What Pain Reliever Can I Take Before Surgery?

After so many consultations and follow-ups with your doctor, you are now convinced that the best way to solve your health problem is through surgery. It is normal that a patient would feel worried just thinking about that dreaded surgery day, but it is to be expected that your surgeon will recommend ways on how to ease your fears before a surgery. You may have read online that taking pain medication a day before your schedule can help, so you may ask, ‘what pain reliever can I take before surgery?’

How to prepare before your surgeryhow to ease your fears before a surgery

Lifestyle changes. You may have been advised by your doctor that a few weeks before your surgery, you should maintain a healthy way of living. This means eating a proper diet, cutting down on smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages, and exercising. These things will help your body to recuperate faster after surgery.

Make the necessary arrangements. Before the surgery day, make sure that you have prepared everything that needs to be handled during and after the surgery. Simple things from who will drive you home from the hospital, who will stay with you and act as your house help while you still have limited movements and activities, and how many days will you go on leave to recover from the surgery. These things will help you feel at ease that everything after the surgery is under control.

Intake of medications. There are certain medications that are not allowed to be taken before any surgery. Anticoagulants or drugs that prevent the blood from clotting should be discontinued a few weeks before the surgery as it may cause bleeding during and after your operation. Medicines like aspirin and ibuprofen contain blood thinning agents should be discontinued at least 3 weeks before your scheduled surgery just to make sure that their effects are out of your system. In cases where you feel pain a few days before the surgery, it is safer to take acetaminophen or, if severe pain, morphine. If you are in doubt, we strongly advise you to not take any medication without consulting your doctor.

Making sure that everything is under control while you are recovering from surgery makes you feel confident and relaxed that everything will run smoothly during the operation and even after the surgery.