Preparing for Surgery

by Paulette Avery, R.N., M.S.N.

If you are anticipating surgery, I strongly recommend a book called Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster, by Patricia Huddleston. Although I have not used it myself to prepare for surgery, I have read much of it and listened to the audiotape that accompanies it. The program based on the book is taught at some Kaiser hospitals, and medical experts such as Christiane Northrup, M.D., and Andrew Weil, M.D., advocate its use. To quote from the foreword by Dr. Northrup, "I often tell my patients that surgery, when properly prepared for, can become a healing ceremony that is both life-changing and life-enhancing. This book is the most practical and complete manual for approaching surgery with maximal healing power I have ever seen."

As I believe that a person's attitude and beliefs profoundly affect whatever they may undertake, preparing for an event as significant as surgery seems like a very good idea. Apparently Norman Shealy, M.D., agrees, as he is quoted as saying about this book, "The attitude of the patient entering surgery is probably as important as the skill of the surgeon."

The author, Peggy Huddleston, who has taught workshops on self-healing to thousands of people and is a psychotherapist in Massachusetts, provides mind-body techniques that she says will help you

feel calmer before surgery

have less pain after surgery

use less pain medication

recover faster

strengthen your immune system

save money on medical bills

One of the first steps she recommends is to become comfortable with your surgeon. Clearly, it is important to have faith in the ability of the person performing the procedure. If you can also develop a comfort level with the surgeon so that you can easily ask questions and feel supported by him or her, you will be better able to relax and trust in a good outcome from your surgery. Your body responds to your relaxed attitude by secreting hormones that benefit you in many ways, from normal heart and breathing rates to a strong immune system that will lessen your chance of developing a post-operative infection.

Other suggestions to make the surgery a more positive experience include scheduling the procedure far enough in the future to allow you adequate time to prepare for it. If the date offered to you seems too soon, ask for another date. Of course, this is not appropriate if the situation is an emergency. Another is to consider short-term psychotherapy if you feel your anxiety about undergoing surgery is more than what most people normally experience.

The book and tape teach relaxation techniques and encourage you to imagine the outcome that you desire for the surgery. Just as top athletes mentally prepare for sporting events by envisioning themselves winning, you can see yourself happy and healed as a result of the surgery. And the more you practice those thoughts, the more relaxed and confident you will become.

Huddleston also recommends that you have good emotional support from family and friends. Get a friend or family member to accompany you to appointments with your surgeon. As they are likely to be less anxious than you, they can act as your advocate, ask questions you may forget to ask, and help you remember later what the surgeon told you at the visit.

The book includes many other helpful suggestions and lots of good information to help you make the most of the surgical experience. To get more information about the book, go to www.healingfaster.com, or call (617) 497-9431 to order it.

Paulette Avery is a registered nurse and a freelance writer specializing in health issues.