Frequently Asked Questions

This depends on what surgery or procedure you are having. Not all surgeries require a bowel prep, but it is extremely important you discuss this with your surgeon. In general, any surgery involving the colon will require a bowel prep.

The pre-op clinic will call you between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. the business day before your surgery to inform you of your arrival time. If you have not heard from them by 4:00 p.m., please call 843-876-5222 and they can assist you.

You will need to register at the 1st floor Central Registration in the Ashley River Tower. You surgery will be on the 4th floor of the Ashley River Tower.

You will need to stop taking aspirin, aspirin products, Ibuprofen, Aleve, Naproxen, Motrin, Naprosyn & Advil for seven (7) days prior to your surgery. If you are on Coumadin (Warfarin) it is extremely important you discuss this with your doctor. You will need to stop taking Coumadin for a week before surgery. However, in some cases you made need to take another medicine in its place. Do NOT stop this medicine without talking to your doctor first. If you are on Plavix or Aggrenox you will need to stop taking this medicine for 10 to 14 days before surgery. You must have this cleared by your doctor before stopping. Tylenol does not need to be stopped.

No, do not bring your medicines with you to the hospital. It is very important that you bring a LIST (including names, dosages, and frequency) of your current medicines with you to the hospital and to ALL clinic visits. If you use eye drops or inhalers, you may want to bring these with you. If you are concerned about a certain medication, please ask your surgeon if we have this available. We will be happy to check with our pharmacist if there is any question about a particular medicine.

Yes, if you are on a CPAP and are staying in the hospital overnight, please bring your CPAP and settings with you. Notify your nurse that you have brought it with you.

Bring pajamas, slippers, bathrobe, clean underwear, and clothes to wear home. If you have a cane or walker, bring it with you. Please label everything.

Leave all your valuables at home. This includes money, watches, and jewelry. Dentures, glasses, and contact lenses should be given to your family.

Yes, you can shower after surgery. If you have drains or PICC lines, please ask your nurse prior to discharge how to care for these while showering.

No, please avoid baths, swimming, and hot-tubs after surgery until your wounds are completely healed.

In some cases you may go home with a drain. If so, you will be given instructions on how to care for your drain prior to discharge. It is important that you record all output from your drain and bring it with you to your follow-up appointment.

You will be given a prescription for pain medicine at the time of discharge.

Constipation is common after surgery due to pain medicines and changes in your oral intake. You can take a stool softener (over the counter) twice per day or take Miralax or Milk of Magnesium. It is important to increase your fluid (specifically water) intake.

YES, you must have a driver with you. You will be sleepy from the anesthesia so it will not be safe for you to drive yourself. If you do not have someone available to drive you, we will need to reschedule your surgery.

This is a question you need to ask your surgeon prior to surgery. In general, you can NOT drive if you are still taking narcotic pain medicines.

Generally, you will need to be seen about two weeks after surgery or discharge from the hospital. In some cases, you may need to be seen sooner.

If you have any of the following, notify your doctor immediately or report to the nearest emergency room: increased pain not responding to pain medicines, fever greater than 101.4, persistent nausea & vomiting, chest pain, shortness of breath, leg swelling.