How do I care for my incision, dressings or drains?
- 10. What equipment or supplies should I have ready at home? It's much easier to set these up before surgery than after.
- 11. When can I drive, go back to work and exercise again?
- 12. Which symptoms mean I should call you, and who do I call after hours? Save that number in your phone before you leave.
Tip of the week: bring a second set of ears
Ask a family member or friend to come with you, especially if they'll be helping during recovery. One person listens while the other takes notes. Before you leave, ask for any written instructions and snap a photo of them so they're always on your phone.
Myth vs. fact
Myth: Vitamins and herbal supplements are natural, so they don't matter before surgery.
Fact: Some supplements and over-the-counter products can affect bleeding or interact with anesthesia and other medications. That's why care teams usually want a complete list of everything you take, even things you only take now and then.
Get ready before surgery
Once you know what your care team expects, you can set up your home before the big day. Medication Trackers make it simple to log doses on a schedule, and the Pill Box Waterbottle keeps your pills and water together. If your surgeon says to avoid low seats or deep bending, a Toilet Seat Riser and Folding Grabber Tool help a lot. Or bring home everything for your procedure in one box with a complete kit like the Knee Surgery Kit or Hysterectomy Recovery Kit.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Instructions vary by procedure, hospital and surgeon. Always follow your surgeon's instructions.
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