The short answer
Most people stop eating about six hours before an operation and stop clear drinks about two hours before, but your hospital's fasting time is the one to follow. Tell the team every medicine and herbal remedy you take, because some must be paused and some must not, and arrange an adult to take you home and stay with you for the first night. Do your blood tests, genotype and blood group early so nothing delays the day.
Book hernia repair, from ₦850,000Medically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Step by step
- 1
Two weeks before
Send your medicine list. Stop herbal remedies and supplements if told to. Book your blood tests and genotype.
- 2
One week before
Confirm your escort home. Ask any questions about the anaesthetic. Treat any illness and tell the team about it.
- 3
The day before
Bath, eat normally, follow any medicine changes you were given and note the fasting time.
- 4
The night before
Stop food at the time you were given, usually about six hours before surgery. Clear drinks are usually allowed until about two hours before.
- 5
The morning
Take only the medicines you were told to, with a sip of water. Bring your bag and arrive on time.
Fasting: why an empty stomach matters
When you are under anaesthetic, the reflexes that stop food going into your lungs are switched off. If your stomach is full, food or acid can come up and be breathed in, which is dangerous. That is why fasting rules are strict, and why an operation is postponed if you have eaten.
The usual rule is no food, including chewing gum, sweets, pap or tea with milk, for about six hours before. Water and other clear drinks are usually allowed until about two hours before. If your operation is in the afternoon you may be allowed a light early breakfast. Your hospital will tell you the exact times: follow theirs.
Medicines and herbal remedies
Bring every medicine you take to your assessment, in the packets, or send clear photos. Some medicines are continued right up to the morning of surgery with a small sip of water. Others are stopped days before. Only your doctor should decide which.
- Blood thinners such as aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin or rivaroxaban: never stop these on your own. Your doctor decides whether and when.
- Diabetes medicines and insulin: doses usually change on the day before and the day of surgery.
- Blood pressure tablets: most are taken as normal, a few are paused. Ask.
- Herbal remedies, agbo, bitters and supplements such as garlic, ginkgo or fish oil: tell the team. Some affect bleeding or the anaesthetic, and you will usually be asked to stop them about two weeks before.
- Contraceptive pills and hormone tablets: mention them, because they can raise the risk of clots.
Tests you will usually need
The tests depend on your age, your health and the size of the operation. A fit young adult having a small operation may need very few. Older people and those with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart or kidney disease need more. Common tests before surgery in Nigeria include a full blood count, genotype, blood group and crossmatch, blood sugar, kidney function, and sometimes an ECG or chest X-ray.
Do these early. A low blood count, a high sugar or a surprise result found on the morning of surgery is a common reason operations are cancelled. If you have recent results from another hospital, bring them: they may not need repeating.
Get your body ready
Stop smoking as early as you can, even a few days helps your breathing and wound healing. Cut down alcohol. If you are anaemic, treating it before a planned operation is safer than receiving blood during it. Keep active with walking if you can. If you develop a cough, fever, malaria or any illness in the days before, call the team: it may be safer to postpone.
Arrange the people and the logistics
After a general anaesthetic or sedation you must not drive, ride an okada, sign important papers or be alone for at least 24 hours. Arrange a responsible adult to collect you and stay with you that first night. Plan the route home with Lagos traffic in mind: a long journey in a hot car straight after surgery is uncomfortable, so leave enough time.
On Mezo you pay online before the day, so nobody needs to carry cash to the hospital, and a care coordinator confirms your arrival time and what to bring.
- Loose, comfortable clothes and flat shoes
- All your medicines and any previous results or scans
- Phone and charger, and the number of the person collecting you
- No jewellery, make-up, nail polish or false nails, and no lacework or attachments that cannot be removed
- Do not shave the area yourself: the team will do it if needed
What it costs on Mezo
Mesh included. Billed as one line.
Common questions
Can I drink water before surgery?
Usually yes, until about two hours before. Water, clear tea or coffee without milk, and clear squash are allowed in most hospitals. Your hospital's time comes first.
I took my agbo yesterday. Is that a problem?
Tell the team before the operation, not after. Some herbal mixtures affect bleeding, blood pressure or the liver. Most of the time a short delay or a change of plan solves it, but only if they know.
Do I need to know my genotype before surgery?
Yes. In Nigeria your genotype is checked before most operations, because people with sickle cell disease need extra care around an anaesthetic. If you already know it from a reliable lab, bring the result.
Can I go home alone in a taxi after day surgery?
No. After a general anaesthetic or sedation, a responsible adult should take you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours. Many hospitals will not discharge you without one.
I have my period on the day of surgery. Will they cancel?
Usually not. Tell the nurse so they can plan, and wear a pad rather than a tampon. For some gynaecological operations your surgeon may prefer a different date, and will tell you.
The procedures
Related health guides
More patient guides
Sources and further reading
The guidelines and patient information this page is checked against. Care in Nigeria follows the same evidence; what differs is the price and where it is done.
- Perioperative care in adults. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Clinical guideline.
- Routine preoperative tests for elective surgery. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Clinical guideline.
- General anaesthetic. NHS. Patient information.
Links last checked 22 October 2026.
Medical disclaimer: This guide is general information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. Where your centre's instructions differ from this guide, follow theirs.