Patient Resources

Your First Visit

• Bring your photo ID and insurance card
• Bring a list of current medications (or your medication bottles)
• Bring any imaging studies, reports, or pathology results — especially if your workup was done outside the Northside Hospital system or if you are coming for a second opinion
• You are welcome to bring a family member or companion
• Interpretation services are available for all languages at our office and the hospital
• Plan for the visit to take approximately 30–45 minutes

Blood Thinner & Medication Guidance

If you take blood-thinning or antiplatelet medications, you will receive specific stop and restart instructions from our office. General guidance:

• Warfarin (Coumadin) — typically stopped 5 days before surgery; INR checked the day before
• Eliquis, Xarelto, Pradaxa, Savaysa — typically stopped 1–3 days before depending on kidney function
• Plavix — stopped 5–7 days before; Brilinta — 3–5 days; Effient — 7 days
• Aspirin — may be continued or stopped depending on the reason you take it
• GLP-1 medications (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, etc.) — inform our office when scheduling. Current anesthesia guidance requires special fasting instructions

Always confirm with both our office and the doctor who prescribed your medication. Timing depends on your specific medication, dosage, kidney function, and the reason you take it.

After Surgery — When to Call

Call our office or the 24/7 answering service at (770) 962-9977 for:

• Fever over 101.5°F
• Worsening pain not controlled by medication
• Persistent nausea or vomiting
• Increasing redness, swelling, warmth, or drainage from incisions
• Inability to keep liquids down
• Any concerns about your recovery

Call 911 for: severe abdominal pain, heavy or uncontrolled bleeding, chest pain, difficulty breathing, fainting.