Bereaved after surgery? Ask for assistance from family and friends – they’re happy to do shopping, chores, errands or simply spend time with you!
Maintaining pain relief will aid your recovery faster, so follow your surgeon’s recommendations on pain management, diet and wound care.
Take Care of Yourself
Prior to having surgery, it is wise to make a list of what will be necessary during recovery and consult your physician about any medical supplies they recommend for use during this process.
Before your surgery, it is wise to start shopping for groceries to ensure you will have plenty of nutritious food available to you. Stock up on nonperishables but also purchase fresh produce and meals that can easily be prepared and reheated afterwards.
Your body may find it hard to digest large meals post surgery, so stockpiling on easy-to-digest snacks such as jelly, crackers, fruit or peanut butter might be beneficial.
Get Plenty of Rest
At the core of any successful post-surgery recovery lies rest. Your physician will advise on when it is safe for you to resume activities such as driving, lifting and exercise; in preparation, ensure your bedroom or loungeroom are easy to access for recovery with all essentials like books, magazines, television and comfortable bedding within reach.
Because you won’t have access to stores for some time, it is also wise to keep a supply of heat-and-eat meals stored in the fridge and freezer that are easy to heat up in an emergency. This will help avoid hunger and dehydration as you cannot easily purchase groceries. Be sure to include plenty of protein-rich meals as well as veggies and fruits, whole grain foods and plenty of fluids when eating healthy food items like these.
Don’t Overdo It
You might also feel the urge to immediately go back to your regular schedule after surgery, but try not to rush it since it can cause a delay in healing and create further delay.
Aside from that, avoid alcohol, which can dehydrate the body and disrupt pain medication. And also avoid fatty food, which can trigger inflammation and swelling.
Patients should slowly transition back to exercise. Walking and stretching, especially at a moderate pace, will encourage healing and prevent injury.
Ask for Help
After surgery can be an exhausting and isolating experience for patients and their loved ones alike, so it is crucial that they reach out for assistance from friends and family to assist with tasks like cleaning, grocery shopping and running errands. You might need someone else driving you to doctor’s appointments or other activities as well.
Once they can eat solid foods again, make sure they receive protein-rich meals and fluid-rich beverages to aid their recovery. Also consider providing various beverages so they receive adequate fluids and nutrition during this stage of recovery.
Your doctor will offer advice about what you should and should not do after surgery, and having someone present to listen and take notes can be useful in reminding them later of what was said by the physician.
Be Patient
Recovery after surgery will vary from person to person, but each can do certain things to ensure their own journey goes more smoothly.
Listening and following the advice of your surgical care team regarding how long it is wise for you to rest after an operation can help ensure a speedy recovery and avoid straining incision sites, leading to further complications and potential harm.
Prepping for post-surgery recovery by cooking and freezing nutritious, easy-to-reheat meals as well as stockpiling hydrating beverages will save time once home after your procedure. This may reduce time spent shopping!