4 tips to mentally prepare for surgery
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- Опубликовано: 14 июл 2024
- Let's talk about surgery and how to mentally prepare for it!
Going through surgery is emotional rollercoaster.
Up to 75% of patients feel anxious prior to surgery. People often worry about the anesthesia, possible complications, dealing with chronic pain after surgery, their body looking and feeling different, and much more. Anxiety in the weeks or months leading up to surgery can keep you up at night and cause significant distress.
Developing coping skills to manage the stress and anxiety of surgery is essential, yet it’s often left out of the checklist you're provided to prepare for your procedure. Below are four tips to help you mentally prepare for surgery.
Tip number one is to identify stress management strategies and to use them often. Stress management can look like a lot of different things (e.g., deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, mindfulness meditation, yoga). Find something that works for you (it may be a relaxation technique you've used before!) and practice daily in the weeks leading up to surgery. The more you practice, the easier it will become to manage your anxiety!
Tip number two is to prioritize your basic needs. Make sure that you're protecting your sleep, that you're drinking enough water, that you're eating well, and that you're making time for self-care. Try not to schedule anything stressful or emotionally taxing in the weeks leading up to your surgery (no big projects on the house or job interview ideally!) Prioritizing your body and mind is important to successfully managing stress.
Tip number three is to be informed and advocate for yourself. From the moment you've had your appointment with your surgeon, keep it a list of questions and concerns about your surgery on a piece of paper or in your phone. Every time something comes up, write it down. Then run those questions through your medical team. You can also do some research online (but don't overdo it because it might make you even more anxious!). You can also find some answers and support through online communities of patients who share the same diagnosis.
Tip number four is to ask for help! Lean on people, lean on your medical team, on your friends and family, on an online community of patients. Ask for help and accept the help that's offered. The truth is that most people want to help, but they don't always know how to. Be assertive about what you need, and tell people what you need in a way that works for you.
If you (or someone you love!) live with a medical condition, head over to my website and sign up for the newsletter to receive ideas and information on how to navigate the ups and downs of life with a medical diagnosis.
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I’m so nervous I’ve had two surgeries before but have very bad anxiety because of my last surgery and hospital experience 🥺😮💨 if anyone see this can you please keep me in your prayers and I will do the same for any of you! I am just praying for a smooth experience please protect me and let things go as they are supposed to go lord please I truly am ready to move on and be better am I promise I will 🙏
Sending you prayers!
@@r.emilybernard1157 appreciate that! I am out of surgery now and things are going smooth so far praying that things continue this way and only up from here :)
I currently have a whole in my diaphragm and will have surgery in a few weeks. I also have two ribs that are fused together by scar tissue and I can’t want to have surgery. Although I have really bad anxiety I know I will be ok.
I just seen your comment .How did your surgery go ? I have surgery in 3 days and i am nervous as well and need prayer .God bless you .
@@pearl27777 ur good man you’ll get thru it I had mine less than a year ago I’ve gone on multiple trips since and am able to work regularly and lead a perfectly normal life again:)
Oh I am scheduled to have surgery in 26 days and I am definitely anxious. I've been using an anxiety app and practicing, but fear my exercises will not work when the time comes. I am having fear of the future and ready to cry just writing about this. Thank you for your video. I am going to head to your website to see if there is anything else you recommend.
I'm sure you talk about this as an anecdote in your life. I'm going for a surgery in 2 days, and managing my emotions is challenging.
Spine surgery to fix my scoliosis on the 20th of January. I'm terrified. I've never had surgery in my life. And whenever I think about it I notice my heart rate goes up and I get a little shaky. Good lord I just want it to be over with already
Edit: Welp. It’s been like two months since I had it now. Thank god that’s over with
I am having that tomorrow I’m 14 and have magic rods this surgery is too fix them in place I’m bloody terrified how did yours go ?
@@cherrycrush3659
First few days: Stiff. Painful. Feeling out of it. All in all, not that great, and you’ll most likely be popping pain killers every few hours
After one week: Feeling a bit better, but still a bit rough
Two weeks: at this point I kinda stopped taking pain killers. The pain will be manageable and you’ll start feeling better
Three weeks: Honestly after this point things start to feel more or less normal again. Follow the restrictions, adjust things so you can feel comfortable. I bring a small pillow to school so I can lean my back against it
Good luck. Like I said, the first week is going to be the hardest, and the first three to four days are going to be rough as hell, but then it all goes uphill from there. You got this. Feel free to reply to me whenever you want🙃
I'm having surgery today Remember me in your prayers
At my age, and with my experience of medical procedures, one of the first things I would make sure of when talking with surgeon and those whose care I would be on afterwards is if they were inhibited by the so called opioid/ opiate crisis to the point where they would be unwilling to prescribe sufficient pain relief for as long as that pain was present. The rest is secondary, at least to me personally. Cheers and be well all
I have ablation for my heart week time Im 83 old woman I’m a bit apprehensive do breathing and meditation and trying to stay positive and enjoy everyday God will help us
Tip #1 is literally why I am watching your video…
Tummy tuck this Thursday!
How did your surgery go?
I have generalized anxiety. Nothing works well enough to reduce stress levels. Surgery in 6 days. At least while I'm under i won't feel anxious lol
Hi, how did your surgery go?
@@shininonHoez did he say? i hv gad too mines tomorrow, hernia
Give it to God!
Don’t worry about it; you can do nothing about it except for cosmetic surgery. And in my opinion, cosmetic surgery is just nuts unless you need it. And I'm afraid I have to disagree with her about doing projects; projects keep your mind off the surgery, even the day of the surgery. You can think of the project you are doing instead of the surgery; I always bring notes for my work projects or personal projects and work on them while waiting for the surgery to start; it’s a good distraction technique.
I'm getting ready for surgery for a sport related injury and i'm scared
My surgery is on Sunday am so anxious i don't know what to do am so scared
How was it?
im geeting uguinal hernia repair tomorrow morning after over 6 months waiting
What can people do when they don't have family or friends to take them or pick them up from surgery?
Ask your doctor's office to speak to a social worker or case manager/discharge planner. If it's major surgery, they may need to help coordinate transport to home. Usually you can take uber or taxi to the hospital before surgery.
Surgery next Monday 😑😑
I'm very much nervous
I hope everything went more than well for you. I have mine on Wednesday, so I don't really know how to feel about this.
Surgery In 4 hours rn
My tonsillectomy is tomorrow, i better never get a sore throat again.
And how are you?
@@PS-oy9xr took a while, maybe a good 3-4 weeks or something. From what I remember, anything solid enough to manipulate the scab tissue is something you'll wanna avoid eating, or else OW, hurts like knives. If you start to bleed from the inner throat, drink ice cold water, idc if it hurts your teeth, freeze that thing up, nobody wants a bleeding throat. I still can get sore throats, but they're pathetic and negligible and aren't a problem at all. They're weak af.
Found this 1 week and 5 hours too late.
Surgery next Wednesday 🙏 😬 🙌
What was it for and how’d it go?
@@unbrokengg4053 helo
Brother it's for Cyst in the Jaw
@@CJ-pl4uz sorry to hear that. Did it go well?
@@unbrokengg4053 yes brother
Surgery is in 30minutes :-
How is it going? I hope all went well and you're fine now.
@Francesca P. Thank you for asking! it went well :)
@@JustYourAverageLydia I'm happy for you! I wish you well :)
@@francescap.1651 💕
Surgery in a few hours super exited to get er done as it is a colostomy reversal but I cannot help being nervous about surgery and being in a hospital again wish me luck ! 😮💨