Preparing for Your Procedure

There are few things you should know before your procedure at McLaren Greater Lansing so you can be prepared when you arrive. By providing this information, we hope to make your visit as smooth and as comfortable as possible.

Your physician may give you special instructions to follow before your procedure. If so, please follow those instructions.

Eating and Drinking

Usually, you can eat a normal dinner the evening before your procedure, but you cannot eat or drink anything, including gum, hard candy, or water, after midnight. Not eating after midnight is very important to prevent vomiting during and after anesthesia. The procedure might be canceled or delayed if you eat or drink after midnight.

Medications

Before you are admitted to the hospital, you may be asked to discontinue taking the following medications. If you are taking any medications on a regular basis, write them down, with the dose/strength and the number of times you take it, before you go to the hospital.

  • Aspirin or medications with aspirin in them. Whether over-the-counter or prescribed, many patients should stop taking aspirin two weeks before an procedure. You may substitute Tylenol (acetaminophen), Darvocet-N, or a prescription non-aspirin medication for minor aches and pains. Check with your doctor if you are taking aspirin to obtain directions on whether to discontinue or continue.
  • Anticoagulants. Most patients should stop taking "blood thinners," such as Coumadin, before being admitted to the hospital. Check with your doctor if you are taking blood thinners to obtain directions on whether to discontinue or continue.
  • Other prescribed medications. Continue to take your regular, physician-prescribed medications until your admission to the hospital, with the exception of the medications noted above. Your surgeon may request that you discontinue use of certain medications until sometime after your procedure.

Smoking

Quit smoking as early as possible before your procedure. Quitting smoking is important any time you require general anesthesia. After receiving anesthesia, secretions tend to build up in the lungs. Smoking irritates the lungs and causes even more secretions. Every day you can refrain from smoking before your procedure reduces the potential for lung problems you could experience following your procedure. For your continued health, do not use tobacco following your procedure.

Illnesses and Infection

Several conditions could lead to complications during your procedure or recovery, such as rashes, open sores or cuts, a cold or other upper respiratory symptoms, urine or bladder infections. Any of these conditions can lead to problems during the procedure or your recovery. All of these factors could cause problems during the procedure and recovery. If you have these or other health problems, inform your doctor before you go to the hospital.