What to expect on the day of your operation

When should I get to the hospital?

It is important to know when to arrive so you are on time.

• Check your appointment letter for the time to arrive.
• Ask someone to remind you of the time.
• Set an alarm to help you remember.
• If you can, ask a friend or family member to go with you.

Can I eat or drink before my operation?

Before your operation, you need to stop eating and drinking for a while. This is important to keep you safe. Ask your doctor or nurse when you should stop eating and drinking.

Tip: Use a reminder on your phone or ask someone to remind you when to stop eating and drinking. This will help you remember.

What do I need to take to the hospital?

Here is a simple list of things to pack:

• Comfortable clothes or pajamas
• A toothbrush and toothpaste
• A hairbrush
• A book or toy you like
• Important papers, like your ID

You can ask someone to help you pack. Bring things that make you feel good and happy. Remember, the hospital is a safe place, and the doctors and nurses are there to help you.

Will I see my doctor on the day of my operation?

Can my family or friends come with me to the hospital?

Yes, your family and friends can come with you to the hospital.

They can help you feel better and stay with you if you are scared.

If you need help understanding things, they can explain it to you too.

It is a good idea to ask the hospital how many people you can bring with you.

What Should I Wear to the Hospital for My Operation?

When you go to the hospital for an operation, wear loose and comfy clothes.

Here are some tips:

• Wear a button-up shirt or a top that is easy to take off.
• Choose pants that are easy to pull down, like sweatpants.
• Wear slip-on shoes that do not have laces.
• Do not wear jewelry or bring it with you.
• If you have long hair, tie it back with a soft hairband.

Ask a nurse or doctor if you have questions. They can help you pick the right clothes.

Will I be asleep during my surgery?

Yes, you will be asleep during your operation. This is called anesthesia. It is like having a very deep sleep, so you won’t feel anything during the surgery.

If you feel worried, tell the doctor or nurse. They can help you feel better.

Remember:

• You will be safe and looked after by the doctors and nurses.
• Someone will be with you the whole time.

What if I feel sick on my surgery day?

If you feel sick before your surgery, tell your doctor. It is important to let them know. They will help you decide what to do. Your doctor might change your surgery to another day. Remember, it is okay to ask for help if you feel confused or worried.

You can use a calendar to remember your surgery date. You can also ask a friend or family member to be with you. This can make everything easier and less scary.

How long will the surgery take?

The surgery will not take long. It might be as quick as 1 hour, or it could be 3 hours. The doctor will tell you more about it.

It can be helpful to use pictures or a timer to understand time better.

Where do I go when I get to the hospital?

When you reach the hospital, go to the main entrance. Look for signs or ask someone at the help desk if you need directions.

You can use pictures on the signs to guide you or ask a staff member for help. You can also bring a friend to assist you.

Can I take my usual medicine on the day of the surgery?

Yes, you might need to take your regular medicine. But you should ask your doctor first. They will tell you what to do.

Always follow the doctor's advice. If you need help remembering what the doctor says, you can:

• Write it down.
• Use a calendar or reminder app on your phone.
• Ask someone you trust to help you remember.

What happens if surgery is late?

If your surgery is late, don't worry. Here is what you can do:

• Bring a book or tablet to keep busy.
• Ask the nurse for updates.
• Tell a family member or friend to stay with you.

Remember, the hospital team will take care of you!

How can I feel better after the surgery?

After your surgery, you might feel some pain. Here are some ways you can manage it:

• Listen to your doctor or nurse. They will tell you what to do.
• Take your medicine. It's important to take it just like the doctor says.
• Tell someone if you are in pain. Don't keep it to yourself.
• Rest as much as you can. Your body needs time to heal.
• Use a warm or cold pack. Ask a grown-up to help you with this.

You can also:

• Use a comfy pillow. It can help you feel better.
• Try deep breathing or listening to music to help you relax.

Remember, it's okay to ask for help. Tell a grown-up if you need anything.

What should I do with my things during surgery?

If you are having surgery, you might bring things like a phone, wallet, or keys with you. Here is what you can do with them:

• Ask a friend or family member to keep them safe for you.
• Check if the hospital can look after them.
• Leave important things at home if you don't need them.

Helpful tip: Write a list of what you have so you don’t forget anything!

When can I go home after my surgery?

When can I leave the hospital after my surgery?

You can usually go home after surgery when the doctor says it is safe.

Here is how they decide:

• You feel okay and can move around.
• You do not have a fever or too much pain.
• You can eat and drink without feeling sick.
• The doctor checks and says you are ready to go home.

Some surgeries let you go home the same day. Others need you to stay in the hospital for a few days.

It is good to have someone to help you when you get home.

Tools like reminder notes or phone alerts can help you remember to take any medicines.

When should I get to the hospital?

It is important to know when to arrive so you are on time.

• Check your appointment letter for the time to arrive.
• Ask someone to remind you of the time.
• Set an alarm to help you remember.
• If you can, ask a friend or family member to go with you.

Can I eat or drink before my operation?

Before your operation, you need to stop eating and drinking for a while. This is important to keep you safe. Ask your doctor or nurse when you should stop eating and drinking.

Tip: Use a reminder on your phone or ask someone to remind you when to stop eating and drinking. This will help you remember.

What do I need to take to the hospital?

Here is a simple list of things to pack:

• Comfortable clothes or pajamas
• A toothbrush and toothpaste
• A hairbrush
• A book or toy you like
• Important papers, like your ID

You can ask someone to help you pack. Bring things that make you feel good and happy. Remember, the hospital is a safe place, and the doctors and nurses are there to help you.

Will I see my doctor on the day of my operation?

Can my family or friends come with me to the hospital?

Yes, your family and friends can come with you to the hospital.

They can help you feel better and stay with you if you are scared.

If you need help understanding things, they can explain it to you too.

It is a good idea to ask the hospital how many people you can bring with you.

What Should I Wear to the Hospital for My Operation?

When you go to the hospital for an operation, wear loose and comfy clothes.

Here are some tips:

• Wear a button-up shirt or a top that is easy to take off.
• Choose pants that are easy to pull down, like sweatpants.
• Wear slip-on shoes that do not have laces.
• Do not wear jewelry or bring it with you.
• If you have long hair, tie it back with a soft hairband.

Ask a nurse or doctor if you have questions. They can help you pick the right clothes.

Will I be asleep during my surgery?

Yes, you will be asleep during your operation. This is called anesthesia. It is like having a very deep sleep, so you won’t feel anything during the surgery.

If you feel worried, tell the doctor or nurse. They can help you feel better.

Remember:

• You will be safe and looked after by the doctors and nurses.
• Someone will be with you the whole time.

What if I feel sick on my surgery day?

If you feel sick before your surgery, tell your doctor. It is important to let them know. They will help you decide what to do. Your doctor might change your surgery to another day. Remember, it is okay to ask for help if you feel confused or worried.

You can use a calendar to remember your surgery date. You can also ask a friend or family member to be with you. This can make everything easier and less scary.

How long will the surgery take?

The surgery will not take long. It might be as quick as 1 hour, or it could be 3 hours. The doctor will tell you more about it.

It can be helpful to use pictures or a timer to understand time better.

Where do I go when I get to the hospital?

When you reach the hospital, go to the main entrance. Look for signs or ask someone at the help desk if you need directions.

You can use pictures on the signs to guide you or ask a staff member for help. You can also bring a friend to assist you.

Can I take my usual medicine on the day of the surgery?

Yes, you might need to take your regular medicine. But you should ask your doctor first. They will tell you what to do.

Always follow the doctor's advice. If you need help remembering what the doctor says, you can:

• Write it down.
• Use a calendar or reminder app on your phone.
• Ask someone you trust to help you remember.

What happens if surgery is late?

If your surgery is late, don't worry. Here is what you can do:

• Bring a book or tablet to keep busy.
• Ask the nurse for updates.
• Tell a family member or friend to stay with you.

Remember, the hospital team will take care of you!

How can I feel better after the surgery?

After your surgery, you might feel some pain. Here are some ways you can manage it:

• Listen to your doctor or nurse. They will tell you what to do.
• Take your medicine. It's important to take it just like the doctor says.
• Tell someone if you are in pain. Don't keep it to yourself.
• Rest as much as you can. Your body needs time to heal.
• Use a warm or cold pack. Ask a grown-up to help you with this.

You can also:

• Use a comfy pillow. It can help you feel better.
• Try deep breathing or listening to music to help you relax.

Remember, it's okay to ask for help. Tell a grown-up if you need anything.

What should I do with my things during surgery?

If you are having surgery, you might bring things like a phone, wallet, or keys with you. Here is what you can do with them:

• Ask a friend or family member to keep them safe for you.
• Check if the hospital can look after them.
• Leave important things at home if you don't need them.

Helpful tip: Write a list of what you have so you don’t forget anything!

When can I go home after my surgery?

When can I leave the hospital after my surgery?

You can usually go home after surgery when the doctor says it is safe.

Here is how they decide:

• You feel okay and can move around.
• You do not have a fever or too much pain.
• You can eat and drink without feeling sick.
• The doctor checks and says you are ready to go home.

Some surgeries let you go home the same day. Others need you to stay in the hospital for a few days.

It is good to have someone to help you when you get home.

Tools like reminder notes or phone alerts can help you remember to take any medicines.