Our Top 4 Post-Op Recovery Tips
Whatever surgery you have had, you will almost certainly experience some pain and discomfort in the hours, days and weeks afterwards. You will need to spend time recovering and recuperating, and the best way to do this is to listen to your body, take things slow and easy and the chances are your recovery will be a lot smoother. Here, we look at four other tips to help you recover from surgery.
1. Make sure you have a support system in place and use them
Before your operation, you will want to identify a few friends, family members, and/or skilled professional carers who can assist you in having the most comfortable and expedient recovery possible. It is important to communicate how you are feeling to others in order to have the most positive experience possible. It goes without saying that having someone physically support you is also important. If you need help, ask for it! Do not try to be a martyr and struggle when there are likely to be plenty of people ready to help you. If you need someone to pick up food, medication or order supplies such as depends diapers, ask them to!
2. Sleep and rest up for the first few days
Everyone recovers in their own way. In the days and weeks following your operation, your body will require time to repair, and it will do so when you are resting and sleeping. Pay attention to your body when you are feeling sluggish or tired, then lie down on a bed or on the couch or wherever you are most comfortable and let yourself rest. If you are using any pain relievers, you can find yourself feeling particularly exhausted. Allow yourself to snooze in and out of the day as needed if this is what you require.
3. Avoid heavy lifting and exercise until your doctor gives you the go-ahead
You may despise bedrest and look forward to getting back into the gym, riding your bike, or going for a run. However, in the short term, being extra cautious means a lower likelihood of injuring yourself, worsening scarring, or developing other long-term difficulties. In the long run, being extra cautious means a lower chance of creating other long-term complications. The type of surgery you have undergone, as well as your surgeon, will have an impact on how long you will have to wait.
4. Have healthy snacks to hand
It is possible that you will not have much of an appetite for the first few days following surgery. Pain can quell an appetite, and the painkillers might occasionally cause you to feel queasy or unable to eat. Instead of eating large meals throughout the day, aim to snack often throughout the day to keep your energy levels high. According to some, people who have had surgery should consume food as if they had a cold: lots of fluids such as soups, and perhaps some fruit, yoghurt, or bread. Furthermore, because these items are simple to prepare ahead of time or require no preparation at all, you will not have to move around as much.
