Tips for Preparing for Surgery: A Patient Guide

Maybe you’ve recently received results from a medical screening event and your test results have indicated that you need surgery to treat a cancer. Or, maybe you’ve had a knee or hip problem and you and your doctor have decided to look at repair or replacement surgery. Or, maybe another symptom led to your visit to the doctor and you’ve learned that you need surgery.

This can initiate a myriad of emotions and a cascade of further testing, waiting, and preparation procedures. If you feel overwhelmed by the process, know that this is completely normal. Among the many thoughts and feelings you’re having, it is common to wonder and try to figure out what you need to do next, and what to do after that, and after that, and so on. You might be feeling stressed or worried about what might happen if things do not go as planned, and you might be interested in preparing for your surgery so that it goes well, not just for you, but those who rely on you, like your family, friends, colleagues, pets, neighbours, and so on.

So how do you prepare for surgery so you can get back to being you as soon as possible? 

This depends on many factors, and probably most importantly the reason why you're having surgery (i.e., your diagnosis) and the type of surgery you're going to have. Some surgeries may change the way you live, others may have only brief impacts on your post-surgical life. Either way, preparing for major health events such as surgery can help prevent or minimize some of the challenges you may face and get you ready for recovery. 

Here are a few thoughts on preparing for surgery that we think might be helpful. 

Follow Instructions from your Health Team

First and foremost, follow the instructions provided to you by your health team. Your health team includes all the different types of doctors (for example, surgeons, anesthesiologists, general practitioners, medical or radiation oncologists), nurses, and allied health team members (e.g., dietitians, physiotherapists, kinesiologists, occupational therapists, and others) who are involved in your healthcare.

Your health team will give you specific instructions on what you need to do before surgery, such as additional tests, like imaging or blood work, fasting, stopping certain medications, or avoiding specific activities. You might also have other treatments prior to surgery (such as radiation or chemotherapy if you have cancer).  Your health team can provide information about what you can expect leading up to the surgery, the day of your specific surgery, and the time immediately following surgery.

Bringing a note pad or a support person to help you remember things.

There can be a lot of information to take in and this can be harder to absorb when you’re worried, or taking in a lot of new information at once.

If anything isn’t clear or you forget some instructions, it is okay to follow-up with your health team to be sure you have the correct information. 

Get Plenty of Rest

Rest and sleep are essential for your body to heal and recover from surgery. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep each night leading up to your surgery.  Stress and worry can impact your sleep a lot. If you’re finding that you are not able to sleep because of stress and worry, you might benefit from talking with a healthcare provider, such as a psychologist, nurse, social worker - or whomever you have on your health team that can help direct you to the care you need. This might also include the support of a doctor that specializes in sleep health.

In the meantime, if you have trouble sleeping, try some relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, or listening to calming music.

Try to get at least eight hours of sleep each night leading up to your surgery. 

If you have trouble sleeping, try some relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, listening to calming music, or speaking with your healthcare provider.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Eating a healthy diet can help boost your immune system and promote recovery after surgery. Make sure you're eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein sources. Avoid high-fat, high-sugar, or processed foods that can make you feel sluggish and affect your recovery.

Some foods may be more difficult to eat because of your condition. Your health team may have advised you to avoid certain foods. This can be tricky if those foods you are supposed to avoid are your favourites or ones that are most accessible. A dietitian (or nutritionist, depending on the region your healthcare is provided) can help you make decisions about the content of your diet, find ways to accommodate any dietary restrictions, and advise regarding supplementation if deemed appropriate.

Lastly, let’s be honest, the healthiest food does not always taste the best or match our idea of delicious. Also, some treatments can can change the way food tastes. Finding ways to make your healthy food taste great is important. This isn’t always easy, but check out some of the tips at the ELLICSR Kitchen, their Dietitian + Chef team are amazing at creating healthy, appropriate, and tasty meals for people undergoing different types of treatment.

A great resource for a balanced, healthy diet is Health Canada’s Food Guide

Read more about the guidelines by clicking here.

Incorporate Exercise, Physical Activity, and Movement into Your Routine

You may have been told to take it easy, but now we’re telling you to exercise? Yes! Our bodies are meant to move and when they stop for a prolonged period of time, it can mean we are less able to. In fact, this can become a vicious cycle of fatigue, resting, and deconditioning, and more fatigue. Very often, the more you do now, the more you’re able to do later, which is why exercise is such an important part of a healthy lifestyle before surgery and recovery.

Research has shown that getting fit for surgery with exercise can increase your well-being before, during, and after the procedure. It can impact your mood, immune system function, and functional ability - among many other things - that can help your surgical experience go as well as possible. Research has also shown that exercise is safe and effective under many circumstances that that you might think it wouldn’t be - like chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Very often (arguably always!), exercise should be incorporated into your medical treatment in ways that are adapted to your condition, treatment, preferences, and experience. Consult with your doctor before starting a formal exercise program to ensure it's safe and appropriate for your health status and health needs.

As a general guideline, some is better than none, and more is better than less.

You can read more about Health Canada’s 24-hour movement guidelines by clicking here.

Prepare Your Home

Your casa, your sanctuary, your haven - your home. You’ve set it up and it works for you, now. But surgery and recovery can change how you live for a while. It can change how you move which means that the stairs might be a problem or reaching on high shelves might be difficult. It can change how strong you are or maybe you’ll have pain in areas while you recover, which could mean that getting into and out of the tub or on and off of the toilet becomes a challenge. It could also affect your vision or hearing or touch in ways that might make the most simple tasks extraordinarily difficult.

Think about where you will spend most of your time. Consider where your daily accessories, appliances, facilities are. Are adaptations needed to your setting? Grab bars, non-slip floor mats, motion-sensor gadgets, can help make things convenient and safe if you’re more limited after your surgery. You can also arrange for someone to help you with household chores, and stock up on necessary supplies such as medications, bandages, and healthy food. And, perhaps you need to be thinking about homecare, both for your own health needs as well as cleaning, dog walking, mail grabbing, and grocery shopping. Help might be required, and it is okay to ask for it.

Think about where you will spend most of your time and the adaptations that may be necessary to make it a comfortable and safe place to rest.

Communicate with Your Doctor and Health Team

We get it - you might not want to bother your health team, you might not know how to even ask the question you need an answer for, or you don’t know who to ask. Even though your surgery may be common, this is probably new for you. Although your health team is busy trying to care for as many people as they can, if you are not sure about something and need an answer to a question that impacts your health, that is something your health team can and should reach out about.

If your care is provided in a language that you are not comfortable speaking or understanding, you can ask for an interpreter. Medical interpreters are specially trained to communicate medical information between languages and your hospital may have access to interpreters that can support many different languages. You could also consider bringing a support person who can translate for you.

Don't hesitate to communicate with your doctor and health team if you have any questions or concerns about your surgery or recovery. They may be able to answer them quickly or point you to a resources that have the answer. Many hospitals have detailed information pamphlets, websites, or care navigation teams to support your journey and answer your questions. Being ready means being informed, and being informed is a part of the health team’s responsibility.