Take your medication list with you when you are called for your preoperative assessment.
Before your surgeon can prescribe any medication he needs to know what you are already on. Most people are good at remembering the drugs they get from the doctor but it's also necessary to tell him about any medicines bought over-the-counter or obtained from an alternative practitioner or health food shop, remember to add these to your medication list.
Before you go for your pre-op assessment make a list of all the medicines you take along with the doses. Your doctor should be able to provide you a print out of the ones she prescribes along with the doses but you will need to add any others yourself.
The medicines that your doctor will focus on during the medication review are: -
Non-prescribed medicines or remedies can interact with those prescribed by your doctor with serious consequences. If you are taking anything he doesn't know about including over-the-counter medications and remedies bought from health shops or prescribed by alternative practitioners.
If it has an effect on your body remember to include them on your medication list.
Good examples are aspirin and ginkgo biloba (see picture left). Aspirin, as you already know, is a pain killer whilst ginkgo biloba is a herb associated with improved memory functioning. In addition to these main effects both work as anticoagulants and so your surgeon must be told if you are using them regularly. After your operation you will be prescribed anticoagulants to ensure you don't get a DVT but the surgeon won't be able to get the dose right if he isn't aware that you are already taking other anti-coagulants regularly.
Don't take risks with your health, when you take in your medication list, include everying you're taking and let him work out what is significant and what's not
Related Links:
Preparing for Surgery - includes pre-op exercises, mental preparation, hip precautions (essential!) and more
Anesthetics - the pros and cons of general and regional anesthesia
Preparing for Recovery - masses of tips on how to recovery quickly and safely
Preparing for Surgery: Pre-Operative Assessment | Mentally Preparing for Surgery | Getting Help After Surgery | Hip Replacement Products Equipment and Furniture | Preoperative Hip Replacement Exercises | Hip Precautions |
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