I will probably keep updating this list as I think of things, and please comment with your own suggestions!
(In no particular order.)
Preparing for Surgery:
Get in shape. (Ok, THIS tip is in a particular order. In my opinion, most important.) I fully believe that my quick and easy recovery is due to my physical health before surgery. While I wasn't at my ideal fitness level, I was the strongest and healthiest I'd been in my entire life. So if you're not exercising regularly and eating healthy, whole foods, start now. If you are exercising, amp it up.
Stock your freezer with homemade meals, especially ones that are great for the crockpot.
Get into therapy. Whatever kind suits you - a licensed therapist, religious counseling, reiki, or just some good friends. Take the opportunity to voice your hopes and fears about surgery and recovery.
Know that surgery may get postponed/cancelled. It can be a lot more devastating than you think it will be. Try to mentally prepare yourself for this.
If you've got little kids, reconsider. My youngest is three, and we did fine, but I don't think it would have worked well if he were much younger. My boys were okay with me not picking them up, and being careful while snuggling on the couch. A toddler may not be as happy with the arrangement.
Drink lots of water.
At the Hospital:
If you have nausea when taking narcotics, talk to your anesthesia doc about it before surgery. Make a plan for it BEFORE you are actually nauseous. After asking me some questions about my nausea (such as "Can you read a book in a moving vehicle?"), my doc decided an anti-nausea patch would probably be best for me. And, unless for some reason this time my body decided not to be nauseous, it worked really well for me. (And, when they tell you to wash your hands after taking it off, they really mean after touching it in general. I rubbed it while putting my hair up, and then rubbed my eyes. My eyesight was off for days!)
Wear your own clothes. I changed out of my gown once my catheter was out. You'll feel more comfortable and more like yourself. I wore sweats with loose waistbands and tshirts.
Ask questions. Any that pop into your head. "When can I get this 'just in case' IV out?" "When can my catheter come out?" "When can I eat?" "What are these pills you just handed me?" "Why do I need that?" "What happens if I don't take that medicine?" I asked a lot of questions, because I wanted to know exactly what was happening and what medications I was taking and why. I refused some of them. I nagged and probably got my 'extra' IV out sooner than usual. I nagged and got to eat real food sooner than usual (because I was feeling up to it). I nagged and got a shower in sooner than usual. (I really wasn't nagging, I was politely asking, but I was clear in what I needed and why.)
Get up and walk. Even if it's just five feet the first time. It'll get easier each time.
Drink lots of water.
Recovery:
Set up a mealTrain, or have a friend set one up for you. It is SO NICE to not have to worry about getting a healthy, hot meal on the table each evening.
Plan on wearing loose-waisted pants/skirts for awhile.
Have friends/family come over and help you with dishes, laundry, vacuuming, etc.
Find a walking buddy, or buddies, to go around the block with you a couple times a day. It'll keep you accountable and it's more fun.
Fill your Netflix queue. I have been watching a lot of 30 Rock.
Drink lots of water.
Have cough drops handy. My throat was all scratched up from being intubated, and for several days I had a 'tickle' in my throat. And of course the more you try to hold back a cough the more you need to cough, so sucking on cough drops was really helpful.
(In no particular order.)
Preparing for Surgery:
Get in shape. (Ok, THIS tip is in a particular order. In my opinion, most important.) I fully believe that my quick and easy recovery is due to my physical health before surgery. While I wasn't at my ideal fitness level, I was the strongest and healthiest I'd been in my entire life. So if you're not exercising regularly and eating healthy, whole foods, start now. If you are exercising, amp it up.
Stock your freezer with homemade meals, especially ones that are great for the crockpot.
Get into therapy. Whatever kind suits you - a licensed therapist, religious counseling, reiki, or just some good friends. Take the opportunity to voice your hopes and fears about surgery and recovery.
Know that surgery may get postponed/cancelled. It can be a lot more devastating than you think it will be. Try to mentally prepare yourself for this.
If you've got little kids, reconsider. My youngest is three, and we did fine, but I don't think it would have worked well if he were much younger. My boys were okay with me not picking them up, and being careful while snuggling on the couch. A toddler may not be as happy with the arrangement.
Drink lots of water.
At the Hospital:
If you have nausea when taking narcotics, talk to your anesthesia doc about it before surgery. Make a plan for it BEFORE you are actually nauseous. After asking me some questions about my nausea (such as "Can you read a book in a moving vehicle?"), my doc decided an anti-nausea patch would probably be best for me. And, unless for some reason this time my body decided not to be nauseous, it worked really well for me. (And, when they tell you to wash your hands after taking it off, they really mean after touching it in general. I rubbed it while putting my hair up, and then rubbed my eyes. My eyesight was off for days!)
Wear your own clothes. I changed out of my gown once my catheter was out. You'll feel more comfortable and more like yourself. I wore sweats with loose waistbands and tshirts.
Ask questions. Any that pop into your head. "When can I get this 'just in case' IV out?" "When can my catheter come out?" "When can I eat?" "What are these pills you just handed me?" "Why do I need that?" "What happens if I don't take that medicine?" I asked a lot of questions, because I wanted to know exactly what was happening and what medications I was taking and why. I refused some of them. I nagged and probably got my 'extra' IV out sooner than usual. I nagged and got to eat real food sooner than usual (because I was feeling up to it). I nagged and got a shower in sooner than usual. (I really wasn't nagging, I was politely asking, but I was clear in what I needed and why.)
Get up and walk. Even if it's just five feet the first time. It'll get easier each time.
Drink lots of water.
Recovery:
Set up a mealTrain, or have a friend set one up for you. It is SO NICE to not have to worry about getting a healthy, hot meal on the table each evening.
Plan on wearing loose-waisted pants/skirts for awhile.
Have friends/family come over and help you with dishes, laundry, vacuuming, etc.
Find a walking buddy, or buddies, to go around the block with you a couple times a day. It'll keep you accountable and it's more fun.
Fill your Netflix queue. I have been watching a lot of 30 Rock.
Drink lots of water.
Have cough drops handy. My throat was all scratched up from being intubated, and for several days I had a 'tickle' in my throat. And of course the more you try to hold back a cough the more you need to cough, so sucking on cough drops was really helpful.
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