Top Ten Tips - Preparing For Surgery
By Tip Diva | Apr 12, 2008
Categories: Behavior, Difficulty, Doctor, Google, Health, Insurance, Medical, Medicine, Safety, Sickness, Tips, Web, Web Search
Surgery isn’t exactly the most pleasant experience to go through, but there are things you can do to help to procedure go easier:
- Read Up On The Procedure Beforehand - Google or ask your doctor to supply you with literature on the procedure so you know what to expect, what kind of pain you’ll be in and how much recovery time is needed.
- Smooth Out Insurance Quirks - Check to see how much your insurance will pay for the procedure and work out any payment plans, if you need to. You may also need pre-authorization from your insurance company beforehand.
- Make Sure To Ask Questions - If you have questions about the surgery, write them down and make sure to ask your doctor before you go into the operating room.
- Take Adequate Time Off For Recovery - If you have the ability to, take extra days off outside the normal recovery time. You may find that you just need those extra days to relax and bring your energy back up before returning to work.
- Ready Your Home - Prepare your home for post-surgery needs, such as setting up a bed downstairs if you’re not going to be able to walk upstairs after the surgery, pre-cooking meals that you can easily reheat and hiring help if you need to.
- Eat Healthy, Get Sleep And Avoid Vices - For a few weeks prior to surgery, eat a healthy diet, get plenty of sleep and avoid smoking and drinking. You want to be in optimal health before being wheeled into the operating room.
- Follow Pre-Surgery Directions Exactly - If you’re told not to eat, drink, or exercise, or given other instructions pre-surgery, follow them exactly. If you don’t, it can potentially affect the ability to go through with the surgical procedure.
- Dress Comfortably - Now is not the time to deck yourself out in makeup or do you hair. Arrive at the hospital in comfortable clothes, like pajamas, that you can go home with. Leave your face bare and braid your hair, if you can.
- Bring Another Person With You - You’ll likely need to be driven home after the procedure, but it’s also good to have a second ear with you when talking to the doctor pre and post surgery.
- Discuss Discharge Instructions Before Surgery - You may be too out of it to discuss recovery, medications and other post-surgery information after coming out of the recovery room, so discuss it with your doctor beforehand.
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