What To Expect

We are pleased that you have chosen us to assist in your care. Our facility combines the latest surgical technology with a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. This page is designed to provide as much information as possible and to help answer many of the questions you may have regarding your surgery prior to your visit. If you have a specific concern that is not addressed satisfactorily, please feel free to call McKay-Dee Surgical Center at (385) 470-3660.

Learn what to expect and what measures should be taken before, during and after your surgery:

Pre-Op Instructions

  • You may not eat after 11:00 pm the night before surgery. This includes no mints, chewing gum, or candy. However, you may have small sips of clear liquids up to 2 hours before your check in time and then nothing for the 2 hours before arriving.
  • No Tobacco, smoking, or vaping after midnight.
  • Remove all contacts/jewelry/piercings/metal clips or pins in hair.
  • Do not shave area before surgery.
  • While we do have lockers to lock up belongings, we recommend leaving all valuables at home, with the exceptions of your photo ID, insurance card, and a form of payment.
  • Biological females ages 12-55: please arrive with a full bladder to give a urine sample.
  • On the day of surgery please keep your phone on and nearby in the event that something changes with our surgery schedule.
  • Bring your photo ID, insurance card, and a form of payment with you when you arrive.

Additional instructions (please click links that may apply to you):

The Day of Surgery

  • It is important that you arrive promptly at the scheduled time.
  • We encourage you to ask any questions you might have.
  • Let the staff know of any special needs you might have.
  • Bring a picture ID and insurance cards with you. Bring forms (pre-op orders, history and physical copies of labs and EKG) from your physician if requested.
  • If you are taking prescription medications, bring your medications or a complete list of your medications, including the dosage and frequency.
  • Arrange for a family member or friend to wait in the waiting room. You must have a responsible person to drive you home and make any necessary stops at the pharmacy after your surgery.
  • Do not wear make-up.
  • Valuables (i.e. all jewelry and money) should be left at home.
  • You may wear glasses, but no contact lenses.
  • Wear loose, comfortable clothing and shoes.
  • Expect to be at the facility for three to five hours on the day of your procedure.

After Surgery

  • Dizziness is normal after receiving anesthesia; therefore you should wait 24 hours after returning home before:
    • Driving or operating equipment
    • Signing important papers
    • Making significant decisions
    • Drinking alcoholic beverages
    • Taking any medications that are not prescribed or acknowledged by your surgeon
  • Be sure to follow any specific post operative instructions given to you by your physician regarding diet, exercise, rest, activities, and medication. A written summary of these will be provided to you prior to your release.
  • Notify your doctor if you notice any abnormalities at the operative site.

 

Clear Liquids

Clear liquids include water, juices that don’t contain pulp (apple, grape, cranberry), black tea, black coffee, soda, sports drinks. NO dairy products, broths, protein drinks, or energy drinks.

Pediatric Patients
  • May bring a comfort item such as a binkie, blanket, or favorite stuffed animal that can go back with them to surgery. We just ask that it be washed beforehand.
  • Please bring an extra pair of clean underwear just in case they have an accident while under anesthesia.  
  • Check car seats for any potential food/snacks that they could get ahold of before surgery.
  • All forms of breastmilk including donated, frozen, or directly fed that are without additive must be stopped 4 hours prior to check in.  
  • Infant formula including all over the counter formulas whether or not they contain proteins from dairy must be stopped 6 hours prior to check in.
  • We recommend that an extra adult come along so they can set in the back seat to ensure the child's airway remains open and they are breathing easily during the drive home.
Cataract Surgery
  • Please wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing including a short sleeve t-shirt
  • May take blood pressure medications as prescribed the morning of surgery
  • Nothing to eat after 11:00 pm the night before surgery including mints, chewing gum, and candy.
  • Small sips of clear liquids are okay up until 2 hours before check in time.  
  • Nothing to eat or drink 2 hours before check in time.
  • Do not need to follow to a GLP-1 diet guidelines if taking.
Diabetics
  • Take oral diabetes medications such as metformin and those that end in glitazone (rezulin, actos, avanidia) or glipton (Januvia, zituvio, ongluza, tradjenta, nesina) as you normally do.  
  • Hold all other oral diabetes medications
  • Long acting insulin (Tresiba, Levemir, Lantus, Toujeo)
    • For type 1 diabetics: take your usual evening dose and then 75-80% of morning dose if medication is twice a day.
    • For type 2 diabetics: take 75-80% of evening dose and 75-80% of morning dose if medication is twice a day.  
  • Intermediate acting insulin (Humulin N, Novolin N, Ryzodeg 70/30, Novolog 70/30, Humalog 75/25, Novolin 70/30)
    • 75-80% of evening dose  
    • If blood sugar is greater than 160mg/dL on the day of surgery take 50% of usual dose.
  • Short/Rapid acting insulin
    • Hold unless blood sugar is high.
  • For low blood sugar on the morning of surgery, please call the surgical center before eating or drinking. We will advise you on the best plan to stabilize your sugar.

If you need help to calculate your dose please call the surgical center at 385-470-3660.

GLP-1 Medications (Trulicity, Victoza, Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, etc.)

If you are taking a GLP-1 Medication, whether for weight loss or as a diabetic, you are required to be on a full liquid diet for 24 hours prior to the day of surgery. We require that you do not eat solids starting at 7:00 pm 2 days before surgery. Please use the link to view what items are considered full liquid.  

Starting at 11:00 pm the night before surgery you may only have small sips of clear liquids.

4 hours before your check in time you may not have anything to eat or drink.

Full Liquid Diet

Full liquid means no chunks!

  • Broth (chicken, beef, etc.)
  • Pudding (small amounts)
  • Sherbet
  • Protein drinks
  • Bouillon
  • Carbonated drinks
  • Coffee
  • Fruit drinks (no pulp)
  • Milk  
  • Milkshakes
  • Smoothies (if well blended)
  • Sports Drinks
  • Tea
  • Tomato Juice
  • Water
  • Frozen Yogurt (no chunks)
  • Jello
  • Honey
  • Sorbet
  • Strained soups (no chunks)

NOT APPROVED:  

  • Cottage cheese
  • Cream of wheat/rice
  • Oatmeal
  • Grits
  • Juice with pulp
  • Ice cream (too much potential for chunks)
  • Soup with chunks/noodles
Spine Injection
  • Must be off blood thinning medications. Please call your surgeon’s office for instructions on how long to hold medication.
  • Do not need to fast before the injection. You can continue with your regular diet.
Possible 23-Hour Stay (Overnight)
  • Please bring your own home medications. If there are medications you take on occasion, please discuss these ahead of time so you know whether to bring them.
  • You will not be able to bring any controlled substances (pain medications, anxiety medications, sleeping pills etc.) These controlled medications will be provided by the surgical center as your surgeon prescribes them.
  • Please bring your own personal care items, like a toothbrush, deodorant, etc.
  • We will provide you a gown, but we recommend you bring comfortable clothes or pajamas.
  • We will provide basic food for our patients. We have items such as sandwiches, yogurt, parfaits, soups, crackers, etc. If you have dietary restrictions we recommend you bring food or order it out to be delivered. We will not have a fridge available for you to store food in, so if you bring things that need refrigeration please bring a cooler.  
  • You may have one visitor stay with you through the process, but they must be over 18 years old and healthy.  
  • For safety reasons, we ask that no one is coming or going from the building through the night after 10:00 pm.  
  • We will not allow smoking or vaping on campus. If needed, your doctor may provide you with a nicotine patch for the time that you are here.
  • You must be comfortable with going at least 24 hours without alcohol and other substances. If you are not, please call the surgical center.
  • Please know that if there were a need for a higher level of care than we can provide, you would need to transport to the hospital by ambulance.  
  • Legally, we can only keep you in our facility for 23 hours from the time that you check in. Please have your discharge plans made ahead of time so that your ride will be ready to take you home at the needed time. If there is not someone already at the facility, our nurses will call with 1 hour of notice before required discharge time.

 

Return to Top of Page