Once you arrive at the hospital you may be a nervous wreck. There are certain medications that can be given to get rid of the butterflies in your stomach. It is normal to be nervous prior to surgery and if you are not bothered by it and do not want any medicine, that's fine. Since it may be anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours before your surgery, sedation may be held until you get to a small preparation room we call a pre-induction area, where the anesthesiologist will give you something. The point is you should make your feelings known.

The other issue is with medication that you may be taking regularly. Medicine that affects your blood such as blood thinners (coumadin / warfarin) or aspirin, are usually held for several days before most surgery. Blood pressure medication, ulcer medication and sedatives are usually acceptable the morning of surgery. In fact, unless instructed otherwise by a physician, it is appropriate to continue with your regular medication. One very important medicine is that for diabetes. Pills or insulin injections may be held, or the dosage reduced on the morning of surgery. Diabetic patients are encouraged to keep a record of their blood sugar and the amount of medication taken. It is extremely important to check with your surgeon or speak with someone in the anesthesia department about this. Make certain to tell your doctors which medication you took the morning of the surgery. Be sure that you only drink a sip of water with your pills and not a quart of orange juice.

Once the intravenous is started and everything is set, you will be taken to the operating room or a pre-induction area. At this point you will be asked to switch from your stretcher to the OR table which tends to be cold and narrow, so be careful. The electrocardiogram pads are next which are also cool, even though they are not refrigerated. More monitors will be placed according to the type of surgery and your overall medical condition. Your anesthesiologist will explain what monitors you need beforehand. Once all the monitors are on, pick out a good dream and before you know it, you'll be back in the recovery room.