The happiest I have ever been about an upcoming surgery

“I was the happiest I have ever been about an upcoming surgery”

Getting news that you will be having surgery is never easy and is never something you want to hear. In my case it was different.

I have recently had my first blockage and have been suffering since then. After getting news from my doctor that she wants to see if the medication I am on will help heal the inflamed intestine, I started to become impatient. I could not wait any longer. The nausea and pain from my blockage was no longer bearable.

I met with my surgeon a couple weeks later and asked if he would do surgery to remove the intestines that are blocked. Right away he agreed and said, “You do need the surgery and I will do it.”

I was the happiest I have ever been about an upcoming surgery since I’ve been sick. This will solve many problems I have, and hopefully put me back in remission with my Crohn’s Disease.

What I think is extremely important if you are given the chance to know your surgery date prior, is to mentally and physically prepare yourself.

To get ready for surgery I need to make sure I’m preparing myself in the most important sections in my life.

First being my home life.

Spending a couple days in the hospital, even one day, is never the best. But ways I make myself more comfortable is to bring my own pillow, blanket, and pajamas. This helps me feel more at home during my stay.

Getting prepared before I leave home is always one of my top priorities before leaving for the hospital.

Before I pack up and head to my surgery, I will make sure to do my laundry, put clean sheets on my bed, and clean my floors. I’m a bit of a neat freak so I know if I come home from surgery and anything is messy I will want to get up and do those things when I know I won’t be able to.

I would highly recommend getting anything done at your house or apartment before leaving to surgery. This will help you stress less and can give you a longer time to rest when you return home.

I next want to focus on my work life.

Another thing I will make sure to do is get all my necessary work done before leaving. I will come to work the week before and make sure to follow up with my supervisor as well as finish all necessary tasks I have. This will not only help me, but it will also help my coworkers and supervisor at work.

Following work, I need to take care of my body and find ways to stay healthy and strong all while keeping in mind recovery time.

Something I have chosen to try is to mildly workout. I feel if I can get my strength up, this may help me recover more quickly. I’m not sure if this will work but there is no hurt in trying.

Finally, and most importantly, focus and take care of your mind.

Although you may be nervous about the surgery, find any and every way to make it positive. That is the best advice I can give another ostomate because it is the only thing that has worked for me to get through the worst things I have had to overcome.

I am one week away from my surgery and I know I can do this and I have so many friends and family rooting for my fast recovery.

Do you have an upcoming surgery? If so, share some things you like to do prior to it? If you don’t, share something you’ve done in the past! I’d love to hear from you all!

Keep smiling!