Plan time off
Plan to take the recommended time off driving, work, sport and study to recover well. You should not drive, work, operate dangerous machinery or make major decisions for at least 24 hours after a general anaesthetic. Do not drive on any day when you are taking strong pain reliever or if you don’t feel at your best, as there is an increased risk of having an accident. Your car insurance may not be valid if you are impaired when driving after surgery.
Stop smoking
Smokers are more likely to have side effects including heart and breathing complications, increased pain and bleeding and take longer to heal. The longer you have stopped smoking, the safer the surgery will be for you. If you smoke on the day of surgery, your surgery will be cancelled. Ask your surgeon for a Quit pack if needed. The nurses can help with nicotine patches while you are in hospital. www.quit.org.au
Eat vegetables, drink water and exercise regularly
The healthier you are on the day of surgery, the faster you’ll recover. The better you eat, the better you heal.