Help Yourself Heal: After surgery

Course sections

Introduction

We say this program is a preparation for surgery, but everything you have learned and practiced to get you ready for surgery can help you continue to heal after surgery and help you return to your pre-surgery state of health – or even better. So after surgery you may want to continue to practice these relaxation techniques throughout the recovery period. Remember to establish a realistic time frame for recovery with your doctor based on the type of work or activities you're used to doing.

You can use the post surgery self-assessment tool [PDF] a month or so after surgery to see how the relaxation techniques you practiced before surgery helped and how effective they were during the post-surgical recovery period as well. Seeing the effects of these practices is a good reminder of their value and may motivate you to make them a part of your daily life to maintain the optimal level of health you want for yourself.

Seven-day schedule

To help integrate the relaxation practices you learned into your post-surgery recovery, here are some ideas that might help you.

Think about the healing techniques you have learned and practiced. Which do you feel you could continue because you like doing them? Or perhaps you might like to rotate the techniques on different days or do one in the morning and a different one at night.
Another idea during the recovery period is to make a flexible schedule as a guide to help you practice and vary the different healing techniques. It is always good to be flexible and not rigid in your practice. Whatever you feel would help you at the present moment is the right thing to do.

You might create a seven-day schedule. At the beginning of the week, check off the techniques you plan to do on each day with a slash mark. At the end of the day mark the activities you did with another slash mark so you have an x in that box to show you did it. You can download and print this form [PDF] to help you plan and track your week's practice.

You now have an array of techniques to use, you know what works for you, but now you're doing it to enhance your health. You feel more comfortable now and you already know the benefit, so you're more motivated to practice these techniques and make them a part of your life without feeling pressured to do it. Now you're doing it because you know you will feel good after you do it and it will help you cope with any kind of daily stress.

Nutrition

Eat small, light, low-fat meals throughout the day when recovering from surgery. This can include foods like whole wheat toast, yogurt, kefir, custard, pudding, fruits, soup, half-sandwiches and fortified shakes. If a soft or liquid diet is necessary following surgery, consider protein and/or nutrient powders, broths, fresh juices, light soups, and pureed fruits or vegetables such as carrots, squash, mashed potatoes, bananas, or applesauce.

Eat fresh, healthy foods that are rich in nutrients and trace minerals. Protein is particularly important as it will help build your tissues. A protein-rich multivitamin shake may be a good way to start getting more protein after surgery. Eating fiber can help prevent constipation. Good natural sources include prunes, prune juice, figs, apricots, berries and other fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.

Aim for eight 8-ounce glasses of fluids a day unless your doctor tells you that you need to restrict fluids. This helps prevent dehydration, helps fiber work better and flushes out the bladder. Drink caffeinated beverages sparingly. Avoid junk food, especially foods that contain processed fats such as hydrogenated oils. Olive oil is excellent for easing inflammation following surgery.

For help in choosing healthy foods click here for Dr. Andrew Weil's Anti-inflammatory Diet Pyramid.

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5. Healing results