Surgeries happen every day, and yet people are still quite nervous when they find out that they have to go for surgery. This is understandable – after all, the idea of having someone operate on you is quite terrifying, especially because so many things can go wrong.
However, many of these things are out of your control. One thing that is somewhat within your control, however, is making sure that you are taking proper care of yourself and allowing your body to recover after surgery. If you want to learn more about how to do this, keep reading.
Fuel your body
Many people can’t stand the idea of eating after surgery. While this is normal within the first few hours after you wake up, some people may avoid eating for days after their surgery. Unfortunately, this isn’t ideal.
Your body will need fuel and nutrients if you want it to recover. If you can’t stand the idea of eating a meal, you should at least consider some alternatives like a meal replacement shake, bariatric protein soup, or getting your nutrients via an IV (although this should only be done if nothing else works).
Follow your doctor’s orders
Your doctor will likely give you a whole list of things that you need to do after surgery. What exactly they prescribe will depend on the surgery as well as your overall health.
They may place you on bed rest, or they may give you some exercises to do to strengthen your muscles. They may also place you on a specific diet and prohibit certain things. While it may be hard to follow their orders, and you may even at times think that they are unnecessary, keep in mind that your doctor knows what’s best for you, which is why you should listen to their advice.
Keep in touch with your doctor
Speaking of doctors, it’s also important that you keep in touch with your doctor and let them know how your recovery is going.
You should alert them of any drastic changes in your health, and it can also be a good idea to schedule a few checkup appointments so that they can evaluate your recovery. You also need to keep a close eye on your symptoms so that you can notice if anything goes wrong. You can learn more about common complications after surgery here.
Don’t push yourself
While most people feel horrible after surgery, especially within the first few days after the procedure, you may find that you are recovering quite quickly.
If that is the case, you may be tempted to return to your normal routine sooner than the doctor advised. However, just because you feel fine doesn’t mean that you are actually fine, and if you start pushing your body too far you could suffer serious consequences.
You need to ensure that you are getting plenty of rest until your doctor gives you the all-clear. You should also try to sleep more than usual since this is when your body will be doing most of its healing. If you struggle with sleeping well, now is your time to change that.
