Once all the preliminary paperwork has been done by the administrative staff, you will be admitted to your allocated ward. A surgical nurse will check you in and go through the preparations. There will be a period of waiting until your turn comes. It is very hard to time all the logistics perfectly. Regrettably, sometimes the wait time for your turn to the theatre can be substantial. When the operating theatre is ready, you will be checked in by the theatre staff, and the anaesthetist, making sure that all is ready for your surgery.
You will have line/canula inserted into a vein and oxygen administered by mask. This is also when you will have some medicine to help you relax and to get you ready for the anaesthetic. This will usually be the last thing you remember until your surgery is over and you wake up from the anaesthetic in the recovery ward. Once you are fully recovered and stable, you will be taken to the surgical ward for further observation.
Surgical nurses will look after you, making sure that you have enough pain relief and that all your observations are within normal and acceptable levels. Your surgeon will see you on a daily basis or more frequently, if needed. Once you able to tolerate fluids and you are stable, you may be discharged and your full diet progression plans, pain relief and routine medication management will be discussed.