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The prospect of undergoing a surgical procedure is quite stressful to most people, even when it is relatively minor. Even if you’re not worried about the surgery itself, you might worry about the period of recovery you have to go through — being immobile, taking pain medication, and not being able to work. Putting off your surgery, or even the act of delaying may cause unwanted complications in your condition. And this is the point when you need to accept the fact that you need to go through with the procedure.
While preparation doesn’t necessarily guarantee success, it, at least, guarantees that you’re not going to be anxious as you would be when you’re unprepared; so, how do you prepare for surgery?
Know Your Procedure and What It Involves
There are many ways to do this. A simple internet search is going to give you a good idea of what’s going to be involved with your operation. However, it’s much better to talk to the medical team that will handle your surgery, and ask as many questions as you can. By knowing what your procedure involves, you’re going to know what to expect. You should especially ask them what strict instructions you need to follow during the recovery period so you know what to do and what to expect.
This also helps you detect whenever the procedure that wasn’t done as well as it should have been done, in which case, you might want to get in contact with medical malpractice lawyers like the ones at seattlemalpracticelawyers.com.
Prepare Your Body
The instructions from your doctor are going to be very important. They may advise you to stop eating and drinking for a certain period before the procedure – make sure to follow this to the letter.
Take a thorough bath, but don’t shave the area that’s going to be operated on. While it may seem like a good idea, it actually increases the risk of infection which is obviously something that you absolutely do not to deal with while recovering.
If you’re into cosmetics, you have to lay off them at least until you’ve fully recovered from the procedure. This is to avoid any unwanted chemical reactions from the cosmetics with the chemicals used during the procedure.
Prepare Necessary Documents
Whenever you’re going to be an in-patient, you need to bring your Social Security card number, Insurance Information, and your Medicare or Medicaid card. These are the documents that you’re going to need if you want to minimize your hospital bill as much as possible. This is even more important if you don’t have anyone to bring you these documents.
Bring Comfortable Clothing
The last thing you want is for clothes to come in contact with your fresh wounds. Even when your wounds are sure to be dressed and cleaned, you want space to be able to move freely. It’s also for this reason that patient gowns are so loose.
These tips may seem simple, but they can grant you a lot of comfort, especially when your movement and comfort are limited. As with any situation that causes you anxiety, the trick to overcoming your initial fears is to know what you’re getting into and to prepare beforehand. May you have a speedy recovery!
