A series of steps preparing for a calming surgery
You have been down the path of diagnosis, and been advised for surgery. Now you have to face the emotional rollercoaster, and (often) time pressure, to deal with some of the most important decisions in your life. The most important part of your decision is to enhance confidence in yourself that post surgery will not become a “Monday morning quarterback” experience, regardless of the outcome.
- Choosing a surgeon- Knowing your surgeon has seen this before and operated many times (or at least seen once and taught once, in extreme circumstance)
- Methods of surgery- There are usually more than one, and you or the doctor chose one based on: method result and the patients compatibility to the particular rehab
- Understanding the time frame- Priorities help to a focused confidence
- You can visualize the surgery chosen- You have enough step by step information to know the surgery as if it is happening in front of you
- All the doctors including the surgeon have been presented- You know each doctor’s purpose
- You have met all operating parties- You’ve personally met whom are touching you and deciding on your behalf
- Anesthesia- Understanding the feelings and slow recovery give emotions less panic. Being aware of the minute complications of manipulated airway, or unseen reactions should always be a reality not ignored
- Understanding complications involved any time- You had a dialogue about: anesthesia, blood loss, and drop in blood pressure, wound healing, or leaking of membranes that have chemicals.
- Being ready for “no turning back”- You know all the “who what where when and whys” there is no reason not to proceed
- Regardless of the time constraints you had time to make a calculated decision- Even in a time pressure it could only takes minutes to have a good feeling that you considered your choices
- When the decisions aren’t made by the actual patient, expose them of the future- The stable emotions of the actual patient give the best road to recovery
- Prayer- The beginning and end
Recovery- Although recovery might seem as part of the options for surgery (unless that particular patient won’t rehab properly to certain surgeries regardless of the surgery results) it is a section that is dealt with post operation. Here are some of the reasons:
- Most people can only handle so much. Dealing in detail with rehab and using that as your guiding light, is like taking antibiotics before you get sick. The potency of the information is effective once one is past surgery.
- The results or mid-surgery changes, may affect the path of recovery
- Our “inner-reaction” smarts aren’t engaged until they are absolutely necessary. It is a useful tool that we rely on for a comfortable decision.