Preparing Yourself For Surgery
July 30, 2010 11:05am EST
-William Anders
July
22, 2010 - When a patient walks into the hospital on the day of his or
her surgery, instructions come from the nurses and the doctors. But what
about the day before? The day before a major surgery can be one of the
most anxious, nerve-racking days of a patient's life. Preparing both
mentally and physically for the upcoming hospital surgery is important,
especially if a patient feels confused or scared about the surgery. In
the publication My Cancer Advisor, Dr. Marty Makary, an associate
professor of public health and surgeon at Johns Hopkins University,
offers some tips for preparing yourself for a surgery.
The
first of his tips addresses a common misconception in surgery
preparation. While many individuals may think preparing oneself for
surgery involves a lot of rest and a careful diet, the opposite in fact
is true. Unless the surgery is a colon surgery, which generally requires
specialized preparation, the patient should eat a large nutritional
meal. After all, hospitals are not known for their gourmet food, and
proper nutrition will be necessary to keep the immune system strong.
Being
active is also important, as it serves a number of functions when
preparing for surgery. Staying active with others, whether friends or
family, can keep the mind off of the impending surgery. Being physically
fit when entering surgery helps to maintain strength throughout the
body's muscles, which are prone to atrophy when confined to a hospital
bed. Keeping the heart pumping will not only improve mood, but ready the
body for a recovery period post-surgery.
While keeping
active and eating healthy is important to prepare physically and
mentally for the surgery, one should always remember not to eat or drink
anything 8 hours before the scheduled surgery time, and to bring and
pertinent information to the hospital for your doctor.
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