healing after a medical procedure

Healing After a Medical Procedure

Most medical procedures require some downtime afterward for healing. The more you listen to your body and not try to rush back into things, the better results you will see long term. While it can be frustrating that you can’t immediately bounce back after a procedure, these tips will help you stay on track and have a more enjoyable time while you’re on the mend.

Prepare

It’s best to prepare for your post-surgery needs well before you go into surgery. While your doctor will give you a list of postsurgical items you will need (medication, etc.), it’s also good to consider your comfort as well. A fluffy new robe, slippers, and a new book to dive into can all help you feel better as you recuperate. It might also be beneficial to have a surgery buddy to escort you home after your medical procedure in case you are loopy from any aftereffects of anesthesia. You might also want to consider preparing for your procedure in the same way you would for a storm—do chores like laundry and cleaning before your surgery so you won’t have to worry about them while you heal in the immediate time afterward. If you will be bedridden, consider boarding your pets until you are able to care for them yourself or have a friend watch them for you.

Exercise

Depending on the type of surgery you have, you might not be able to exercise, or even walk. If your surgery is serious enough, you might have to see a physical therapist to recover your ability to move in the months following your surgery. Once you have clearance from your doctor, it’s important to start incorporating light to moderate exercise back into your daily routine as soon as you possibly can. Strenuous and overly vigorous exercise can actually delay your healing time, as your body is devoting too much energy to recovering from your physical activity instead of your medical procedure. Start slowly, and then work up to a more strenuous exercise routine over a period of time so you don’t injure yourself.

Diet

Your doctor might recommend foods that you should stick to or even avoid while healing. Now is not the best time to try something extremely exotic or new—it’s best to stick to mild foods or foods you have had before while healing. You don’t want to risk stomach upset in addition to what your body is already up against. It’s a good idea to stock up on groceries and snacks in the days immediately leading up to surgery so you don’t have to bother with grocery shopping for a while. You can also consider scheduling grocery delivery or meal kit delivery for the days, weeks, or even months after surgery so that you can remove grocery shopping from your postop to-do list entirely. If your recovery is long term, you might also consider adding supplements to your regimen. Metatrol: Fermented Wheat Germ Extract—Super Concentrate (FWGE-SC) can help maintain a healthy appetite in addition to the other benefits of improving energy and immune system function.

Follow Up

Maintain your follow up appointments with your doctor(s). This includes any physical therapy or additional appointments. When you are feeling great, it can seem unnecessary to follow-up with the doctor. But your doctor can pick up on things that you might be aware of, and run additional tests. Make your follow-up appointments before going into surgery and stick to them to ensure speedier long term recovery.