The Day Before Surgery

  1. Drink only liquids the day before surgery (no solid food).
  2. DO NOT EAT or DRINK anything after midnight the night before surgery.
  3. Take a bath or shower with antibacterial soap the night before surgery and the morning of surgery.
  4. Drink a bottle of citrate of magnesia the morning before surgery this will cause diarrhea and will clean your large bowel.
  5. Two weeks before surgery ? exercise frequently, do breathing exercises (take deep breaths).
  6. Absolutely NO SMOKING.
  7. Call Dr. Gorecki?s office(Jessie 718-780-3288) if symptoms of chest pain, cold, cough or any skin infections.
  8. Do NOT take any anti-inflammatory pain medications (i.e. Ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin, Naprosyn, Aleve, Viox, Celebrex, etc.) at least 1 week before surgery. You can take Tylenol as needed.
  9. The personnel from the operating room will call you with preoperative instructions a few days before surgery ? but in general you are expected to be in the hospital (third floor) at 6:00 am on the morning of surgery for an 8 am operation.
  10. Follow-up visits: 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year post-operatively, and once every year for the rest of your life.