While every surgery has its designated time for recovery, you can make effort to experience an easy recovery journey. Ignoring post-surgery instruction, not caring for incisions, not taking medicines on time, exerting, and adding stress on the stitches can lead to complications and delayed healing. To avoid all that, here are five steps you can incorporate at home to have a smooth and safe recovery.
Before leaving the hospital, the doctor and nurse share a set of instructions. These instructions help you navigate your medical condition and boost your recovery at home. Post-surgery and discharge instructions include what to eat at home, when to exercise or work out, when to get back to your old routine, when to take medicines, how to care for surgical incisions, how to bathe, how to maneuver around the house, among other things. These instructions also include information on physical therapy and mental wellbeing.
It is beneficial to re-visit these instructions at home and adhere to them as much as possible. If you have any queries or doubts, do not hesitate to contact your healthcare provider. The time after discharge becomes critical, especially avoiding complications that hinder recovery.
Follow-up appointments are necessary to monitor recovery. The first appointment is usually in a day or two, after discharge. You may feel exhausted, but it is best not to skip it. This is when the doctor looks at your progress and changes or modifies medicines if there is a requirement.
You should stay open with your doctor and talk about your symptoms and pain levels. That way, the medical team can help make you feel more comfortable. Follow-up visits may be scheduled two-three, up to five-six weeks after surgery. You may also have to get some diagnostic tests to get final clearances from the doctor.
Incorporating nutritious food into the diet can help reduce the risk of infections and promote healing. It is best to connect with a dietician after surgery so that they can prepare a diet chart specific to your needs. Try to incorporate vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates into your diet. Before taking any supplements, ask your doctor if they are safe.
Try to focus on increasing your daily water intake. Having seasonal fruits and vegetables can also help you stay hydrated. Stopping tobacco and alcohol consumption for a few weeks post-surgery is advisable. Post-surgery side effects due to tobacco and alcohol include delay in wound healing and poor absorption of medicines.
Nothing bad came out of resting well. After any major surgery, the body needs a few hours of complete bed rest. Try not to exert and stress yourself once you are back home. Don’t hesitate to ask for help, even for small tasks.
Taking up tasks gradually will give your body a chance to adjust to the changes. You may have the urge to get back to routine, but it’s best to follow the doctor’s instructions and wait until you are in the clear.
Many home healthcare providers give access to patient-centric, customizable services. These services help patients manage daily tasks, recover well, and gain independence. The virtual services by DayToDay Health provide targetted education, communication, clinical support, 24x7 care coach access, instructions on wound and incision management, daily symptoms tracking, and help doctors monitor their patients remotely. Home care services also provide families some peace of mind as the patient is in safe hands and can access their healthcare provider from any part of the world, at any time.
This article is written by DayToDay Health. For information on post-surgical care services, connect with us at https://bit.ly/39YfFLw.
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