When doctors start mentioning surgery, it causes fear and confusion in many people. However, every day, thousands of people undergo surgery that saves their life or improves it tremendously. In order to have a smooth procedure and fast recovery, here are a few things you have to consider and take care of before your surgery.
A healthy lifestyle as a part of an everyday routine
The time period before your surgery can be quite stressful. However, in order to be in top shape for your procedure, make sure to be as active as you can, eat well and get plenty of sleep. Smoking can cause respiratory problems and make your anesthesia and surgery recovery harder, so if you’re a smoker, try to stop, even if it’s just for a few days before the surgery. All other steps will be taken care of by your medical team—you only need to pay attention to your health and wellbeing so you’re physically and mentally ready for your surgery.
Try to inquire as much as you can about the procedure
If you don’t like going into things without knowing what to expect, make sure to read about your procedure. Specialists like Dr Timothy Steel post short surgery videos and written explanations of the entire operation, so his patients can know exactly what to expect. You can feel more relaxed and excited to undergo the operation when you know more about the procedures. However, if you know you’re squeamish, it’s better to stay away from such content and put all your trust in your surgeon. They know what they’re doing!
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Avoid surprises
For some, surgery is a very smooth experience, while some tend to feel groggy, confused and nauseous after an operation. If this is your first surgery, you probably don’t know what to expect right after you wake up from your anesthesia. Muscle aches and sore throat are all normal and usually disappear shortly after the surgery. You can even get medication to relieve the pain and discomfort once you’re in the recovery room. Starting to move as soon as possible is very important to your recovery. Nurses will encourage you to get out of bed and take a few steps once you get stable. It is normal to feel tired and weak at first place, but as you continue to move, your body’s functions will return to normal.
Organize your commitments
Try your best to take care of your immediate commitments that might be waiting for you when you get back from the hospital, in order to be completely dedicated to your recovery. Arrange some time away from work and ensure you don’t have any upcoming family, friends and other commitments. Also, if your home is going to be left empty for more than a week, you might need to hire someone to pick up your mail, water your plants and walk your dog. Depending on your time spent in the hospital, they even might need to pay bills and handle other things while you’re away.
Ask for help
Organizing post-surgery care is also important. It’s great to find someone to cook for you, hand you things and help you get dressed because you probably won’t be able to take full care of yourself when you get home. Some surgeries also require you to take care of your incision, so if it’s in a hard-to-reach spot, you’ll need help with that as well. Having someone by your side is also practical in case you experience any issues like fever, bleeding or nausea. Your aid can contact your health care provider and get advice on further steps.
Now that you know how to prepare for your surgery and what to expect when you wake up from anesthesia, you can go to your surgery fully concentrated on your recovery. With some good planning and prep, you’ll be back to your old self in no time!
