Overcoming Surgery Related Anxiety
Surgery can seem like a very scary and intimidating prospect for many people
. These feelings of dread related to surgery are often, not always, but often related to feeling like they are unaware of what is really going to happen.
There are many things you can do to prepare for surgery and help yourself feel more at peace about the procedure. The first thing that you will want to do is talk to your surgeon about what to expect and what things he or she suggests you do to relieve your anxiety.
Your surgeon will know your particular case and he or she will be able to help you the best. This article discusses some things you may want to consider doing before you go in for surgery.
However, you should always consult with your surgeon about whether the suggestions found here are okay for your particular case. The first thing you may want to do is get a notebook and write down any questions you can think of about the procedure and your condition that have not been answered that you feel some anxiety about.
This notebook will help you to remember the questions that you have so the next time you visit your surgeon you will be able to ask him or her about your concerns. As you talk to the surgeon, you may want to write down things you want to remember and things that you do not really understand, even if it has been explained to you before.
You may want to ask the surgeon to explain these things again or you may want to ask a friend to try to explain it to you. The things you do not understand may also be found online.
However, you will want to be careful to only read the information found on reliable sites. If the website is not reliable, you may not learn quality information that will answer your question
Another thing you may want to do to prepare for surgery is to use mental imagery to calm yourself about the day of surgery. Think of what will happen that day.
Play out in your mind what you will do before surgery, how you will feel, how going to the hospital will be, waking up from a successful surgery, and what you will do following the surgery. Try to think this out in your mind in a relaxed position while taking deep breaths.
The imagery you think of is supposed to be the best case scenario and it is not intended to make you more anxious by thinking about what could go wrong. Try to avoid those kinds of thoughts.
As you imagine the day of surgery in a positive light, you may find it easier to actually be relaxed like you imagined on the actual day of surgery. You may want to do this daily until your big day arrives.
In addition to preparing your mind, you will probably want to prepare your body for surgery as well. If you have not stopped already, you will want to stop smoking.
Smoking can hinder your ability to heal yourself and is accompanied by many negative side effects. The risk to your life and health throughout surgery and recovery is significantly increased if you smoke.
If you have other medical concerns due to health conditions you will want to make sure that you discuss them with your surgeon. Your surgeon may have some tips for things you can do to reduce the risk you are at for developing certain side effects.
It is a good idea to try and get other medical conditions under control or taken care of before surgery if possible. Things like diabetes, obesity, COPD, and other conditions should be discussed with your surgeon.
Other things that you will probably want to be careful to avoid include junk food, soda and soft drinks. Fruits and vegetables contain many nutritious vitamins and minerals that can help your body throughout surgery and after your surgery.
It is probably best to switch out junk food, soda, and other soft drinks for healthier items like fruits and vegetables before your surgery. In addition, it is generally a good idea to eat a little extra protein leading up to your surgery as well.
Chicken, fish, turkey, bison, tempeh, and tofu are all good sources of protein. It is best to follow a healthy diet whenever possible, particularly leading up to and following surgery during the times you are allowed to eat.
by: Tommy Greene
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