Ok, some practicalities then for any op ( im not a medic, just had 12 surgical procedures with GA or spinals! )
paper pants given if you need to remove your own . And removal depends if they’ll catheterise you.
That’ll depend on how long the op is and how complex. Usually only if they can’t discharge you immediately and you’re wonky after the op. They avoid, as there’s always infection risk.
personally I never say no to catheter…makes life in recovery much easier. Once had to beg for one to be put in after a spinal cos lost any control 😳🙄
best thing is to have a dressing gown to put over your gaping back hospital gown to protect your modesty on your walk to theatre , or just use 2nd hospital gown as a dressing gown.
take slippers - you’ll likely be given surgical socks- like flight socks, that’s the most effort you’ll have all day, trying to get them on 🤣🤣🤣
no contacts. If you wear glasses all the time, make sure you tell theatre staff and wear them all way to theatre then hand over to nurse to take into,recovery room so can be passed back to you in recovery. Nothing worse than not being able to see anything as you’re trying to make some sense of what’s going on. I can’t seem to hear either if I can’t see 😉🤪
leave all valuables at home.including rings if poss. If you can’t get wedding band off, they’ll just tape it. That includes your phone. Ward will ring your home buddy when time to pick up. You can take it- but don’t assume you’ll get it back! 😢
No make up. No perfumes. Don’t faff and worry about shaving anywhere, they’ve seen it all 🙄🤣. Just nice and clean!
wash your hair night before as it’ll be difficult to shower keeping wounds dry for a while, and bending over bath to wash hair will be uncomfortable for a few days.
take a small bag with basic stuff if you do have to stay in. Clean undies, basic wash kit, flannel. They’ll give you a towel. you dont want someone faffing at home suddenly having to bring in stuff, if you have to stay overnight.
make sure you’ve something to read or knit etc- there’s a lot of waiting.
if you’ve never had a GA before, don’t worry..anaesthetists are generally really lovely. It’s fine to be a bit scared, they’ll reassure you. It’s all usually very jolly in the anaesthetic room and that’s the only bit of theatre you’ll see. It’s cold usually and smells a bit weird so is a bit alien. Then you’ll be coming round in recovery as next thing you know. You’ll likely get shivery, maybe cold, ask for extra blankets if you need. It’s actually a quite a nice groggy, cosy experience in first 30 mins of coming round!