Importance of surgery
A major surgery is a means to an end. You have a medical condition that threatens your normal life. You have discussed and debated the various courses of treatment and decided that surgery is the best option. That being decided, your surgery has three important phases that need to be addressed for a successful surgery. The first is to prepare for your surgery. The second is the actual surgery. The third is the recovery post surgery at the hospital and at home. It is fairly clear that the first and third phases are completely under your control, with support from others. The second phase is completely under the control of the surgeon, with support from the hospital and staff and yourself.
If your surgery is a normal surgery (not being an emergency surgery) you will have enough time to prepare yourself both physically and emotionally to undergo the surgery. Mental strength is as important as good physical condition, to undergo the process of surgery and recovery.
Here are three things that you need to do to prepare for your surgery.
1. Diet
Your body needs all the nutrients you can supply it with, to be able to withstand the effects of surgery. Thus, your eating habits need a little tweaking, which you can do by eating more healthy foods rich in vitamins and minerals. You can and should reduce processed foods, if you can’t eliminate it altogether prior to surgery. This helps to keep inflammation under control.
If you have vices, such as smoking and consuming alcohol, they are a strict no-no. They interfere with anesthesia, surgery and the recovery process. Should anything go wrong in your surgery, you’re less likely to be able to claim medical malpractice if you don’t follow the doctors’ orders beforehand.
2. Physical and emotional activity
If you are a fitness freak, you have to continue your fitness regimen, unless prohibited by your physician or surgeon. If you lead a sedentary life, you need to step up your physical activity days before the surgery, so as to prepare your body appropriately. You can do things such as walking,that will exert your body (check with your physician for other exercises). The increased physical activity will help you to increase your stamina.
On the emotional front, do whatever you normally do, such as reading books, playing with children, watching TV and listening to music. You can try meditation and yoga. If you are a talkative person, moderate your speech. You need to keep your mind occupied with good thoughts.
3. Medical advice
Prior to surgery, your surgeon would have given instructions as to the medical preparations you need to do, before being admitted to the hospital. You would also have been advised to meet the anesthesiologist, who would give you a separate set of instructions. Be candid with them as to your daily routine, habits, medical history, genetic disorders, past surgeries, past treatments, present conditions and treatments. Based on this information, they will recommend which medicines and treatments to continue and which medicines and treatments to discontinue in preparation for surgery. You could reconfirm all this with your physician.
As mentioned earlier, surgery is a means to an end. It is an event for which you have to prepare well. You have the benefit of expert advice from physician, surgeon, anesthesiologist and hospital staff. You also have the backing of your family and friends. The entire support system is there to help you sail through your surgery and put you back on your feet. If you are physically and mentally well-prepared to undergo the surgery and if you can follow guidelines issued by experts, there is every reason to be optimistic about your surgery. In order to help you achieve this preparedness you can follow the tips given above.
