Preparing As A Patient
You have met with your surgeon, completed the necessary preoperative imaging and even taken care of some of the paperwork for your hospital stay, but you still have some tasks to perform before your procedure:
- Get moving. Performing preoperative exercises can smooth recovery from certain surgeries. Check with your doctor first to ensure the activity is OK.
- Pack a bag. Include comfortable clothes, toiletries, books or magazines, and a list of the medications you take.
- Prepare for your return. Arrange your home furnishings to accommodate assistive walking devices and minimize falls. Ask family and friends to help you with chores and errands after surgery.
- Read up. Carefully review the packet of information your surgeon gave you and follow the instructions exactly.
- Watch what you eat. Proper nutrition can help you recover your strength after surgery. Your surgeon might ask you to follow a special preoperative diet.
After you finish your to-do list, you can start on another — the list of fun things you plan to do when your recovery is complete.
Anxiety is common before surgery, but nervousness shouldn’t stand in the way of preparing for a procedure that might improve your quality of life.
To calm your butterflies, think about what you do to manage other stressful situations in life and incorporate those actions into your preparation for surgery. If music soothes you, listen to your favorite album on the way to the hospital. If you use yoga to settle your nerves on the eve of important work presentations, break out the yoga mat in the days leading up to your procedure.
You might also find comfort in knowledge. Learning as much as you can about the surgery demystifies the process and helps you know what to expect. Review the information your surgeon gives you and ask him or her to recommend credible online sources that will allow you to explore the topic further.
Back