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Prepare Yourself for Surgery

By Gail Raborn, CHt.

Knowledge and careful preparation are vital when you’re planning a medical procedure or surgery. At this crucial time, it’s helpful to expect a positive outcome and be a pro-active partner with your heath team. This can make the entire experience easier and improve your outcome! Consider practicing these suggestions and share them with your loved ones.

1. Get a second or even a third opinion of your diagnosis and treatment options. You want to be totally informed of your choices before you commit to a surgery or medical procedure of any kind, including chemo or radiation. Consider going online and doing your own research as well.

2. Unless there’s a very good reason not to, choose the least invasive treatment possible. Don’t let someone talk you into a surgery or procedure you may not need.

3. It may be possible to sign your medical consent forms a few days before your procedure. Double check them for accuracy and even ask a friend read them. Mistakes happen. Remember: You have the right to change your mind and NOT go through your treatment or surgery, even at the last minute.

4. Consider a few sessions with a Guided Imagery Therapist orHypnotherapist before your procedure. This may increase confidence, relieve anxiety, help prevent complications, strengthen your immune system, reduce discomfort and bleeding, and may help prevent side effects or complications. You could learn healing imagery, deep relaxation, and create pre and post-procedure recordings.

5. Leave all jewelry and valuables at home. Facial piercings can be especially dangerous if aspirated during a medical procedure or surgery. Be safe!

6. Be sure your surgeon or doctor will be available immediately after your procedure and a few days following; find out who will be available if your doctor is out of town.

7. If you have allergies, double-check all food and meds given to you, before and after your procedure. Ask what pain control medication you’ll receive during and after your procedure and make sure it’s one you’re not allergic to. If hospitalized, be sure all allergies are on your chart, a wristband, and written on a placard above your bed.

8. If hospitalized, take someone with you for a few days. Some hospitals will allow them to sleep in your room, with prior arrangement. If you have an outpatient procedure, be sure you have someone with you for 24 hours post-op at home. If woozy from anesthesia or pain meds you could injure yourself. Don’t be alone!

9. If hospitalized, keep your call button near at hand! Attach it to the bed frame and if you leave your bed for a chair, take it with you. You never know when you may need it.

10. Speak out before and after your procedure to ask for what you need. Don’t let anyone bully orbe rude to you. If this happens, report it immediately to a Patient Advocate.

11. Ask someone on your medical team to repeat an affirmation before and after your procedure, something like “You will heal rapidly and well after your procedure, free of nausea and pain.”

12. Ask permission ahead of time to bring your cellphone or small CD player with you to play calm music during your procedure.

13. Be sure all medical staff wash their hands and put on clean gloves before they touch you.

14. Do all you can to be in top physical condition before your medical procedure: eat wisely and exercise.

15. Expect all to go well! Before and after your procedure, cultivate positive thoughts; pray or meditate; and picture yourself after your procedure, healthier than ever before.

FREE panel discussion on Wednesday, July 11th:

“Prepare Yourself for Surgery or Medical Procedure - Heal Faster” with speakers Gail Raborn, CHt, Interactive Guided Imagery Therapist; David Quigley CHt, originator of Alchemical Hypnotherapy; and Gayle Swift, RN, MSN, CNS. Come to Sonoma West Medical Center, 501 Petaluma Ave. in Sebastopol, 6-7:30pm. Info: (707) 703-7664.

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