If you are preparing to travel for treatment, you probably have a lot on your mind. Perhaps, as you pack your suitcase, you are wondering if there is anything you can do to prepare for surgery. The answer is yes! What you do before surgery has a big impact on your ability to recover from surgery. We’ve put together a checklist for you with an explanation of why the advice is important:
- Talk to your doctor
Good communication with your doctor will improve your experience. It is important that you are honest with your doctor about your health and smoking history because your doctor needs to know the answers to take good care of you. If you have a question, feel free to call us or your doctor and we will try to help you.
- Quit smoking, vaping, and any form of tobacco
Consuming tobacco in any form increases your chances of death, blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, and infections and it slows down wound healing. Talk to your doctor about how to stop smoking before surgery.
- Eat healthy foods
Try to avoid sugar because it increases inflammation and will increase your chance of infection. However, you can indulge in fruit because the good properties of fruit outweigh the fact that they contain sugar. Eating vegetables and fruits will speed up your recovery! They are full of vitamins and phytochemicals that help tissues rebuild. Try to eat different kinds of vegetables and fruit every day. Vegetables and fruits are also important after surgery because they are full of fiber and will help with constipation. In addition to fruits and vegetables, make sure you eat some form of protein every day whether it is beans, lentils, chicken, beef, or eggs. Protein also speeds up healing.
- Get plenty of rest
Our bodies heal when we sleep. Sleeping at least 8 hours per day will help keep your immune system strong and prepare you well for surgery.
- Maintain or aim for a healthy weight
A healthy weight protects your immune system and leads to faster healing times.
Whether you are overweight or underweight, talk to your doctor about achieving a healthy weight.
- Hydrate
Before surgery, drink clear fluids with sugar content like apple juice, pinneapple juice, and white grape juice. Stop drinking fluids two hours before surgery. Drinking lots of fluids like water and clear juices the day before surgery will help you feel more comfortable and relaxed.
- Increase physical activity
Keep exercising before your surgery. The stronger your muscles are (including your heart muscle) the better prepared you will be for surgery.
- Continue taking your medications
Keep taking your medications as prescribed, unless your doctor tells you to stop taking them. Tell your doctor all the medications you take including herbal supplements. Aspirin, ibuprofen, warfarin, ginger, turmeric, vitamins C & E and many other medications and herbal supplements can thin your blood. Ask your doctor about all your medications and herbal supplements. We wish you a successful surgery and easy recovery! If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
