As your care is adjusted to meet your needs, it may vary slightly from what’s covered here. The goal of this information is to help you and your family understand what to expect while in the hospital, and encourage you and your family to be involved in your recovery and planning for your discharge.
It is helpful for your family to bring a list of all medicine you take at home. You don’t have to bring your own medicine while in the hospital: the staff will give you the medicine you need.
Personal care items that family should bring for you while in the hospital:
- comb or brush
- soap and shampoo
- deodorant
- shaving supplies
- toothbrush and toothpaste
- loose fitting clothes
- supportive, non-slip shoes
- aids (dentures, hearing aid)
Don’t keep anything of value, such as jewelry and credit cards at the hospital. It’s a good idea not to have more than $20 with you.
Waiting for Surgery
- Nursing staff will help reposition you every 2 hours, as you’ll be on bedrest.
- A catheter (tube) may be inserted into your bladder to drain your urine.
- You’ll use a bedpan for bowel movements.
- You’ll be helped with bathing.
- You’ll be given medicine to help with pain or discomfort. Please tell your nurse when you’re in pain.
- Eating and drinking may be restricted. You may have an intravenous (IV) line giving you fluids and medicine.
- Blood work will be done. You may also have other tests done before surgery, like x-rays.
- If your surgery is delayed, you may be given a blood thinner by needle to help prevent blood clots.
Exercises to Do While Waiting for Surgery
- Do deep breathing and coughing exercises every hour. Take 10 deep breaths and then cough strongly.
- Do these 3 exercises with your good leg every hour to keep blood circulating and help prevent blood clots.
- Pump your foot up and down 10 times.
- With your leg straight, tighten your thigh muscle. Hold for 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times.
- Squeeze your buttocks together. Hold for 5 seconds. Repeat 10 times.
Being On Call
This means that you’re on a list waiting for a block of time for your surgery. You can be on call for a few reasons:
- there are others who also need urgent surgery
- you may be too sick for surgery right now
Sometimes, even though you’ve been on call for a while, the surgery may be delayed. We’ll do everything we can to make sure that you and your family know when you’re going for surgery or if the surgery time is changing.
When you’re on call, you may not be allowed to eat or drink. If your surgery is delayed, you’ll be given something to eat or drink.
