A surgical procedure is likely to make anybody slightly anxious, but in some cases, electing for one might be in the best interests of your health. Elective surgeries are more common in older people, although people of any age might require one for a range of different reasons.
In general, they are designed to treat a specific condition and restore your health, with the main goal of improving your quality of life over time. Since these surgeries are scheduled in advance, you have the chance to make sure that you are fully prepared for the procedure.
Get Physically and Mentally Fit
Your elective surgery will be scheduled in advance, so this might give you some time to invest in your physical and mental health to ensure that you are fully prepared for it.
You may want to consider starting a regular routine of cardiovascular exercise to work on improving your lung function and decrease your risk of complications while under anaesthetic.
Spend your time focusing on improving your fitness and maintaining vital metrics such as sugar levels and blood pressure with an active lifestyle and the right diet. It is also just as important to be mentally prepared. Speak to somebody if you are anxious about the procedure, and practice deep breathing exercises and other relaxation techniques.
You can get more information and advice on how to prepare for private general surgery from the healthcare professionals at Circle Health Group. Circle Health Group is one of the largest networks of private healthcare clinics and hospitals in the UK, offering a range of different elective and general surgery options.
Ask Questions
When you decide that a surgical procedure is the best option for you, it’s important to understand why it’s being recommended and the benefits that it will have for your health.
Before the day of your surgery, make sure that you ask your surgeon as many questions as you like to ensure that you are going into it fully informed and knowing what to expect.
Ask questions about success rates, complications, and risks, and how long you can expect your recovery period to take. Be sure that you have all the information that you need on what you might have to avoid doing after your surgery, and how long you should avoid these activities for.
Give Up Addictions
If you have an elective surgery scheduled, there’s never been a better time to start quitting addictions and vices such as smoking or alcohol since these addictions can increase your risk of complications both during the procedure and while you are recovering.
If you need help to quit smoking or alcohol, your doctor can help you with getting the resources that you need to do so. You may also need to stop taking certain medications in order to prepare for the surgery, as they may interfere with blood clotting.
If you are on any such medications, your doctor will provide advice on how to safely stop taking the medication and/or start taking an alternative that is safe.
Prepare Your Home
Some elective surgeries will leave you unable to do certain daily activities for some time afterwards. It is a good idea to make sure that your home is prepared for when you return to improve the chance of a full and speedy recovery with no complications. Speak to your doctor or surgeon about any complications that you might expect.
For example, if your elective surgery involves a hip or knee replacement it might be difficult for you to get up the stairs, so you may want to consider bringing your bedroom downstairs while you recover and making other modifications to your home to aid in your recovery.
To make recovery easier for yourself, there are several things that you can do. For example, collect items that you need and use a lot and put them in a place where you can easily get to them without having to bend over or climb onto something, as this may be painful or impossible to do while you are recovering.
Get Support
Arranging support is a vital part of preparing for your elective surgery. After the surgery, you may spend a few days or weeks in recovery, depending on the type of surgery you are having.
This could limit your ability to get around, cook for yourself, drive yourself places, and do other everyday things. You should let your employer know how long you are likely to be recovering and take the time off if possible, or work from home.
Ask a family member or trusted friend to help you with things like household tasks, driving, grocery shopping, cooking, and other everyday activities that recovery may make difficult for you.
Elective surgeries are often the best choice to relieve certain health conditions but going into surgery can be daunting. Use the time you have before the procedure to prepare yourself, your health, and your environment as much as possible.