Archives: FAQs

Leave all valuables (jewellery, money, credit cards, cheque books) at home. The hospital is not responsible for the loss of any item.

All jewellery including toe rings must be removed at home. Any item used to pierce ANY body part such as the nose, belly button, tongue, or ear must be removed.

If you wear a hearing aid, bring it and a storage case with you. It will be returned to you in the recovery area after your surgery. Depending upon how much hearing loss you have, you may be able to wear it to the OR.

Bring a case to store your glasses when they are not being used. Your glasses will be taken from you just before you go to the OR. They will be returned to you in the recovery area. Do not wear contact lenses. If this is not possible, please bring your lens container and cleaning solutions. Remember to tell your nurse that you are wearing contact lenses. They must be removed before you go to the OR.

You may wear your dentures to the hospital. Just before you go the Operating Room (OR), you will be asked to remove your dentures and place them in a denture cup labelled with your name.

• Eat at least 3 good meals the day before surgery and have a bedtime snack. Healthy eating promotes quicker healing
• Remember, do not eat any food or drink any liquids after midnight, the night before your surgery.
• Do not drink alcohol for 48 hours before your surgery.

It is best if you can stop smoking for 2 weeks leading up to your surgery date. If you are not able to do this, please do not smoke after your evening meal, the night before surgery. Smoking can cause more secretions in your lungs, and you could have problems with your breathing after your anaesthetic. Capital Health is smoke-free.

If you are taking Aspirin® (ASA) or blood thinners it is very important for you to notify your surgeon at least one week before your surgery. These medications may need to be stopped before your surgery.

Bring all of your medications (including over the counter and herbal preparations) in their original containers with you on the day of your surgery.

• Call your surgeon before coming to the hospital if you have a fever, cold, or flu-like symptoms
• Take a complete bath or shower and shampoo your hair the evening before or the morning of surgery
• The QEII is scent free. Do not use scented products

With a general aesthetic, you will be given medication to put you to sleep for your surgery. A regional aesthetic means an area of your body is frozen. Sedation is usually given along with regional anaesthesia.

If you are having a general or regional anaesthetic:

• Do not eat any food or drink any liquids including water after midnight, unless otherwise directed. Do not eat candy or chew gum after midnight
• You may take your medications as instructed by your doctor with sips of water unless you are given other directions

After a general anaesthetic, regional anaesthetic, or Intravenous (IV) sedation:

• You must have a responsible adult drive you home
• You should have a responsible adult stay with you for the first 24 hours who can look after you

For the first 24 hours after your surgery:

• Do not drive a car or operate heavy machinery for 24 hrs
• Do not drink alcohol for 24 hours or while taking pain medication
• Do not sign any legal documents or important papers for 24 hours
• You are not to be the primary caregiver to dependants for 24 hours

• Provincial Health Card
• All of your medications in their original containers (including puffers, patches, injections, creams, and over the counter or herbal preparations)
• CPAP machine (if you use one)
• Walking aids (crutches, canes)
• Braces or slings that you have purchased for your surgery