Having an operation or procedure at the Royal Free London

What do I need to do before my operation?

Getting ready for an operation is important. Here are some simple steps to help:

• Ask your doctor any questions you have so you can understand what will happen.
• Make a list of medicines you take. Tell your doctor about them.
• Follow any special instructions from your doctor, like what to eat or drink.
• Plan how you will get to the hospital and who will bring you home.
• Pack a small bag with things you need, like clothes and a toothbrush.

Remember, if you feel worried, you can talk to someone you trust. They can help make sure you feel ready.

Do I need to stop eating and drinking before my operation?

Before your operation, your doctor might say you can't eat or drink for a while. This is called fasting.

If you have to fast, your doctor will tell you how long you can’t eat or drink for.

If you’re not sure what to do, ask your doctor or nurse. They can help explain it. You can also use pictures or write down the steps to help you remember.

Can I take my regular medicine before the surgery?

It is important to know if you can take your regular medicine before surgery. Here are some steps to help:

• Ask Your Doctor: Talk to your doctor or nurse. They can tell you what to do.
• Write It Down: Make a list of all the medicine you take. Show this list to your doctor.
• Use Visual Aids: Use pictures or charts to help you remember what the doctor says.

What do I need to take to the hospital?

How will I know when my operation is?

Someone will tell you the day and time of your operation. They might call you on the phone or send you a letter. If you need help, ask someone to help you understand.

You can use a calendar to write down the date and time. This will help you remember when your operation is.

What will happen on the day of the operation?

Here is what you can expect:

• You will go to the hospital.
• Doctors and nurses will look after you.
• You might have to wait in a room for a little while.
• A nurse will bring you to another room for the operation.
• Don't be scared. The doctors and nurses are there to help you.
• After the operation, you will rest and the doctors will check on you.

Remember to talk to the doctors or nurses if you feel nervous.

It might help to bring a book, a toy, or some music to make you feel calm while you wait.

Can I talk to someone if I have questions before my operation?

How long do I wait before my procedure?

Here is a simple question about the time you need to wait before a procedure. This means how many days or weeks you have to wait until your procedure happens.

To help you understand and keep track of time, you can use a calendar or ask a friend or family member. They can help you count the days or mark them on the calendar until your procedure day arrives.

What kind of medicine will make me sleep during the operation?

• Anesthesia is a special medicine. It helps you not feel anything during an operation.
• Doctors choose the best type for you.
• Sometimes it makes you sleep. Other times, it just makes you numb.
• Ask your doctor to explain more if you want.

If you want more help:

• Bring a friend or family member to talk with the doctor too.
• Write down any questions you have.
• Use pictures or videos to understand better.

Can someone in my family or a friend stay with me at the hospital?

Yes, someone in your family or a friend can stay with you at the hospital. It's nice to have someone you know nearby.

If you need help understanding, ask the nurse. They can explain things.

Also, you can bring a small book or a toy to make you feel better.

How will you help me with pain after my surgery?

After your surgery, you might feel some pain. It's normal, and doctors can help you feel better.

Here is what they might do:

• Give you medicine to stop the pain.
• Show you ways to relax, like deep breathing.
• Check how you feel often.

If the pain does not get better, tell your doctor or nurse right away.

It can also help to find a friend or family member to talk to.

What should I do if I feel sick before my operation?

If you start to feel sick or not well before your operation, tell someone who is helping with your care. This could be your doctor or nurse. It's important to let them know as soon as you can.

Here are some tips that might help:

• Ask a family member or friend to help you talk to the doctor if you find it hard to explain how you feel.
• Write down your symptoms or feelings and show the list to your doctor.
• If you have medicine that you were told to take, ask if it's okay to take it when you are not feeling well.
• Use pictures or drawings to show where you feel pain or discomfort.

Remember, it is okay to ask questions and tell your care team how you feel. They are there to help you.

How will I get information about care after treatment and follow-up visits?

When the doctor finishes your treatment, you will need to know what to do next. This is called "aftercare." You might also need to come back for more visits. These are called "follow-up appointments."

You will get the information in ways that are easy for you to understand. This might be:

• A letter sent to your home.
• A phone call from the doctor's office.
• A text message on your phone.
• An email.

Here are some ways to help you remember and understand the information:

• Ask someone you trust to help read or listen with you.
• Write down the information in a notebook.
• Use a calendar to mark the dates of your appointments.
• Set reminders on your phone.

What should I do if I have problems after my surgery?

If you feel unwell after your surgery, tell someone. You can:

• Call your doctor.
• Tell a nurse.
• Ask a friend or family member for help.

Some things you might feel are:

• Pain that gets worse.
• Feeling sick.
• Your wound looks red or swollen.

If you have any of these problems, it is important to get help. You can:

• Use pictures to show where it hurts.
• Write down your symptoms if talking is hard.
• Ask someone to go with you to the doctor's visit.

Getting help quickly can make you feel better sooner.

Will I get a copy of my medical records after the procedure?

Will the doctor give me my medical papers after the treatment?

If you are unsure, you can:

• Ask the nurse or doctor.
• Use a simple tool like a checklist.

What do I need to do before my operation?

Getting ready for an operation is important. Here are some simple steps to help:

• Ask your doctor any questions you have so you can understand what will happen.
• Make a list of medicines you take. Tell your doctor about them.
• Follow any special instructions from your doctor, like what to eat or drink.
• Plan how you will get to the hospital and who will bring you home.
• Pack a small bag with things you need, like clothes and a toothbrush.

Remember, if you feel worried, you can talk to someone you trust. They can help make sure you feel ready.

Do I need to stop eating and drinking before my operation?

Before your operation, your doctor might say you can't eat or drink for a while. This is called fasting.

If you have to fast, your doctor will tell you how long you can’t eat or drink for.

If you’re not sure what to do, ask your doctor or nurse. They can help explain it. You can also use pictures or write down the steps to help you remember.

Can I take my regular medicine before the surgery?

It is important to know if you can take your regular medicine before surgery. Here are some steps to help:

• Ask Your Doctor: Talk to your doctor or nurse. They can tell you what to do.
• Write It Down: Make a list of all the medicine you take. Show this list to your doctor.
• Use Visual Aids: Use pictures or charts to help you remember what the doctor says.

What do I need to take to the hospital?

How will I know when my operation is?

Someone will tell you the day and time of your operation. They might call you on the phone or send you a letter. If you need help, ask someone to help you understand.

You can use a calendar to write down the date and time. This will help you remember when your operation is.

What will happen on the day of the operation?

Here is what you can expect:

• You will go to the hospital.
• Doctors and nurses will look after you.
• You might have to wait in a room for a little while.
• A nurse will bring you to another room for the operation.
• Don't be scared. The doctors and nurses are there to help you.
• After the operation, you will rest and the doctors will check on you.

Remember to talk to the doctors or nurses if you feel nervous.

It might help to bring a book, a toy, or some music to make you feel calm while you wait.

Can I talk to someone if I have questions before my operation?

How long do I wait before my procedure?

Here is a simple question about the time you need to wait before a procedure. This means how many days or weeks you have to wait until your procedure happens.

To help you understand and keep track of time, you can use a calendar or ask a friend or family member. They can help you count the days or mark them on the calendar until your procedure day arrives.

What kind of medicine will make me sleep during the operation?

• Anesthesia is a special medicine. It helps you not feel anything during an operation.
• Doctors choose the best type for you.
• Sometimes it makes you sleep. Other times, it just makes you numb.
• Ask your doctor to explain more if you want.

If you want more help:

• Bring a friend or family member to talk with the doctor too.
• Write down any questions you have.
• Use pictures or videos to understand better.

Can someone in my family or a friend stay with me at the hospital?

Yes, someone in your family or a friend can stay with you at the hospital. It's nice to have someone you know nearby.

If you need help understanding, ask the nurse. They can explain things.

Also, you can bring a small book or a toy to make you feel better.

How will you help me with pain after my surgery?

After your surgery, you might feel some pain. It's normal, and doctors can help you feel better.

Here is what they might do:

• Give you medicine to stop the pain.
• Show you ways to relax, like deep breathing.
• Check how you feel often.

If the pain does not get better, tell your doctor or nurse right away.

It can also help to find a friend or family member to talk to.

What should I do if I feel sick before my operation?

If you start to feel sick or not well before your operation, tell someone who is helping with your care. This could be your doctor or nurse. It's important to let them know as soon as you can.

Here are some tips that might help:

• Ask a family member or friend to help you talk to the doctor if you find it hard to explain how you feel.
• Write down your symptoms or feelings and show the list to your doctor.
• If you have medicine that you were told to take, ask if it's okay to take it when you are not feeling well.
• Use pictures or drawings to show where you feel pain or discomfort.

Remember, it is okay to ask questions and tell your care team how you feel. They are there to help you.

How will I get information about care after treatment and follow-up visits?

When the doctor finishes your treatment, you will need to know what to do next. This is called "aftercare." You might also need to come back for more visits. These are called "follow-up appointments."

You will get the information in ways that are easy for you to understand. This might be:

• A letter sent to your home.
• A phone call from the doctor's office.
• A text message on your phone.
• An email.

Here are some ways to help you remember and understand the information:

• Ask someone you trust to help read or listen with you.
• Write down the information in a notebook.
• Use a calendar to mark the dates of your appointments.
• Set reminders on your phone.

What should I do if I have problems after my surgery?

If you feel unwell after your surgery, tell someone. You can:

• Call your doctor.
• Tell a nurse.
• Ask a friend or family member for help.

Some things you might feel are:

• Pain that gets worse.
• Feeling sick.
• Your wound looks red or swollen.

If you have any of these problems, it is important to get help. You can:

• Use pictures to show where it hurts.
• Write down your symptoms if talking is hard.
• Ask someone to go with you to the doctor's visit.

Getting help quickly can make you feel better sooner.

Will I get a copy of my medical records after the procedure?

Will the doctor give me my medical papers after the treatment?

If you are unsure, you can:

• Ask the nurse or doctor.
• Use a simple tool like a checklist.