What can you expect during your outpatient surgery experience at Findlay Surgery Center? Personal attention, high-quality medical care, minimal waiting, and you can usually expect to go home within a few hours.
Please let us know if you have any questions, concerns, special needs, or requests. We want to make your outpatient surgery experience as pleasant as possible.
So you know what to expect, please review this following information:
1. Preparing For Surgery (Pre-Operative) Instructions
You'll need to do some things at home to get ready for surgery. Make sure you know when you need to arrive at the center. Be sure to be on time.
Patients generally need to arrive about 1 hour prior to surgery. You will be called by the Findlay Surgery Center staff 1-2 days beforehand to confirm the exact date and time that you should arrive. If you will not be available at your normal home phone number, we ask that you let us know where we can reach you, or call us for your final preoperative instructions.
If you have any questions, please call Findlay Surgery Center at (419) 429-0409.
Preparing at Home
- If you smoke, quit or cut down.
- Shower and shampoo your hair before your surgery. You may be asked to scrub the skin where the surgery will be done. Hair in that area of your body may be shaved or trimmed at the center.
- Arrange to have an adult drive you home after your surgery.
- Follow any other instructions you've been given.
- NPO (Nothing by Mouth)
- Unless told otherwise, don't eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery. This includes water, chewing tobacco, and gum. You can brush your teeth or rinse your mouth, but don't swallow any water. If you've been told to take medication, take it with small sips of water. If you eat or drink after midnight, your surgery may be canceled.
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- Wear loose-fitting clothes.
- Don't wear makeup, hairspray or perfume.
- Leave jewelry (including rings), credit cards, watches and other valuables at home.
- Bring any test results you have and your insurance forms and card.
- If your child is having surgery, bring a favorite toy or blanket along.
- When you arrive at the surgery center, you'll read and sign a surgery consent form, if you haven't done so already.
- You'll be given a band with your name and ID number to wear on your wrist.
- You'll change into a surgery gown.
- You may be asked to remove contact lenses, hearing aids, or dentures.
- You may be given an intravenous (IV) line for fluids and medications.
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After surgery you will be taken to a recovery room where your family can meet you. It is also called a postanesthesia care unit (PACU). A specially trained nurse will care for you while the anesthesia wears off. Recovery usually lasts a few hours.
In the PACU
As the ansesthesia wears off, noises may sound louder than normal. You may have blurry vision, a dry mouth, and chills. Your vital signs are watched closely. Bandages are checked. You may still have an IV or other tubes may provide drainage. If you hurt, ask the nurse for pain medication.
Going Home
Be sure to have an adult ready to drive you home. When you're ready to leave you may still feel drowsy or a little sick to your stomach. Before you leave, you'll receive instructions for what to do at home. If you need crutches or other equipment, you will be shown how to use them. If you can, have a person who'll be helping you also listen to these instructions, too. Ask any questions you have such as:
- Are there foods or drinks that I should avoid?
- How should I care for my incision?
- What medications should I take?
- What medications should I NOT take?
- What should I do if I have pain?
- When can I drive or return to work?
- Are these exercises I should do or activites I should not do?
Remember, you will not be allowed to drive yourself home after your surgery. Please plan to have someone drive you to and from the Center.
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4. Managing Post-Op Pain at Home
Pain after an operation (post-op pain) is normal and to be expected. Read below to learn more about how to manage your pain at home.
- Take only the medications that your health care provider tells you to take.
- Take pain medications with some food to avoid an upset stomach.
- Don't drink alcohol while using pain medicaitons.
Types of Pain Medications
There are various types of Pain Medications that are used for post-op pain which include non-narcotics and narcotics.
Non-narcotics:
- Over-the-counter (such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen) or prescription.
- All relieve mild to moderate pain and some reduce swelling.
- Possible side effects include stomach upset and bleeding.
Narcotics:
- These pain relievers are always prescription.
- Relieve severe pain.
- Possible side effects include stomach upset, nausea, and itching.
- May cause constipation (to help prevent this, eat high-fiber foods and drink plenty of water.
Problems to Watch For
- Breathing problems or a fast heart rate.
- Skin Rash
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, lasting constipation, or stomach cramps.
- Feeling very tired, sluggish, or dizzy.
If you have any of these symptoms using your pain medications, please contact the surgery center at 419-429-0409 as soon as possible.
