Preparing For Your Surgery
Preparing For Your Surgery
Dr. Hettrich operates both at BWH Faulkner Hospital as well as at BWH/MGH Foxborough Surgery Center . You will be told the location when you schedule your surgery. If you have any questions about this, please contact our office at 617-525-3427.
Some surgeries will require a written medical clearance from your doctor, or clearance from our anesthesiologists. Based on your age and medical history, our staff will review with you what will be required prior to your procedure. If your medical clearance or preoperative labs are not obtained in time, your surgery could be delayed.
You will also need to arrange for someone to come with you to your surgery and drive you home. Depending on the size of your surgery, you also may need someone to stay with you while you recover. We recommend you speak to Dr. Hettrich about this prior to your surgery if you live alone.
Your follow-up appointment after surgery will be the following week (4-7 days after surgery). At this appointment Dr. Hettrich or a member of her team will check your wound. You will need to arrange for someone to drive you to this as you may still be on narcotic pain medication, or wearing a sling.
You will need to stop taking all narcotic pain medications (oxycodone, hydrocodone, tramadol, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, fentanyl) as we use these medications to control your pain post-operatively and will not be effective if you continue taking them.
One week before surgery you need to stop all anti-inflammatory medications (ibuprofen, naproxen, meloxicam, St. John’s Wort, etc) and blood thinners (aspirin, Coumadin (warfarin), Plavix (clopidogrel), Eliquis (apixaban), etc). Please discuss this with your primary medical doctor or cardiologist. If they recommend staying on these medications, please discuss this with Dr. Hettrich as some surgeries can be done while on these medications. If you have If you have questions about any of your medications, please call our office.
Please take any medications for your heart/lungs. You may take these with a sip of water. If you have any questions about this, please review with the nurse who calls the day before surgery or your primary care doctor.
You will receive a call from operating room staff the day before surgery (typically in the early afternoon) to notify you of your arrival time. It is important that you are on time or your case may have to be canceled. Please call the BWH Faulkner at (617) 983-7179 or Foxboro at (508) 718-4055 between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM if you have any questions. Please make sure they have the correct phone number to contact you the day before.
• DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING after midnight, or your surgery will be canceled. You can have a sip of water with medication.
• Take a shower or bath the night before or morning of surgery. You will be provided with Hibiclens or Hydrogen Peroxide, with instructions for use.
• Please remove any nail polish as this interferes with monitoring during surgery.
• The day/evening before the surgery you will get a call from the hospital confirming your arrival time, as well as last minute instructions. They can also answer any questions that you might have.
• Relax and get a good night’s sleep. You are in good hands!
• Insurance card
• Photo ID
• Friend or family member who will be available the entire time during surgery and will take you home after surgery
• Comfortable, loose fitting clothing. For shoulder and elbow surgery we recommend loose fitting shirts that either zip or button in the front.
• Your sling/brace if provided with one before surgery
• Change of clothes in case you need to spend the night (for shoulder replacements)
• A pillow to rest your arm for the car ride home (can leave in your car)
• Inhaler, if you have athsma/COPD
While you do not need special clothing, there are some items that will make dressing after shoulder surgery much easier.
• Modified t-shirt with snaps on the sleeves (can be found on Amazon if you search for 'rotator cuff surgery shirts'), or loose tank tops, t-shirts, and button down shirts.
• For women, a front closure bra will be easier to put on, and a T-back/racerback bra will be less likely to rub on your incisions.
• Pants that you can pull up/put on with one hand.