Having major surgery is a frightening and anxiety-filled process that can take several months out of your life until you are back to your old self. Worries about the surgery range from complications to pain levels. However, the worrying doesn’t stop once the surgery is over, and patients should familiarize themselves with some of the overlooked concerns that can arise once they are resting at home.
Psychological and Emotional Concerns
Often, the psychological and emotional concerns both before and after major surgery can go overlooked. For example, a woman who recently had a hysterectomy may have heard rumors that the surgery will ruin her sex life. This can cause feelings of hopelessness, depression, fear and even anger over her own body. Ways you can help combat these feelings is visit with friends and family, resume social activates and hobbies you enjoy and share your concerns and feelings with others. Try to anticipate the psychological impacts of the surgery to help minimize problems.
Stress Levels
In most people, even the simple act of visiting a doctor’s office can cause a strong emotional reaction. Therefore, it comes to no surprise to learn that stress in always involved before and after major surgery. Unfortunately, high levels of stress can cause negative side effects – such as high blood pressure and headaches – and can weaken your immune system. A weaken immune system interferes with the body’s ability to properly manage infection and pain. Do your best to keep yourself upbeat and relaxed in order to have the best immune response possible.
Opiate Dependency
Pain management is common after a major surgery and medication can help make life easier while trying to recover. Unfortunately, the opiates prescribed by your doctor to help control pain can lead to a serious and dangerous addiction to the medication. Some people try to avoid opiate dependency by cutting back on their medication, waiting until the pain is unbearable before they take the meds. However, this can actually increase your risk of addiction. The best way to avoid an opiate dependency is to take the pain medicine as your doctor prescribed it. Furthermore, always keep the communication open about the pain medication and your concerns with your physician. There are also various natural methods for reducing withdrawal symptoms when your prescription ends, such as the supplement Nexus Vitale, and even high amounts of Vitamin C have been shown to lower discomfort levels during withdrawal.
Keeping Yourself Healthy
Making sure incision areas are properly cleaned and dry is a common concern after major surgery that patients are aware of. However, did you know that what you eat could also affect the healing process? Poor nutrition and lack of appetite after major surgery can lead to significant weight loss and even slow down the recovery process. Eating frequent small meals or munching on high-protein and high-calorie snacks can help when your appetite has decreased after surgery.
Get a Good Night’s Rest
A body that is well-rested is likely to heal better after major surgery. Many people, however, find they have trouble sleeping after their surgery. If pain is keeping you up at night, consider taking your pain medication about 1/2 hour before you go to bed. Another tip is to listen to relaxing music while lying in bed. Furthermore, avoid consuming caffeine in the evenings and refrain from napping during the day.
Keep in mind that the recovery process varies depending from one person to the next, and you should always follow the information your doctor gave you before your discharge. Furthermore, contact your physician as soon as possible if you have questions or concerns.
Information Source: Nexus Vitale