Preparing for your hospital stay
Smoking and your lungs
We strongly advise that you try to avoid getting chest infections
(stay away from people with coughs and colds) and give up
smoking. Continuing to smoke doubles your risk of complications.
These complications can compromise wound healing, and can add
to the risk of a leak developing from the stomach staple line.
If you need help to quit smoking, please contact resources such
as your Doctor (GP) or Quitline (0800 778 778) www.quit.org.nz or
www.health.govt.nz\tobacco
Bay of Plenty District Health Board has a “No Smoking” policy
onsite and throughout hospital grounds.
Alcohol and drugs (such as Cannabis and P)
We encourage you to minimise your drug/alcohol consumption prior
to and after your surgery. Drug/alcohol consumption significantly
increases the risk of complications and compromises healing. It can
also affect your anaesthetic and pain relief requirements.
Exercise
It is advisable to remain as active as possible leading up to your
surgery, to strengthen your muscles and speed up recovery.
What to do if you become unwell
It is important we know if you have any of the following:
• A cold or cough.
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