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Successful Surgery and Healing is THE “HOW TO” for anyone preparing for or recovering from surgery. It's for patients and caregivers, advocates, friends or family members looking to support someone going through the process, before or after surgery.
Having had open-heart surgery, a partially-severed Achilles tendon, reconstructive knee surgery, an emergency appendectomy, a traumatic brain injury and back surgery, I have a ton of hands-on experience when it comes to getting ready for, going through and recovering from surgery. Take advantage of my experiences (and learn from my mistakes)! In short, what I know for sure is that being prepared made my later experiences significantly easier and my recoveries quicker and stronger. It’s my hope that you may benefit from my insights, experiences and mistakes. My desire is to be of service to others who are navigating surgery, recovery and healing - it can be scary - wanting to get back to living a joy-full life. How and where do you begin? (PART I) Surgery: What Everyone Needs To Know contains information for everyone, regardless of where you are in the process - planning or recovery. It covers getting an advocate, creating structure, support and a safe and comfortable environment. Unplanned Emergency Surgery talks about that to do if you find yourself having emergency surgery, such as after a bad fall or accident. |
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Back Home: Healing and Recovery contains information for patients when they get home including: incision care, bathing and showering, signs and symptoms of an infection or other potential surgical complication, swelling and inflammation, constipation, blood pressure, pain management, sleeping and resting, eating and drinking to support healing and recovery, physical therapy, the benefits of exercise, can I have sex now?, weight loss and weight gain after surgery, the post-op blues and post-surgical doctor follow-up.
(PART II) If You Have Time To Plan and Prepare contains valuable information for those who have time to plan and prepare for surgery including Avoiding Surprises: What To Expect Right Before and Right After Surgery. (If you’re like me, knowing what exactly to expect in the days just before surgery, at the hospital and just after surgery may alleviate some anxiety. Knowing this was valuable for me.)
Sample Templates. This section contains templates to help organize you and your health care information. These documents are useful to prepare prior to doctor appointments, or to have on hand in the event of an emergency. The templates are also available as free 8 ½˝ x 11˝ .pdf and .doc under the "free downloads" tab.
Appendix. Additional information and resources.
(PART II) If You Have Time To Plan and Prepare contains valuable information for those who have time to plan and prepare for surgery including Avoiding Surprises: What To Expect Right Before and Right After Surgery. (If you’re like me, knowing what exactly to expect in the days just before surgery, at the hospital and just after surgery may alleviate some anxiety. Knowing this was valuable for me.)
Sample Templates. This section contains templates to help organize you and your health care information. These documents are useful to prepare prior to doctor appointments, or to have on hand in the event of an emergency. The templates are also available as free 8 ½˝ x 11˝ .pdf and .doc under the "free downloads" tab.
Appendix. Additional information and resources.
