Just three short weeks ago, I sat at my kitchen table sipping on a cup of ginger lemon tea, extremely anxious. All I kept thinking about was how petrified I was to have surgery and had no idea what the outcome would be.
The surgeon had told me that the best possible outcome was going home the day of the procedure if the cyst could entirely be removed. Worst case scenario, there would be some “surprises,” as he called them, landing me up to a week in the hospital. I despised the unknown at that moment.
There is no manual for how you should feel or how to prepare for surgery mentally. Since the doctors are usually busy preparing on their end, it’s up to us to mentally and physically get ourselves in the best shape possible to have the best outcome.
Studies show that high levels of anxiety before surgery can cause hardship on the day of the procedure. It can also have a profound impact on a person’s recovery. With that being said, in my opinion, one of the most important things we can do is to take charge and be adamant about our plan for our anxiety and recovery.
If you have an upcoming surgery on the horizon, be gentle with yourself. Each of us handles the situation differently.
Here are 9 ways I prepared for surgery that I hope you find comforting and helpful.
1. Yoga
The 24 hours leading up to my surgery were the most intense, in my opinion. It also doesn’t help that currently, because of Covid, I wasn’t allowed to have anybody in the waiting room with me. I also knew it would be not easy to get a good night’s rest knowing what I was in for in the early hours the next day. My surgery required that I was there at 5:30 in the morning. I was up by 4:45 to shower with the antiseptic soap they provided me with. The night before, I did a full 30 minutes of yoga. Yoga helped calm my nerves and helped me to refocus on being in the right state of mind. The America Yoga Association says yoga allows people access to inner strength to face overwhelming fears, frustrations, and challenges, like preparing for a surgery.
2. I bought A new comfy blanket
After my surgery, I knew that I was going to require lots of downtime. As it turns out, I was right. The first couple of days were the hardest, and just making it down the hallway to use the bathroom was a goal all in itself. Having a new soft blanket to snuggle up with provided a little extra comfort as I was on my journey to healing.
3. I cut way back on alcohol, caffeine, and sugar
I did everything in my power to reduce sugar, alcohol, and caffeine consumption as much as possible. Although I wasn’t overly indulging in the first place, the two weeks before surgery, I had no alcohol at all to make sure my immune system was at its most efficient. Since I knew I would be feeling a little extra anxious with the caffeine, I reduced the intake to calm myself as much as possible. One of the most beneficial things for me was consuming certain foods and staying away from others. When it came to the day of my surgery, I obviously couldn’t have anything that morning, and when I woke up, all I wanted was a massive amount of water which the nurse ended up feeding me ice chips. By the next day, I could tell that my body wanted its morning cup of coffee, but also, I wanted to be in full hydration mode. Easing up on the caffeine made it a lot easier to skip out on my usual cups of coffee. By day two or three, I slowly returned to half-caff k cups. In addition to having my cyst removed, I also had my gallbladder out, which doctors recommend you have a very bland diet shortly after your procedure. Since I was already eating very bland healthy foods, it made it easier not to have any excessive cravings directly after surgery. I went back to eating whole foods, nuts, lentils, and veggies.
4. Meditation and journaling for anxiety
Journaling has always been my go-to for getting my thoughts down on paper and out of my head. While your friends and family will always have your back, you can only tell them you’re anxious so many times before it gets a little old. Journaling is a tool to express whatever you want whenever you want, and you can express how you feel as many times as you need to. For meditation, I looked up different YouTube videos with calming sounds and allowed myself to go into a state of flow and relaxation. You can also search for different meditation apps.
5. I put unnecessary items on the back burner
As you prepare for surgery, your mind is already busy at work preparing in a way it probably hasn’t had to before. If there were items on my to-do list, I placed them on pause until after the surgery. The last thing you want to do leading up to your surgery is put yourself in a state of stress because of items on a to-do list. Little things can wait. Let your primary focus be preparing mentally.
6. I had my movie list and books all ready to go
I know this may sound like a simple one, but honestly, after surgery, it was so good to know that I had a list of my movies I wanted to watch already in place. For me, I wanted to relax and not have to think about the pain of the procedure. It was overwhelming to my mind and body what I had just experienced, and the last thing I’d want to do at that moment was to try to scroll through some streaming service to find something I wanted to watch. Having some fun movies ready to go made me feel relieved. I also had a stack of new books to keep my mind fresh and busy.
7. I did my research
Depending on the type of surgery you will have, do your best to understand how long you will be in the hospital. Therefore, you’ll know how many clothes to pack. Be sure to leave your most valuable items at home. You only need an ID and your insurance card. I left my wallet at home. There was a wait from the time I went into surgery from the waiting room, so to alleviate sitting there stressed out, I also packed a book to bring to the hospital to keep my mind at ease. Also, if you wear contacts, you will most likely need to remove them, so bring your glasses and don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you need to. This is your body we are talking about.
8. I stocked my fridge
If your surgery is anything like mine, you will probably require care from a significant other, friend, or other family members. I felt a great sense of relief knowing someone was there with me 24/7 following my procedure. Having a fridge full of goodies, fresh foods and vegetables allowed us never to have to leave the apartment. You can even buy frozen fruits so that they stay fresh until you can make it back to the store once you’re feeling better.
9. I kept my mind on gratitude
For me, to be able to walk 13 blocks the morning of my surgery is still mind-blowing. I have read countless stories of people who journeyed for days to seek the help of medical attention in the world. No matter how much it felt like a burden to have to endure surgery, I also gently reminded myself how wonderful it was that I had insurance and the help of medical professionals literally at my fingertips. There will be a million things to be upset about as you get ready for surgery, but I believe one of the best things you can do for yourself is focusing on getting help.
I hope you find this list helpful, and as you head into your surgery, be kind to your mind and focus on the best possible outcome.
You will get through this 😊