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Preparing for Procedure

If you are having Day Surgery, remember the following:

Have someone available to take you home, you will not be able to drive for at least 24 hours Discuss any medications you are taking with your doctor and your family physician to see which ones you should stop taking before surgery

Do not drink or eat anything in the car on the trip home

The combination of anaesthesia, food, and car motion can quite often cause nausea or vomiting. After arriving home, wait until you are hungry before trying to eat. Begin with a light meal and try to avoid greasy food for the first 24 hours

If you had surgery on an extremity (leg, knee, hand or elbow), keep that extremity elevated and use ice as directed. This will help decrease swelling and pain

Take your pain medicine as directed. Begin the pain medicine as you start getting uncomfortable, but before you are in severe pain. If you wait to take your pain medication until the pain is severe, you will have more difficulty in controlling the pain

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