What to do on the Day of Surgery

Specific instructions will be given regarding when to stop eating and drinking the night before surgery. Generally, it is recommended by the American Society of Anesthesiology guidelines that clear liquids may be ingested for up to 2 hours and a light solid meal may be ingested up to 6 hours before surgery requiring general anesthesia (See ASA Task Force).
The aim is to ensure the safety of anesthesia on the day of the surgery, while also making the best effort to ensure the body is nutritionally replete before undergoing surgery.

Photo ID and insurance/Medicare card for check in.
List of your allergies, health conditions, special dietary requirements, and any prescription or over-the-counter medications you’re taking.
Names and phone numbers of your physicians.
Fresh clothes to wear for discharge.
If you are bringing a cell phone, don't forget your charger.
Glasses and/or hearing aids (please bring the containers to hold them in so they don't get misplaced).
If you use a CPAP or BiPAP, bring your home machine.

Sleep is critical to health and wellness, and the need for quality sleep before and after surgery are critical.
Sleep loss and fragmentation have been shown to be associated with increased levels of the stress hormone, cortisol (See Kumari et al.)
By optimizing and improving sleep before surgery and the night before surgery, one can ensure the stress of surgery is able to be easily dealt with by the body.
One general tip to ensure a good night's rest before surgery is to try to be physically active more than usual the day before doing mild exercise like walking, biking, or swimming.

Apex Brain & Spine Neurosurgical Specialists