What to Expect During Your First Appointment

• You may be asked about your current medications, your medical history and/or the previous specialists that you have seen and the treatments that they prescribed to you.
• Your doctor will enquire about your current symptoms, examine you, diagnose you and choose the best treatment course for you. If your treatment must be carried out by the doctor, then depending on its length and type, it may be performed either during your first appointment or it may be scheduled for another day.
• Each clinic within West Bay Medicare has its own particular procedures and instructions, so if you have any specific questions, do not hesitate to call us before your appointment.

 Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Remember that our doctors are here to serve you, so we urge you to bring up any concerns that you may have. In order to become an active partner in your own healthcare, here are some questions that you can ask your doctor:

• What is this disease/condition and how will it affect my life?
• What is/are the cause(s) of my disease/condition?
• What can I do to prevent this sickness from reoccurring?
• What symptoms should I watch out for?
• What are my treatment options for this disease/condition?
• What is my medication composed of and why am I taking it?
• Do I require a follow-up visit, and if so, when should I come in next?
• Now that I have been diagnosed, is there a risk of infecting those around me?
• Why do I need surgery and is there more than one way of performing this surgery?
• What are the benefits and risks of having this specific surgery?

We ask you to play an active role in your own treatment plan because you, as the patient, are at the core of our medical team. Before you consent to any treatment plan, do make sure that you fully understand your doctor’s plans for you. Also, please keep a record of any allergies that you may have and make sure to inform your doctor of them before consenting to any medications and/or procedures.

Preparing for Your Blood Test

Depending on the type and/or combination of blood test(s) you are taking, there are certain ways to prepare for the easiest and most accurate draw.

• For glucose and cholesterol tests, fasting before your blood test is required. Fasting means no food or drink, except for water, for a minimum of 10 hours before your test.
• Drink a lot of water before your test in order to avoid a drop in blood pressure. We also recommend eating a healthy snack after your blood is drawn.
• Try to relax before and during the process, as stress levels impact test results. If it helps, don’t watch as your blood is being drawn – instead, close your eyes and focus on your breathing.
• You may remove your bandage after one hour. Do not worry if you notice slight bruising around the site of where your blood was drawn.

If you are currently taking any blood-thinning medications, it is important that you inform your phlebotomist before having your blood drawn.

Preparing for Your Radiology Examination 

• You will be asked to lift up or remove some of your clothes to expose the area of your body that needs examination. However, depending on which area is being examined, you may need to wear a medical gown offered to you by the clinic.
• You may need to remove all jewellery and metallic objects, including eye glasses, prior to your examination.
• Depending on the type of your examination, you may be asked to ingest a contrast medium, which is a substance used to increase the contrast of the structures/fluids in your body so that they may be better perceived. Contrast medium may be administered intravenously (injected), as a liquid to be consumed or as an enema.
• During the examination, which only takes a few minutes, you must remain still and your technologist may ask you to hold your breath for a second to avoid a blurry image.
• If you ingested contrast medium, please make sure to drink plenty of water after your examination in order to help your body get rid of it.

If you are pregnant or suspect that you may be pregnant, it is important that you inform your doctor and/or technologist.

Preparing for Your Surgery 

So it has been decided that you are in need of surgery, and it is our mission to ensure that you receive the best achievable experience.

Before Surgery

• At the first stages following the decision for surgery, you may be asked to complete a pre-operative assessment (possibly including lab work and/or radiology exams) so that the doctors and surgeons have a better picture of your current health status and know what to look out for during your surgery.
• It is important that you do not eat or drink anything after midnight on the day before your surgery.
• You will need to remove all jewellery, acrylic nails, hair pieces, make-up, and watches for your surgery.
• If you are a smoker and undergoing general anaesthesia, try to stop smoking as soon as possible before your surgery as general anaesthesia affects normal lung function.
• We urge you to follow a healthy diet and any special instructions set by your doctor, such as eating lightly the day before your surgery.
• If you have diabetes, please make sure to control your glucose levels as much as possible during this time.
• Do not consume any alcohol at least 24 hours prior to surgery.

During Surgery

• For your surgery, you will be wearing medical gown offered to you by the clinic.
• Your doctor/surgeon will reassure you and go over the surgical process with you.
• Do ask your doctor/surgeon any questions you may have prior to your surgery.
• If you are undergoing general anaesthesia, then you will receive the anaesthesia through a breathing mask or intravenous line. Your anesthesiologist will remain with you throughout your surgery to monitor your vital signs.

After Surgery

• You will be transferred to a recovery area, where a nurse will monitor your vital signs and dressing until you wake up.
• Upon waking up, you may feel nauseous, cold and/or dehydrated. This is normal but make sure to inform your nurse and do not hesitate to ask for pain medication.
• Once you are transferred to a recovery room, your doctor will come visit you to discuss the outcome of your surgery and if any complications arose. Your doctor will also discuss your post-operative care, in terms of diet, medicine and wound care. You will remain in your recovery room until your doctor decides it is safe to discharge you.
• Do not engage in any physical activity until your doctor clears you to do so.
• If, after your surgery, you experience any odd symptoms, such as bleeding, contact us immediately.