Recovery after an operation can go one of two ways. You either recover straight after the operation, or your body might take a while to get used to the trauma it has been through. Either way, there are a few things that you should do to help with the recovery process.
Stick To Your Doctor’s Orders
Many people choose which rules apply to them, however it is vital that you listen to the experts as they know what they are talking about. Sometimes they give simple instructions that you think you do not have to do, like not having a bath after the surgery. It might seem like a pointless instruction but, there is probably a valid reason behind it. It’s a bit like being told not to expose your scalp to the sun for too long after a hair transplant.
A doctor will tell you a lot of things you should not do after you have surgery, however they will be different depending on the type of surgery you have had, for example a breast reduction in Manchester or a hip replacement in London. Some of these things could be not driving for a few weeks until you can wear a seatbelt or do an emergency stop. Another could be no heavy lifting for up to six weeks after an operation.
If you ever have an issue with any of the instructions that they have given you, ask why you need to do it. They will explain the reasons you should not be doing any of the things mentioned above.
Make Sure To Attend Follow-Up Appointments
Just because you feel fine and everything looks ok, does not mean that it is fine. After any type of surgery, if a doctor tells you to revisit them in the next few weeks, then it is something you should do. They will be able to point out things that you will not be able to notice.
They will be looking at your incision, to make sure there are no signs of infection. They will want to make sure that it is treated properly after you have your surgery. Another thing that they might want to do is check to see if there is any reason for you to change your medication. There is a possibility that it might need changing after a few weeks. At the end of the day, they know what to be looking out for, so attending these appointments is vital.
Try Your Best To Prevent Infection
The last thing that you want to do after you have had surgery is let it get infected. When you need to clean around your incision, make sure your hands are clean and you are following the instructions of your surgeon. An infection can lead to some serious health problems so, make sure you keep an eye on it. Do not be shy of going to the emergency room if something is seriously bothering you.
There are many other ways to make sure you avoid infecting your incision and one of these is to avoid smoking. Smoking damages your health in many ways including slowing down the body’s ability to recover from infection, so stopping smoking will be a massive benefit to you. However, your doctor will tell you everything you need to know so you make sure the wound doesn’t get infected.
Remember To Constantly Check On Your Incision
Some people can be quite squeamish which is why they will not want to check their incision. However, this is something that you should do for your health. There are some surgical procedures out there that you can not check yourself, which is why you are supposed to attend your check-ups post-surgery. However, for the majority of procedures, you can check in the mirror to see if everything is ok with your incision.
There are a few questions that you need to ask yourself when checking the incision. Is there any wound drainage? Is there too much blood in the wound drainage? Is the incision pink or red? Is everything still intact such as the stitches and staples? If anything looks abnormal or hurts then you should consult your doctor soon as possible, just to make sure everything is ok.
Make Sure You Drink and Eat Plenty
Some people don’t feel like eating once they have had their operation and they would rather just go home and get some sleep. There is nothing wrong with getting some sleep after surgery because you can feel drained after surgery. Nonetheless, you should eat and drink before you consider getting some sleep.
Keeping hydrated and making sure you are eating a healthy diet is important in general. Never mind after surgery. Eating plenty of healthy food and remaining hydrated can help the healing process and keep you filled with energy. Your body will not heal properly if it does not have the fuel to help the healing process at the end of the day. The foods you are able to eat will depend on the type of surgery you have had, which can be discussed with your surgeon.
Do Not Become Lazy
Like mentioned before, you will feel extremely tired after a surgical procedure. You will be told to rest up after an operation but, they will also tell you to keep moving. This does not mean that you need to go on a run every day. It means that you should go on a short walk or move around the house when you have been given the all clear to do so. Avoid staying in your bed all day every day.
A little bit of exercise can help prevent deep vein thrombosis. Another common effect after anaesthesia is constipation. Walking is something that can help prevent this. It keeps your body moving and your blood pumping. Plus, it is slowly preparing you for those regular activities that you are used to doing so much. A surgeon will know best when you can return to regular activities. So, if you keep up with your regular check-ups, they will keep you up to date.
Summary
There are plenty of other ways out there to make sure that you do the right things for the healing process. Listening to your doctor or surgeon is the best thing to do because they are the experts. Not only do they know what they are talking about with the operation, but they also know about your body because they operated on it.