The ways to relieve constipation are to:
- Increase fluid intake - aim for 1-2 L a day
- Drink Alpine Tea - a herbal tea containing senna leaves, giving a gentle laxative effect
- Try Kiwifruit and/ or prunes daily
- Use a fibre supplement such as Metamucil daily, to increase fibre intake
- Exercise - increase physical activity like walking
- Stool softeners should help to prevent and treat constipation. You can use lactulose syrup, but take 20mls, at night. Laxsol tablets are another aperient that you can use
- Use of small microlax enemas if needed, from the pharmacy
A script from us, as a specialist, will cost $5 with a Community Service Card, or if without, then up to $15 per item.
Unless they are actively involved in your direct care then No. Remember its important support people caring for you are well rested too so they can support you once you are home.
You will be given invoices from Anglesea Hospital, Surgeon and Anaesthetist. When you have all 3 send them off to your insurance company and the company will pay us directly. If not fully covered we will send you out another invoice with remaining amount owing.
Yes we encourage one parent/caregiver to stay with child. We provide a lazyboy chair in with your child or spare bed next to them if available.
Yes we encourage parents to either bring a snack or to have a break and go out for a meal.
This is dependent on the type of procedure but for a simple operation usually a couple of hours altogether.
As a rule we do not stop aspirin.
STOP taking all herbal remedies 2 weeks prior to surgery.
If you are taking Warfarin/Plavix (Clopidogrel) Dabigatran or other blood thinning medication this will need a planned stoppage-please discuss this with the Surgeon, or Preadmission Nurse
It is advisable to see your GP and have a check-up, you may need some antibiotics to help clear up any chest infection to get you well enough for your surgery.
It is advisable to keep warm, take regular Panadol, and keep hydrated.
Please contact Preadmission clinic for further advice 957 3959 ext. 2.
If you are undergoing surgery, your stomach must be empty and therefore it is very important to ask your specialist when you should stop eating and drinking (includes chewing gum and sweets) prior to your admission. Below is some general guidelines, you will receive specific instructions from your specialist, as individual requirements may differ.
Adults and children over 2 years: Do not eat anything for 6 hours before your admission time. You may drink WATER freely up until 2 hours before your admission, then nothing more.
Children under 2 years: Cow’s milk or formula may be taken up to 6 hours prior to admission time and breast milk up to 4 hours before admission. Water only up until 2 hours prior to admission and then nothing more.
NO, these are not fasting bloods. They need to be done at least 24 hours prior to your operation, depending on where you are having your surgery.
Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that you will not feel sick after surgery. Nausea after surgery is due to many factors. Some of these factors include your age or gender, anxiety level, reaction to anaesthesia medications and the length of surgery. With new methods of anaesthesia care and new anti-nausea medications now available, the chance that you will feel nauseous is much lower than it has been in the past.
Family is not allowed in this primary recovery area. This allows the PACU nursing staff to focus on you and your recovery. When you are taken back to the day stay unit or to your hospital room, you may have family with you then.
NO! – you will need to arrange for someone to collect you following surgery. You are not permitted to drive for 24hours following a General anaesthetic
Where this is possible, every effort is made to return body tissue where this is requested. Please document your request on the Anglesea Hospital consent form in your admission pack and let the nursing staff know of your wishes on admission. In some cases the tissue will go to the laboratory immediately following your surgery. You will be informed if this is the case and advised about how to collect from the laboratory.
We do not expect you to be in severe pain after discharge from hospital. However if you have some pain, take regular Panadol or the stronger pain relief prescribed to you in hospital. For more severe pain, please call your surgeons rooms.
Check for other signs of infection such as heat, pus formation or oozing. Either consult your surgeon or one of our nurses or your GP for assessment. You may require antibiotics, and these are fine to take after surgery.
Yes, you can expect to feel tired for the first 4-6 weeks at least, especially with bigger surgery. Take regular short walks, around 3 times a day (5-10 minutes), and rest in the afternoons. Get into a routine this helps your body relax and can aid sleep.