What do I do about my routine medication schedule?

Unless otherwise instructed please take all of your routine medicines with small sips of water. If you are not sure which medicines you should take the morning of your surgery, ask your doctor or nurse. 7 days before the procedure you must STOP taking Aspirin or Blood Thinners (such as Coumadin, Plavix, Heparin, Lovenox, etc.).

March 07, 2016 by bespoke

When do I have to stop eating and drinking?

Do not eat or drink anything 8 hours prior to surgery. If you have been advised by your physician to take your routine medications, you may do so with a small sip of water. Failure to abide by this mandate will unfortunately result in a cancellation of your procedure due to the requirements set forth

March 07, 2016 by bespoke

When will I find out the exact time of my procedure?

The Surgical Pre-Admission Department will call you before 6PM on the day before your surgery with instructions of what time and where to report to on the day of your surgery. A Bespoke patient advocate will also be in touch with you during the scheduling process, updating you with details as they become available.

March 07, 2016 by bespoke

Will I need any pre-op testing done?

If you are required to have pre-operative testing, we will obtain copies of your necessary blood work and/or EKG from your primary or referring physician. If you have not had recent testing done, we would recommend scheduling an appointment with your primary care physician to do so. Otherwise, we can send you to Beth Israel’s

March 07, 2016 by bespoke

When should I call my doctor?

If you have a fever over 101 degrees or shaking chills, you should contact your doctor immediately. Additionally, if you notice swelling, bleeding, redness, numbness, drainage, or change in color from the incision site you should not hesitate to contact your physician. Severe pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea are not common and should be

March 07, 2016 by bespoke

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How long until I’m back to normal?

While everyone’s healing process is different, the overall healing timeline is approximately 1-2 weeks. You may need to use painkillers for the first 24-72 hours after surgery, switching to Tylenol or Ibuprofen after day 3 (at the latest). Bouts of pain up to 2 weeks post-surgery are not uncommon, especially towards the end of the

March 07, 2016 by bespoke

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What medications will I need?

General Medications For the first 24 hours most patients will require painkillers, though these should be limited due to the common side-effects of nausea and constipation. To combat this, we recommend using a stool softener (such as Colace) 3 times daily. In place of narcotics, we advise many patients to take Tylenol or Motrin as

March 07, 2016 by bespoke

How do I care for my operation site?

General Incision Care Immediately following your procedure, you will receive post-operative incision care instructions from your surgical facility. Please review these, as they are specific to your particular procedure. For most general surgeries your incision site will have a dressing consisting of clear tape, gauze, steri-strips, and/or glue. The top dressing and gauze can be

March 07, 2016 by bespoke

How will my activities be limited?

Gradually increase your activities, and do not overexert yourself to the point of fatigue. You will need to avoid stress to the operative site (such as lifting, pushing, and pulling) for 3-5 days. After this period, you will be able to return to your fitness routine per usual, avoiding focus on the operative site until

March 07, 2016 by bespoke

How will my diet be limited?

Unless instructed otherwise, advance as tolerated to a regular diet. In the beginning it is important to avoid heavy meals, spicy foods, and red meat. It is common to not have a bowel movement for 2-3 days after your procedure, so we recommend staying well hydrated and eating fruits and vegetables daily to help this

March 07, 2016 by bespoke