Patient Instructions

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Pre-Op Instructions

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• DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING, INCLUDING COFFEE, TEA, CANDY, GUM AND MINTS AFTER MIDNIGHT. WATER IS OK UP UNTIL 4 HOURS BEFORE YOUR CHECK IN TIME. IF YOUR SURGERY IS SCHEDULED IN THE AFTERNOON, PLEASE DO NOT EAT ANYTHING 8 HOURS PRIOR TO YOUR CHECK IN TIME. Failure to comply could result in cancellation of surgery.
• Discontinue tobacco use after you have a surgery date. Smoking can delay the wound healing process.
• Notify your physician if there is any change in your physical condition such as a cold, fever, sore throat, or infection as soon as possible.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing and sturdy shoes to the hospital. (No flip flops or sandals)
• Leave all valuables at home including jewelry and piercings. Bring your ID, insurance cards and copays that apply with you.
• Remove contact lenses and wear glasses. If you wear dentures, they will be removed in the pre-operative room and returned to you after surgery.
• Children are encouraged to bring a favorite book or toy.

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You may take your regular medications with less than 2oz of water the morning of surgery as long as they are not on the “DO NOT TAKE LIST”. For anticoagulant and antiplatelet medication please contact the prescribing doctor for stopping or bridging instructions. If you are a diabetic, take half a dose of long active insulin the day of your procedure. You may resume these as directed after your procedure.

PAIN MEDICATION CAN CAUSE CONSTIPATION. THEREFORE, WE RECOMMEND YOU PURCHASE AN OVER-THE-COUNTER STOOL SOFTENER PRIOR TO YOUR PROCEDURE AND TAKE AS DIRECTED ON THE BOTTLE POST-OPERATIVELY.

Do not take the morning of surgery:

• Short term active insulin
• Ace inhibitors
• Diuretics
• Lisinopril (Discontinue 24 hrs prior to procedure)
• Blood pressure medication with Diuretic

Discontinue 1 week prior to surgery:

• Blood thinners (Vitamin E, Fish Oil, Aspirin, Ginger and Gingko)
• All supplements including herbal supplements. (Vitamin D and Calcium ok to continue)
• Vitamins
• John Wort
• Weight loss medication

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After surgery you will be very drowsy from the anesthetic and the pain medication given to you in the recovery room. Please make sure you have a friend or family member over the age of 18 years old to accompany you on the day of your procedure. You cannot drive yourself, take public transportation, or a taxi. We do not release patients unless they have a driver.

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Please feel free to bring an overnight bag with any essentials you may need when staying at the hospital.

Prior to being put under anesthesia you will have an opportunity to talk to the anesthesiologist, surgeon and pre-operative nurse and discuss any questions or concerns you may have.

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If your procedure is scheduled at a hospital, you may be required to have a COVID-19 test 3 days prior to your procedure unless you have completed your COVID vaccine 14 days prior to your scheduled procedure. Verification of your COVID-19 vaccine will be required upon check-in. Someone from the lab will call you to obtain more information or schedule your test. Failure to have a required COVID test done 3 days prior to your procedure will result in a cancellation.

• • Castle Rock Adventist, and Summit Medical Center: 1-877-891-8919
  • Sky Ridge Medical Center: 720-225-6188 ONLY HIGH-RISK PROCEDURES such as Lung/bronchoscopy cases, Nasopharyngeal/ENT and Trachea
  • Dry Creek Surgery Center requires a COVID test for non-vaccinated patients. Or you can present proof in the form of a lab result or hospital documentation that shows you have had COVID. The test can be done at the surgery center. Please call 303-792-0777 to schedule an appointment.

**Crown Point Surgery Center and Peak One Surgical Center are NOT requiring a COVID-19 test currently. If you start to develop any symptoms, please contact your medical assistant. **

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Please make your post-operative appointment by calling the office as directed by your physician. Post-operative appointments are made 14 days (about 2 weeks) post-surgery, with one of our mid-level providers. If you have any problems prior to your appointment, do not hesitate to contact our office.

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PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW TO HELP REDUCE YOUR RISK OF A SURGICAL INFECTION

• You may pick-up your bottle of Hibiclens (chlorhexidine gluconate) at the pharmacy in your drug store, or from the Pre-Admission testing at Parker Adventist Hospital.
• Wash your hair with your normal shampoo and conditioner (no styling products); wash your face and genitalia with your normal soap, then rinse off.
• Using a clean washcloth and towel for each shower, place Hibiclens on washcloth and apply it from your neck down to your toes, front and back of body; everywhere except your genitalia are. Don’t use a Loofah scrub sponge or back brush.
• Leave the Hibiclens on for 5 minutes then rinse off. Do not apply lotion or deodorant after each of the two showers.
• Put clean clothes on after each shower and change the bed linens before you take your “evening shower.”
• The day of surgery do not use perfume, cologne, deodorant, lotion or make-up.
• Do not shave the area of skin where your incision will be made and do not shave your legs within three days of knee or hip surgery. Do not shave your underarms if having breast surgerCaution: do not allow the solution to come in contact with your eyes, ears, or mouth. If you accidently get some of this material on those areas, rinse immediately with water.

Caution: if you have any burning or irritation on the skin, rinse immediately with water and do not reapply. If you have a problem with Hibiclens soap, you may use Dial soap in place of the Hibiclens and follow the same instructions.

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Post-Op Instructions

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After your surgery you will be given a prescription for pain medication. The goal is to keep your pain at a level where you may feel some aches but are able to do the things needed to get better and take care of yourself.

Take medication as directed by your provider. Do not drive or operate any heavy machinery while taking pain medication.

Do not take pain medication on an empty stomach. This may cause nausea.

To avoid constipation while taking opioids, drink plenty of water and walk around for short periods of time throughout the day. Use a stool softener like Colace, Ducolax, Miralax or Milk of Magnesia.

If you no longer need your prescribed pain medication, you may take your over the counter pain medication such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) for pain.

If you are requesting a refill on pain medication, please contact the office 2 business days before your medication is due to run out.

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Listen to your body and rest when you are tired.

Do not lift anything heavy (over 15 lbs) or as directed by your physician.

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Start by eating broth and advance your diet as directed by your physician slowly over the next day or two.

Do not drink alcohol while taking pain medication.

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If you have a clear see-through bandage over the incision, you may take a shower. The bandage is waterproof. It is not uncommon for some reddish fluid to accumulate inside the plastic bandage. This is no cause for alarm. The clear bandage can be removed after 3 days. Keep your incision clean and dry until your post-operative appointment.

If you have a gauze bandage over the incision, you may remove it within 48 hours (about 2 days). At that time, you may shower.

If you have narrow white tape strips over the incision (steri-strips), keep them dry for 48 hours (about 2 days). Do not remove them unless they are curling up at the side and almost falling off (if you remove them sooner, you risk pulling the incision apart.) You may then shower.

Staples or sutures are generally removed in 14 days (about 2 weeks) post surgery. It is ok to shower with staples. Many incisions will have buried absorbable sutures, which do not need to be removed.

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Showers should be quick (5-10 minutes long). You may pat the wound with a soapy washcloth, rinse the wound, and pat the wound dry.

Do not soak in the bathtub or swimming pool until instructed by your doctor.

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Call Your Doctor if you have any of the following:

• Excessive bleeding (slow oozing that soaks the dressing or bright red bleeding). In either case, apply pressure to the area and evaluate if possible.
• Pain not relieved by pain medication; out of pain medicine.
• Your temperature is 101 degrees or higher. It is not uncommon to have a low-grade fever after surgery.
• Chills, chest pain, spitting blood, shortness of breath, jaundice occurs (yellow tint to eyes or skin).
• Hoarseness that does not go away.
• Increased pain or swelling. You have worsening redness around the incision, if pus drains from the incision, or if there is a foul odor coming from the incision/surgical site.
• Vomiting or unable to keep fluids down the entire day.
• Inability to urinate within 8-10 hours after surgery.
• Persistent diarrhea lasting longer than 2-3 days. Having less than 3 bowel movements per week since surgery.
• If you had spinal anesthesia and develop headaches, call your anesthesiologist through the Administrative Supervisor by calling the main number of the facility where you had your surgery.
• In rare instance, an irritation may occur at your IV site causing red, swollen or tender areas. If this happens put a warm, wet washcloth on the area(s) for 20 minutes, 4 times a day for 2-3 days. If this does not help, call your surgeon.
• If you are unable to reach your doctor and you feel you have an urgent situation, go to the Emergency Room.

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