Exploring Post-Surgery Recovery

Post-surgery recovery can be a big task. But, it’s easier if you have the right mindset, and a good support system lined up. You also need to understand how the recovery process works.

It’s imperative for success that you follow your doctor’s directions, even if they seem silly or irrelevant at the moment. They’re there for a reason — to help protect yourself post-op.

Rest and relaxation are prime components of recovery after surgery. It’ll make you feel better sooner, and get you back on your feet faster. There’s many things you can do to relax: listening to music, reading books or watching movies are just three examples.

Recovery varies from procedure to procedure and person to person. For some it might take weeks or months before feeling back to normal.

Preparing your home before going under the knife is always helpful as well. You don’t want to be overexerting yourself walking around after surgery because there are obstacles in your way like furniture that could’ve been moved prior.

Medication

Once discharged from hospital, your doctor will give you care instructions along with a list of medications (prescription or over-the-counter). Following these is crucial when working towards successful post-surgery healing.

Most people find that they only need basic over-the-counter NSAID pain relievers such as Advil or Aleve but others may need stronger medication prescribed by their physicians – everyone is different in this regard so consult with yours about what route would be best for you based on previous experiences.

If anxiety has set in since having surgery consulting with a therapist or counselor could be very beneficial for easing this away and preparing yourself better for recovery. They can tell you what emotions are normal and how to handle them which will then ease some of the discomfort from everything going on inside your brain right now!

Diet

Maintaining a healthy diet during this process is key but harder than it sounds. Sometimes you won’t have the appetite or it’ll be hard to eat without throwing up. Or maybe you’re stuck in the cycle of constipation/diarrhea.

In these cases, try eating small meals throughout the day and drinking lots of fluids (water, iced tea, broth or juice as recommended by your physician). Supplements like Ensure and Boost can give you the extra energy and protein you need to heal.

Adding whole wheat toast, custard pudding fruit soup half sandwich sandwiches fortified shakes that contain fiber and vitamins will help prevent constipation if you are on a liquid or soft food diet. These options also include nutrients that your body needs to keep healing at its best for post-op recovery.

Exercise

When recovering from surgery it’s important that you exercise as soon as possible. Doing so promotes circulation and eases muscle tightness; lying flat for extended periods causes fluid accumulation in lungs — exercise helps combat this. Some beneficial exercises after surgery include deep breaths/coughing out secretions from lungs/moving legs/feet to stimulate circulation.

You can get back to full strength quicker after surgery if you have advice from a healthcare professional, and guidance on how to recover.

Talking with Your Surgeon

When going through the physical and emotional stress of surgery and recovery, it’s nice to know you aren’t alone. There are plenty of resources out there that can be helpful during this time.

Studies show that surgical patients want more detailed information on what they should expect, what side effects are normal and when they will feel better. Physician visits before surgery are a great opportunity for doctors to manage expectations by talking through clinical evidence in a way patients can understand.

Being in contact with your doctor throughout recovery is also key. Attend all scheduled appointments so you can bring up any changes or unexpected developments quickly. This helps keep your healing on track. Find an Optum Care doctor who will listen, answer your questions and set you up for a positive post-surgery experience.

About Author