- DO NOT TAKE ASPIRIN OR IBUPROFEN: Stop taking medications containing aspirin or ibuprofen. Review the list of drugs containing aspirin and ibuprofen carefully. Such drugs can cause bleeding problems during and after surgery. Instead, you can use medications containing acetaminophen (such as Tylenol).
- VITAMINS: You should stop taking individual capsules of Vitamin K or Vitamin E 10 days prior to surgery as this will increase postoperative bleeding.
- FILL YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS: You will be given prescriptions for medications to take after your surgery. If possible, please have them filled before the day of surgery so you do not have to stop at a pharmacy on the way home from the hospital.
- PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS: If you are taking any medication, please consult with your physician(s) as to how you should take your medication prior to surgery.
- MEDICAL CLEARANCE: This is a note from your treating doctor saying that you are cleared for surgery. Our doctor or surgery scheduler will let you know if this is needed. You cannot schedule surgery until you obtain this clearance unless otherwise specified by our doctors. If you received a Surgical Clearance Request sheet at the time of your initial visit, you must bring that to your doctor's office for him/her to fill out and fax back to our office along with any tests and/or labs done. If you did not receive this request and clearance is needed, we will fax it to your treating doctor and you must call their office to see if you need to schedule an appointment for testing.
- OUT OF TOWN PATIENTS: We recommend that you stay in town after your surgery so that we can take care of you should a complication arise. There are different timeframes allowed based on the type of surgery you are having. If you are having more than one of these procedures, then the longer time frame appliers. These time frames are as follows: Laparoscopic surgery - 72 hours, Vaginal surgery - 48 hours, Labial surgery - 24 hours after discharge from the hospital. Please make arrangements accordingly.
- PRE-OP VISIT: Your pre-op visit will be scheduled anywhere from 2 weeks to 1 day prior to your surgery depending on the doctor's schedule. At this visit, you will sign your consents, receive your post-operative prescriptions, and have additional testing done (if necessary). The pre-op nurses will try to answer any questions you may have regarding your surgery. If you have any questions for the doctor, you will be able to talk with the doctor you were scheduled with at this time. Please allow 1 to 2 hours for this process.
- PRE-OP DIET and BOWEL PREP: If you have special dietary needs (i.e. diabetes) which may conflict with this pre-op diet, please consult the physician who treats you for that condition before beginning this diet. Depending on the type of surgery, you will either have no special diet (vaginal or labia surgery) or 48 hour diet (laparoscopic surgery).
- EATING AND DRINKING: Do not eat or drink anything after 12:00 midnight the night before your surgery. This includes water.
- SURGERY PREPARATION: You have the option to shave the lower portion around the vagina the night before surgery. The pre-op nurses will do this in the operating room if this is not done.
- TRANSPORTATION: Arrangements must be made for someone to take you home or to the hotel (if from out of town) from surgery. You will not be allowed to drive yourself or take any form of public transportation (cab, bus, etc.). If you live alone, you should also arrange for someone to stay with you following surgery for at least 24 hours.
- NURSING CARE: If you are alone, you have the option to hire a nurse to come to the hospital, sign you out, transport you to the hotel and make sure you are set up and comfortable for the night. You can call the office for rates.