How I can prepare myself before having surgery?
Can I recover within a few months after my surgery?
Your mind will be running through a lot of things, doubts, and fears before the surgical process.
That's quite common to be panicking because surgery is not a small thing to keep ourselves ready. So stop panicking, we are here to help you out in this situation by providing you with all the necessary information that you need to know while preparing for surgery. Here are the five days regimen for you to follow before the surgical process:
Day 1: Consultation and Planning
Starting on the first day complete all of your doctor consultations and review all the medications that you are currently taking.
Doctor Consultations:
Meet the healthcare provider(who must be qualified in treating your particular health concern) that you are undergoing your checkup with and discuss everything regarding your preexisting condition and any other concerns that are running back in your mind. Make sure you visit the specialist who is related to your health issue to get in-depth tips and then plan accordingly as suggested by the specialist. Undergo all the basic tests that are meant to be performed before surgery such as blood tests, echocardiogram tests, x-rays, etc.
The hospital or any outpatient facility you are going to for surgery must be accredited by state health departments and organizations such as The Joint Commission, the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, or the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities.
Review your Medications:
You might be using several different medications for your health issues but a few medications are advised to pause before surgery and they may prescribe you new medications such as antibiotics to use in the post-surgical process to manage the pain.
Lifestyle Adjustments:
Most people have the habit of smoking and alcohol which must be stopped at any cost as it can disrupt the healing process. Also, alcohol has the chance to interact with anesthesia and medications so make sure you avoid consumption of alcohol.
Day 2: Nutrition and Hydration
On the second day of preparing yourself for the surgery you need to ensure that your body is receiving proper nutrition through the meals:
Balanced Diet:
You need to focus on a healthy and balanced diet by consuming nutritious foods that are rich in proteins, fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Proteins play a crucial role in repairing tissues and the recovery process after surgery. You can also include vitamin supplements in your diet if recommended by your doctor.
Hydration:
Hydration is essential while preparing yourself for surgery so you must drink at least 8 glasses of water in a day you can also include electrolyte-rich drinks such as coconut water, barley water, or oral rehydration solutions to maintain electrolyte balance in your body and keep yourself safe from dehydration issues.
Day 3: Physical Preparation
Exercise:
On the third day of your surgery preparation routine, you can engage yourself in light physical activities such as walking and gentle stretches to increase blood circulation in your body and it also helps your body to be active. Also, you can practice deep breathing exercises to reduce stress.
Essentials:
Ensure you carry all the essential items such as slip-on shoes, sanitizer, loose pairs of clothes, and warm socks for post-surgery comfort. And keep them within easy reach. Also, there will be a checklist given for you to carry for the day of surgery. So you can take all those essentials.
Day 4: Mental Preparation
On the fourth day in preparing yourself for surgery, you will be having a lot of stress as the day is coming near, how the surgery will go, are all things at the right place, and is everything going in the correct process, so manage your stress:
Stress Management:
❖You should not be panicking in this situation because that can lead to other severe complications. Remember that mental issues can lead to physical health issues. Do practice stress relief techniques such as meditation and yoga that can help you to bring out from stress and anxiety issues.
❖Be in a positive mindset and read all the materials provided by your doctor that contain all the information regarding surgical procedures.
❖Sleep well for 7-8 hours to give your body rest while preparing for surgery.
Day 5: Final Preparations
On the day that is the day before your surgery, ask your doctor about the fasting period because most patients are advised not to eat or drink anything 8-12 hours before the surgery. Do not wear any makeup, nail polish, jewelry, or contact lenses, and prefer loose clothes while going for surgery.
Final Checklist:
You must carry all the medical documents including insurance documents (if you have one)and identification. Also, take all the necessary things that are given in your hospital checklist.
Recovery after surgery:
As we’ve talked about everything regarding the preparation for surgery, recovery steps after the surgery are also crucial. So make sure you carefully execute all the tips as advised by your doctor:
Follow Your Doctor’s Instructions
The first step towards recovery should be your doctor’s instructions that will help you to heal by minimizing the risks, so use the medications and wound care tips as suggested for a smooth recovery.
Meal Planning & Hydration:
❖Diet is also important post-surgery because as per your medical concern a few foods should be included and a few foods should be avoided.
❖Go under the guidance of your doctor and dietitian by preparing meals that are easy to digest in the initial days of your recovery such as soups, broth, and smoothies that can keep you balanced without feeling the loss of energy. Also, make sure you include nutritious foods by avoiding unhealthy foods.
You can check out more on a healthy diet.
❖Hydration is best helpful in supporting the recovery process or the healing process. Also, it helps to flush out all the anesthesia that is given in the surgical process that will be present in your body. You can also take tips from your doctor to suggest any electrolyte-rich drink options to ensure your medical condition.
Proper sleep and rest:
As you had surgery your body needs quality sleep to recover and repair so take rest by avoiding all types of straining activities (as they can put stress on the body increasing the time to recover) and have proper sleep.
Observation:
Observation is also a crucial step in the recovery process so early detection of any type of infections and issues by staying alert can be beneficial. So be careful and visit your doctor for any symptoms such as increased pain, swelling, or fever.
Support and check-ups:
Most people stress out more as they do not have any emotional support or care, but these things are key for positive outcomes and smooth recovery. As there is a famous saying that change begins with you, so yes make the change and stay positive with all the support of your near and dear ones. Also, make sure you have regular check-ups that are a must to monitor your progress.
The bottom line:
You might be getting several suggestions and advice before preparing yourself for the surgery like do this, do that, stay far from this, etc, this can be quite confusing and irritating for you to focus on the things that should be done. But the things we’ve mentioned are the best helpful things that you can follow while preparing yourself for surgery and recovery. Whatever the tip you get nothing should be dominated by your doctor's suggestions as they have complete knowledge of your medical condition.