What to Do Before Surgery
The idea of surgery can be daunting. You are unconscious until someone bumps into you more or less, and you cannot do anything about it – this is the height of helplessness. For some, none of this matters much. For others – especially newcomers – the operation can be truly intimidating. Here are some tips on how to get ready for your big day.
Discuss everything with your doctor before surgery
That’s right, discuss everything with your doctor. Ask them if they are qualified, how many procedures like yours they performed, where they went to school, how long they did it – everything you need to know to feel safer. Their job is to look after you and prioritize your health, which means not only getting the physical part of their job done right, but also taking care of your mental health. Answering questions to ease your anxiety is an important part of their job, so don’t be afraid to ask.
Also ask about your anesthesiologist and try to spend some time with him or with a doctor who knows who will be leading your anesthesiology team. If someone says something that you don’t understand, ask for clarification. For example, there are different types of anesthesia: local, regional and general. Local anesthesia will numb a part of your body, regional anesthesia to a large part, and in general you fall into a state of unconsciousness where you do not feel or realize anything. If you are unsure of the differences between the two or the definition of anything else, be sure to ask.
Get ready
Frying your team members according to their unique skill is great and all, but how ready are you for the surgery? Your surgeons have been going to school for years to prepare for your big day, but there are a few more things you need to do.
First of all, quit smoking. Do this as soon as possible. If you know about your surgery months before your surgery, stop it as soon as possible, or ask your healthcare team how long you should stop it. If the operation is more sudden, you may not get a lot of lead time, but no matter what time you should, before going under the knife, do not touch the cigarette. Smoking can exacerbate the complications of anesthesia, which is why some surgeons – such as those who specialize in cosmetic procedures – won’t even have surgery if you test positive for nicotine on the day of surgery.
Annie, a registered nurse who has been in the business for nine years and refused to give her last name for professional reasons, suggested “generally have a list of your medications and allergies, [and] know what (if any) medications might need to be changed. after surgery. “Tell your doctor what medications you are taking, ask if you need to temporarily stop them, find out when you can resume those you may need to delay, and get a list of any medications that may be prescribed for your recovery.
There are a few more small details that you may not even have thought about, but we thought about them for you: you should not have metal body jewelry during surgery, so ask your doctor if they agree with you using plastic. … fixing jewelry or if they want you to remove the jewelry completely.
Wear loose clothing, especially if you are leaving on the same day, and bring a small recovery bag with you. Keep your phone charger in there, and perhaps some comfort item, such as a favorite blanket or something that someone you love has given you as a gift. Ask your doctor if you can bring slippers or a bathrobe from home to help you recover from your procedure.
Finally, arm yourself with knowledge, but make sure it’s accurate. Annie said that media literacy is important here: trust the .org or .gov sites, but “stay away from Google and know that everyone has a different experience.” Most of all, she recommends talking to your care team to get the answers you’re looking for, rather than relying on forums or Google for everything. And take their advice seriously. When they say, stop eating and drinking at certain times the night before surgery, stop eating and drinking. If you are told that someone has to be there to pick you up after your procedure, or you cannot leave, make sure you have someone ready to meet you. Do all of this work ahead of time so you don’t get stuck in thoughts or clamber over when you are trying to get well.
Plan everything a few weeks ahead
Plan your recovery to the best of your ability. Preparing for surgery will be much less intimidating if you are also prepared for what comes after. You may need someone to drive you home, especially if you were under general anesthesia, and you may even need someone to be with you for a while. Form a care team, whether it includes family members or home nurses. Think in advance with them everything you need to recover.
“Patients need to have a clear idea of what their first week after surgery will look like and must plan accordingly,” said Dr. Alex Sobel , a triple- tip cosmetic surgeon based in Bellevue, Washington. them during the first 24 hours (the most critical time for healing after surgery), and who will take them to postoperative appointments.
Sobel also pointed out that you will need someone’s help if postoperative drainage is expected, and you even need to plan your sleeping position ahead of time to make sure your surgical site will not be disturbed. He also added that stock up on drugs in advance at the pharmacy and purchase any other useful over-the-counter drugs you may need in advance.
Don’t scare yourself
You may already be under a lot of stress for health-related reasons, or you may just be nervous about the surgery itself, but no matter what causes you anxiety, resist the temptation to aggravate it by reading horror stories on the Internet. or stay up all night thinking about how things could go wrong.
Don’t worry about what kind of surgery you are going to have. You might think that a cosmetic or vision correction procedure isn’t as important as, say, open heart surgery, but if it’s important to you, it matters.
“With elective surgery, you can have the luxury of planning treatment and proceeding with surgery only after you have adequately considered options and alternatives,” said Dr. Mo Banki , who lives in Rhode Island. “Nonetheless, elective surgery is vital to the health and well-being of the patient.”
Yes, you have more time to plan, but you also have more time to doubt yourself or catastrophize. Do not do this. Get involved in the surgery, prepare yourself as best you can, and be sure to take time to rest and recover from it.