If you are having surgery, prepping a few essentials ahead of time can make yourrecovery after surgeryeasier, quicker, and even less painful. While recoveries vary from procedure to procedure, and person to person, there are things you can do before leaving for the hospital to make your first few days home calmer and less stressful.
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Your physician will provide instructions for what youcan and cannot do during your recovery, as these vary widely between surgeries. The instructions for someone who had an appendectomy are very different than the instructions for someone who had weight loss surgery.
That said, the majority of patients feel better if they take it easy after surgery, if only for a few days. The tips that follow are intended to help prevent pain, provide you with more rest time, minimize your chances of injury, and supply some entertainment while you are convalescing.
Recovery After Surgery
Hand Sanitizer and Antibacterial Soap
It is nearly impossible to wash your hands too much when you are recovering from surgery. Frequent use of hand sanitizer, as well as proper handwashing technique, can ward off germs.
Keeping your hands clean, and never touching your incision without first sanitizing or washing your hands, canprevent infection.
Help
As much as you might want to do laundry or take your pooch for a stroll, everyday activities like these can be painful and ill-advised after surgery. Arranging fora ride home from the hospitaland for family or friends to take over mundane duties temporarily will ensure that your recovery is as speedy and stress-free as possible.
There are also services available that provide nurse aids who can help with household tasks, for a fee.
Easy-to-Make Meals
Prepping or stocking up on store-bought frozen meals before surgery is an easy way to minimize the exertion of preparing food for yourself or your family, if this task usually falls to you. Taking the time to make big batches of stew or lasagna in the days before your surgery will keep your family fed and you out of the kitchen.
Ensure that you have the types of foods your healthcare provider recommends or that you may prefer right after surgery (e.g., eggs, bread for toast, fresh fruit, yogurt, etc.).
And, remember that having food delivered during your recovery isn’t a luxury, it is self-care when you’re too sore to handle a sink full of dishes.
Best Foods to Speed Up Recovery After Surgery
Comfortable Clothes
There is a reason that you see people wandering around hospitals in pajamas—they are comfortable. Loose clothing can be a godsend after surgery, especially if your surgery was performed on your abdomen, lower back, or pelvis.
No one wants a waistband that rubs against a fresh and sensitive incision. Look for loose soft, easy-to-pull-on clothes in soft, breathable fabrics that don’t scratch or itch. Avoid snaps, ties, zippers, and buttons to allow for maximum comfort while resting in bed.
Filled Prescriptions
If your physician is willing to write your prescriptions the day before your surgery, have them filled and waiting for you when you arrive home.
Otherwise, try to ensure that a family member or a friend can pick up your prescriptions for you or that you can have them delivered, so you don’t find yourself needing to stop on the way home from the hospital.
Over-the-Counter Remedies
Your physician may recommend that you increase your water and fiber intake to preventconstipation after surgery, which is common.Afiber additivecan be easily found at a pharmacy as pills or drink additives.
If you are planning to takeover-the-counter pain medicationrather than a prescription, have that on hand as well.
Emergency Contact Information
Know how to reach your surgeon, day or night, in case of an emergency. You don’t want to be scrambling for that information if you think you are having a complication. A quick conversation with your physician may make the difference between rushing to the emergency room and a good night’s sleep.
Let’s face it, recovering from surgery can be boring. There is a tremendous amount of sitting and lying down, resting quietly, and avoiding pain.
Is there a movie you’ve been wanting to see or a show you’ve been waiting to binge-watch? A book that you bought that you just never found time to read? In the days leading up to your surgery, stock up on your favorite entertainment, whether that’s crossword puzzles, video games, books, or knitting supplies.
Incision Care Supplies
If you are going to be doingincision careafter surgery, find out from your physician’s office what types of supplies you will need. Some examples include:
Generally, a mild, unscented, non-antibacterial soap (bar or liquid) for use while showering is adequate to gently clean surgical incisions.Allow your skin to dry completely before dressing an incision or putting clothes back on.
Stocking up ahead of time on any items you might need ensures you won’t have to worry about finding supplies later.
Water
Keeping hydrated in the days immediately after surgery is particularly important. Drinking ample water will help your body flush anesthesia from your system.Water can also help make pain easier to manage, improve energy levels, and decrease the risk of urinary tract infections after surgery.
Summary
Taking it easy after surgery is more important than you might realize. Being overtired or trying to tackle strenuous tasks after surgery can slow your recovery.Pushing too fast or too hardto resume your normal life can lead to pain, slower recovery, and even injury. To heal as quickly as possible, consider pre-planning for your post-operative physical and mental comfort.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hand Sanitizer Guidelines.Celik S, Atar NY, Ozturk N, et al.Constipation Risk in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgery.Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2015;17(6):e23632. doi:10.5812/ircmj.23632MedlinePlus.Surgical wound care - open.Additional ReadingAfter Surgery. Medline Plus.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hand Sanitizer Guidelines.Celik S, Atar NY, Ozturk N, et al.Constipation Risk in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgery.Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2015;17(6):e23632. doi:10.5812/ircmj.23632MedlinePlus.Surgical wound care - open.Additional ReadingAfter Surgery. Medline Plus.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hand Sanitizer Guidelines.Celik S, Atar NY, Ozturk N, et al.Constipation Risk in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgery.Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2015;17(6):e23632. doi:10.5812/ircmj.23632MedlinePlus.Surgical wound care - open.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hand Sanitizer Guidelines.
Celik S, Atar NY, Ozturk N, et al.Constipation Risk in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgery.Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2015;17(6):e23632. doi:10.5812/ircmj.23632
MedlinePlus.Surgical wound care - open.
After Surgery. Medline Plus.
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