A probe into the reasons why the proposed surgery on the member of staff was turned down showed that she was not as ‘prepared’ for the surgery as she thought; although she had paid the post operation drugs and signed the consent form; she has also on that fateful morning taken a full course of ‘amala’ and ‘ewedu’ with ‘shaki’ and ‘abodi’ (a Nigerian delicacy) as recommended by her neighbor to fully fortify her body for the surgery that turned out to be against the rules recommended for the nature of surgery she was to undergo
This member of staff may have been working in a hospital but has no knowledge of what it takes to prepare oneself for surgery. What about you? Before you discard this article with IT IS NOT MY PORTION, bear in mind that anybody can go in for surgery anytime. Besides, this knowledge could put you in a position to advise someone else properly.
In my plight to seek proper knowledge on this issue before sharing on this platform, I interviewed a consultant anesthesiologist and Head of Department of Anesthesianin one of the Federal Medical Centre in my country to get the full information about the subject matter. He started by saying anybody coming in for surgery should first and foremost prepare his mind and have faith in God and the team of healthcare providers. God said he is the originator of anesthesia as shown in the Bible and the Quran when he formed the woman from the man, and has passed that knowledge to man. He stressed that preparation of the mind helps check issues like rise in blood pressure which may cause surgery to be postponed or to have a bad outcome.
He also advised that patients must stick to the fasting schedule given to them. This will guide against vomiting and inhalation of stomach contents into the lungs during surgery, the outcome which is always deadly. He advised female patients who prepare for the naming ceremony of the child unborn by making remarkable hairdos (such as one million braids) to rather go for such simple hairstyles that would not give problems during operation. Patients with dentures (artificial teeth) should not be shy to present them and have them removed to prevent swallowing them or knocking them off into the lungs while the patient is asleep under anesthesia. The patient must be willing to comply with instructions especially with respect to punctuality to date and time of admission. The earlier a patient shows up for admission, the more ample time he has to be prepared for the surgery. He concluded that questions about instructions not clearly understood by the patient should be aired freely.
After my interview with him, I moved on to the consultant surgeon and Head, Department of Surgery who in the same vein suggests that a patient presenting or surgery should be aware of the nature of surgery whether it is an elective (planned) or emergency surgery and must be prepared both psychologically and emotionally. For an elective surgery, the consultant surgeon advised that the patient plan his or her time properly to accommodate the period of hospitalization to the period of recovery within which arrangement must also be made with the family of the individual for support. The patient going in for surgery must disclose to the surgeon if he or she has any previously diagnosed medical condition like hypertension or diabetes and if he or she is on any special or prolonged medication. He concluded by saying
Planning ahead can help ensure you have a successful procedure and heal faster with a smooth recovery.
However, having worked for quite some times in the theatre and having gained some experiences, in addition to my little research from books, journals and online blog, i have highlighted and discussed the necceasary ways to prepare youeself for surgery. Surgery trauma is part physical and part psychological. Studies show that both can be considerably relieved by preparing yourself psychologically for surgery.
If you undergo surgery well-prepared, you will heal faster and with a lower chance on complications
Adopting a positive attitude and preparing both physically and emotionally will do a lot of good. First is to accept that you will be operated upon and be optimistic that the surgery will be succesful. Having a positive mind will also set you on the road to quick recovery.
I will also advice that you meet with your physician anesthesiologist so he or she can explain to you the necessary information that will help have a smooth operation. Such example to be discussed is the right anesthesia plan for you. Likewise, you should know that you are the person that is being operated on, ensure you go to your surgeon to discuss your medical history, your health habits and your past experiences with surgery and anesthesia. You need to ask them questions about risks, possible complications, recovery time and other things you want to know.
“meeting the anesthesiologist before surgery reduces a patient’s anxiety.”
Immediately you are aware of the surgery, start meditating on the surgery (probably a week or more before the surgery). This will calm your mind and enable you to focus on the well-being of your body system.
It is very important that you inform friends and family about the surgery. If it will be necessary, ensure you schedule someone to pick you up for the surgery in advance and confirm with the person the day before the surgery. However, if you are on admission in an hospital, put the care of you house and children to your family members or friend. Also, you won’t be allowed to drive after outpatient surgery, or even after a few days in the hospital if you’re taking pain medication. Decide and plan to have someone take you home.
This third step looks scary but necessary. Ensure you have your will updated and signed with you lawyer. This will provide instructions on what should be done if you are no longer able to make decisions for yourself. While it’s not pleasant to think of the possible complications that could occur during surgery (such as death), it’s advisable to be prepare for the worst. Keep a copy in with your lawyer and give necessary instructions to your family or someone you trust. However, if you have children, you might also want to double check that your will (regarding your assets) is updated to consider them.
This might be the misinformation people get about eating before surgery. It is necessary that you eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water at least a week before surgery. Eat a well-balanced diet including foods rich in vitamin C and lots of fruits and vegetables. Vitamin C is known to help with tissue healing and its deficiency can cause bleeding “with significant clinical consequences” in surgical patients. Ignore foods high on calories, especially fat intake in order to help boost post-op recovery. Light exercise such as walking is good too. However, be aware that certain surgeries require you to fast 24 hours before the surgery.
Do not shave or wax any area around your body for at least a week before surgery. For breast surgery patients, do not shave underarms. It is important to note that shaving with a razor can leave a cut on the skin which can increase the risk of getting a wound infection. However, if the hair in any part of your body will need to be removed for your operation, you will be informed about it and will be done at the hospital with special clippers.
Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. Your body might be sore or swollen from surgery, or you may have bulky bandages over your incisions. Leave jewelry and valuables at home, remove all nail polish and make up prior to your surgery, if your doctor has provided a regimen of preparation before surgery, follow it.
You should also be concerned about the aftermath of your surgery.For example, Oral surgery will have you home in time for dinner, a knee replacement surgery make you to be admitted in the hospital for up to five days. Cardiac surgery could lead to a 2-6 weeks hospital stay etc. You should also ask how much pain to expect, what types of medication will help the most, when you can return to regular physical activity, if you'll need to see a physical therapist, how to transition back to a work environment.
I have been able to note out the necessary instructions on how to feel relaxed before surgery, have less pain, boost your immune system and recover faster after surgery. Following the oulined instruction will give you the feeling you have some control over your recovery. I hope you find the above tips useful if, you, a member of your family or your colleague is ever presented for surgery.
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Thank you for reading
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