How to Prep Yourself for Surgery.

Nov 10, 2021 | Company News, Your Surgery

So we want to talk about how to prepare yourself for your surgery, mentally and physically!
You’ll of course get official documentation from ourselves and the surgeon detailing specific medical ‘dos and don’ts’ but since surgery can be really daunting for many, and it has an impact on not only your body but your mind too, we wanted to round up a few suggestions to make you feel a bit more prepared, and subsequently at ease in the run up to your procedure.

Ask, ask, and then ask some more!
This is your body and your decision to amend, change or enhance it. We see wonderful individuals from all over the UK who are about to embark on a journey to surgery with us so we are more than happy to give you our time, patience, advice and answers to any and all questions you might have.
We think it’s important for you to be as informed as possible about what you and your body are about to embark on. We may do 100’s of successful surgeries of all kinds, but we wholly understand that this is your first, or perhaps just your first with us as a company.
Whether it’s questions about the surgery, the surgeon, the hospital, the covid protocols in place, what to do and not to do pre and post op or perhaps a family member wants to ask us some questions and get reassurance too; honestly please just ask! We are here.

Destress and decompress
Many of our patients, whether it’s their first or tenth surgery, will suffer from a wide range of nerves pre op. From a mild niggle of concern to full blown panic attacks and anxiety; all are very common and normal.
From our side we understand this, we see it daily and we are highly experienced and trained in dealing with nervous patients. We will ensure that we give you our time, our reassurances and be on hand to always answer any of your questions or concerns. You can call and come and see us many times before surgery if needed, and we can also schedule longer appointment slots if you need us to go through things more slowly and thoroughly, or more than once. Our aim is to offer patient-focussed team care, without judgement, and at a pace chosen by you and we will always be gentle and calm and go through this process by your side, every step of the way.
We have also rounded up a few body and mind boosters on page (insert page or area here please) that have helped previous Red Rose Desire patients, which might benefit you too. From stretching and meditation to breathing exercises and simply getting fresh air, there are many things that can help you to destress and decompress if you are feeling anxious about your upcoming surgery.
If at any time of your journey you have feelings of doubt, worry or apprehension, please do give us a call or email and we will be there for you. You are not alone in feeling this way and we promise we can help.

Positive lifestyle choices
Your body is about to go through a big change; a life changing operation and then a healing process. Your surgeon will give you specifics on what you can and can’t do medically, but perhaps try and consider some of these suggestions too;
● Try and follow a healthy, balanced diet, pre and post op if possible. Whatever your dietary choices, vegan, veggie or meat eater, try your best to eat fresh wholefoods with lots of vitamins and nutrients rather than processed, fatty, salty and sugary foods. This will put you in good stead for surgery and the more healthy your body is, the better it will deal with the operation and healing process.
● Try and keep positive! – It’s natural that you may feel worried and this can sometimes turn into negativity. It is said, and some say proven, that positive thinking can lead to better self esteem and can be effective in improving our mood and health alike. Trying your best to practise positive thinking, rationalising your thoughts and not letting the negativity take over, staying focussed on your goals, why you want to change or enhance your body, why you came to us and knowing that you are choosing this yourself; will hopefully combat any pessimistic thoughts that come from anxiety and help you to feel calmer and more positive.
● Stay active – Keeping yourself as fit and active as possible pre op will help your body be strong throughout the surgery and healing process. If you already go to the gym or play a sport then continue to do it up until your surgery. If you don’t exercise, maybe try and start some gentle movement, yoga or even just try and get more steps in on a daily basis. All will help your body and prepare it.
● It is advised to stop drinking alcohol at least 24 hours before surgery because alcohol and anesthesia just don’t mix well, and can actually have a negative impact on both the surgery and your recovery. For this reason it’s advised to stop at least the day before, or longer if you can, to avoid any medical complications.
● Smoking is unfortunately another one to try to avoid, before and after surgery, even if just for a day or so each side. If you are a smoker and this worries you, don’t despair or let it put you off surgery. We have many many smokers that come and have surgery with us and we can help and advise on this. Just let us know and we can talk through some options with you.
● Sleep – Getting enough sleep isn’t always possible for some; those with children or dependants, those with jobs that prevent ‘normal’ sleeping hours and some people simply can’t shut off their minds and so struggle, even if they are in bed. Sleep is an essential function, it’s when our body and mind get a chance to recuperate, regenerate and recharge. It helps rebuild our immune system and fights off illness and disease, and all kinds of other health implications that come from sleep deprivation such as lack of concentration, impaired brain function and more. Since your body is going to go through a change and recovery, we would suggest that you try your best to get enough sleep, at least 7 hours and more if possible, before and after the op. It will help your body during the surgery and to heal afterwards. If you are having problems sleeping, there’s many things that you can try and do. Meditation, yoga, therapy, apps like Calm and more. It’s common for people who are feeling nervous about something like surgery to have some sleepless nights, please also feel free to call us if you are having trouble and we can offer some suggestions.

Prepare and think ahead (if possible)
Post op you’re going to want to rest and recover and so preparing for this time is a great thing to do, if you’re able to and have time beforehand.
● Perhaps try and stock up on easy to prepare meals, snacks and drinks so you don’t have to spend lots of time shopping or cooking. Freezing some healthy homemade meals would also be a great and healthier option if you have the time. Place them in lower kitchen cupboards and shelves so you don’t have to reach for things too.
● Try and ensure that everything you might want or need like books, chargers, keys, diaries, laptops, even remotes are in the most convenient place for you, so you aren’t always having to get up and look for things. You might even want to get one of those long grabber arms to help you pick things up from the floor or high places!
● Maybe have a little tidy around and change your bed so you come home to a nice clean home and fresh sheets so you feel relaxed and comfortable and don’t have that as an extra worry (if that’s something you may worry about of course!)
● Give yourself things to do! – You will be at home recovering for at least a few days. Prepare yourself so that you have things to keep you occupied and entertained, whether that’s moving a TV or watching device into your room / where you’ll be recovering or buying some books, dvds or preparing some podcasts and music to listen to. You want your recovery to be as easy and relaxing as physically possible.
● Get comfortable loose fitting, easy on clothes ready so you don’t have to look and stretch to get them from a wardrobe. The softer on your skin, the better too!
● Comfort is key! – You might be a little uncomfortable after surgery, which is of course super normal. Try and think ahead about how you could make yourself more comfortable when recovering. Think things like extra pillows, backrests, some squishy slippers or fluffy dressing gown and so on. The more cosy you are, the more relaxed you will feel, and the better it will be for your body and mind.

Prepare for your hospital stay
Even if you are just staying one night, or not at all, make sure you have everything that you might need. Better to over prepare than to be underprepared!
● Pack a little bag of clothes you might need such as soft underwear, easy on, loose fitting comfortable clothing, a beanie if it will be cold outside when you leave, your own gown and slippers if preferred and anything that makes you feel cosy.
● Get Clean! – Shower or bathe just before your operation as you might not be able to again straight after surgery, or even a day or so afterwards. Have a lovely hot shower or bath using unscented or plain soap, or antiseptic soap if your surgeon advises it. Many will ask you to remove nail varnish too, so ensure that you take the advice of the doctor and get to your surgery feeling clean, fresh and ready for what’s ahead!
● Creature comforts – be wary not to bring too much to the hospital, especially if you are only in for a very short period, but a few essential items that will make you feel more relaxed is good! Think things like eye masks and ear plugs, your own water bottle, your skin moisturizer, lip balm, a book or tablet, your phone and charger and so on. You might even want a travel pillow and blanket for your journey home!
● Make plans to keep your family and loved ones updated – we can discuss this with you before surgery and ensure that we have all the details for who you want to keep informed about your progress and when you’re out of surgery etc.

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Keep warm
This may seem like a bit of an odd one but there have been many studies around body temperature and surgery and it’s proven that patients that are kept warm prior to and post surgery will have better outcomes than patients whose bodies are cooler. During general anesthesia it’s common for your body temperature to drop but your doctors and nurses will make sure your temperature doesn’t fall too much during surgery. When you wake you may feel a little cold and these chills may last a few minutes to a few hours but this is totally normal so don’t worry! You can help to keep yourself warm before and after by;
● Bringing extra clothing or hats, slippers or dressing gowns, even a hot water bottle (Or asking for them at the hospital).
● Bringing or asking for extra blankets, especially on the way to and from the hospital.
● Informing the medical staff or nurses if you are feeling cold before or after surgery.

Post surgery
Your doctor or surgeon will advise you specifically on what to do after the surgery also, such as how to clean your insertions and such but what we would say is, relax and be kind to yourself.
Your body has been through a lot and needs time to recoup and recover. Be patient with yourself and this process. You may find the smallest of tasks or activities a little trickier or even overwhelming in some cases, but that is so normal.

We hope this list will help you to prepare a little before the surgery, so that your post op experience is as easy as possible too. Try and take care of your mental well-being as it’s just as important for your healing process. Take time, take moments to yourself, deep long breaths and pay attention to how you are feeling. Reach out to friends, family or us if you have any concerns or worries whatsoever.

We are with you and here for you throughout your journey, every step of the way!