Hi 90awk
Think that most pre assessments are roughly the same. Mine was for a hemi thyroidectomy (part thyroid) You see a nurse who will check your blood pressure, height, weigh and possibly do a ECG. Either they or doctor will explain about your operation .........how long your'e be in hospital for, explain and ask if your'e had problems with anaesthetic, ask what drugs/tablets your on and tell you if you need to stop taking them, when you need to stop eating/drinking before your operation. I expect you will also need to have a blood test done, I had a chest xray done but when I had my other operation done I didn't does depend on what your'e having done. The main thing to do before you go is to make a list of any questions or worries your'e got so that you can ask the nurse or doctor. They should give you or you may already have leaflets with more info on ......... when to stop eating/drinking/anaesthetic ........... really just in writing what they have told you and may be any more info they think may be of help to you. Pre assessments can take from about 1 hour to 3 hours depends on who you have got to see and what tests have to be done.
In hospital
Don't worry if you do forget anything you can ask when you go into hospital, they will go over it all again with you if need be and they double, double check everything. Take in any tablets/drugs you are on even if your'e been told to stop taking them (in packet/bottle NOT loose), make sure if you need to take any tablets while in hospital that a note is made by the doctor that you can take them. If not the nurse will lock them away and your'll not be allowed to take them, I found out the hard way just as well they were only antibotics.
My first operation January 2006 I had about 6 weeks notice, ok it was nice because I got everything sorted out at home. The last one in June this year I had 1 weeks notice like yourself and I rather liked it because it didn't give me time to worry, was a query on if there was cancer.
Please don't worry about asking any questions either here in healthly pages or at the hospital, if your'e not sure just ask no one will mind.
Best wishes for your operation
Cis