Surgery should go smoother – and recovery should be easier – if you think things through and prepare ahead of time. And if yours will be an operation that requires a hospital stay, you should consider the tasks it makes sense for a companion to undertake and arrange for yourself to be helped after the operation, as well as how you want your home environment to be arranged.
your surgeon can answer any questions you have about surgery, follow-up care after the operation and what to do if you develop an infection or other complications after surgery.
Preparing for Your Surgery
Nowadays, before having any surgery performed, the process should be thoroughly explained to you. Talk to your surgeon to find out what benefits and drawbacks there are to the procedure, and how long the recovery period is likely to take – all things you can begin to prepare for.
Similarly, after an operation it is a key task to prepare the home for living in, such as removing trip hazards (loose rugs or cables), putting essential items within easy reach, and (if necessary) arranging support for household or yard tasks.
Make sure to mention any and all medicines you take, including herbal medicines such as Ginkgo biloba, Ginseng and Garlic, which might have a stronger tendency to clot your blood, or interfere with anaesthesia – your doctor can advise which ones to stop taking, as well as any vitamins or fish oils that might interfere with anaesthesia; they need to be stopped from one day to two weeks prior to your procedure.
Prepare Your Home
Going prepared and staying planned out in advance keep stress and anxieties as minimal as possible after the surgery, with the entire home available as a place to heal.
Stock up on canned soup and frozen premade meals Keep pre-packaged, non-perishable snacks around; have plenty of fluids on hand so you stay hydrated.
Prepare your environment at home so as to reduce the risk of household hazards that can cause injury or discomfort post-surgery, by stocking items no more than waist-high that may have previously been kept on low cabinets and shelves that will be hard to reach after recovery, and by keeping necessary items at waist level to avoid having to bend down or climb stairs.
I also need help from friends and family, especially driving me to appointments, cleaning the house and emptying the rubbish as I recover.
Make Sure You’re Prepared
You’ll want to check with your surgeon for his or her instructions on when and how to take your last shower with antiseptic soap, what clothing you should wear, and what (if anything) you can eat or drink – these might also be listed in your patient journey guide or registration form.
Arrange for friends and relatives to run errands and do your chores, including cooking and cleaning, once you’ve received anaesthetic treatment. Also make arrangements for a lift home from hospital, since it is not safe to drive after an anaesthetic injection.
Hire a driver ahead of your procedure so that you know you have a safe ride home after surgery. Also, stock your refrigerator and pantry with nutritious foods and beverages before the day of your procedure and fill the prescriptions your doctor sends home with you so you don’t have to go shopping either. Drink the amount of water recommended in your discharge instructions and follow the diet that your surgeon suggests to achieve the best results – there may be a standard surgical diet or your surgeon might recommend a specific diet for the type of surgery you’re having.
Ask Questions
At your pre-op meeting, ask the surgeon every question you can think of – and, then, ask some more. This will help you maximise your knowledge of the operation and the outcome.
In addition, you must also ascertain where your procedure will take place. Some schools may be better or worse equipped than others to handle certain procedures so finding out where your surgery will happen is essential to proper planning. In addition, plan to have someone bring you, bring you home and people to take care of you after the procedure as after the surgery you will no longer be permitted to drive yourself home.
Also ask your physician about any medications, vitamins or herbal supplements you take before surgery. Some of them can be dangerous if you take them before anaesthesia, which can lead to complications that cause your surgery to be delayed. If you have to stop using them, do it ahead of time before setting up an appointment for your surgery or you might miss out on some important nutrients you need while adding risk factors for your complications to rise.
