Sarahs Surgical Schooling..., PRE OPT PREP An Important Topic that No One Wants to Ask About… Most of the things that can and likely will happen after any surgery are fairly benign, and many times easy to treat or resolve. Things like nausea, dizziness/lightheadedness, dehydration, swelling and bruising are all expected to some degree, and any good surgical team will give you tips and recommended activities to help get you through these uncomfortable side effects of surgery and onto recovery and feeling good. These things are typically short-lived or temporary, but it is still nice to have some tricks up your sleeve to make them go away sooner rather than later, and ease recuperation. One of the most common occurrences after any surgery is constipation. Not only is it painful to not be able to go to the bathroom, but imagine after having a surgery like a tummy tuck, where your belly is already tight! It makes you feel bloated, nauseous, unable to eat, and impacts all of your activities including sleep. Constipation is one of those things that is so embarrassing to discuss, and no one wants to ask about, but everyone gets. Dehydration, use of pain medication, abdominal surgery, immobility, and change in diet are just some of the reasons why we see difficulty with moving your bowels after surgery. So what do you do? Be prepared for it! Take in as much fluids as you can before and after surgery. Have on hand over-the-counter (OTC) medications like stool softeners (Colace) and gentle laxatives like herbal Senna (Smooth Move Tea) or more strong ones like magnesium citrate. Be as mobile as you are able to be. Take your narcotic prescription pain pills for as a short a time as possible, weaning off them when you feel ready to—don’t jut finish the bottle. Eating a healthy diet rich in fiber and fruits also helps a lot. Make sure to always ask your doctor not only how to treat the common side effects of surgery, but how to prevent them as well. The more you know, the less anxious you will be, quickly feeling better and returning to your normal activities and cheerful self—reflecting on your successful surgery!
Posted on: Tue, 29 Apr 2014 03:28:47 +0000
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