The Dragon Lady's Journey

Tomorrow is my big day, my left knee is being repaired. Amazingly, I’m not extremely fearful. Why, do you ask? I have one of the best surgeons in the field, I am in extremely good shape for a woman my age, I understand the process and I know how to prepare. As I was thinking over my preparations I realized that you might not have the information that is helping to keep me calm. We don’t have the time to go into the education I have had so let’s talk about what you can do to prepare and why you do these steps. First things first, if it is an elective surgery, get in the best shape possible before surgery; eat right, lose the excess weight (if you can), drink plenty of water, stop smoking, and get plenty of rest. Does it sound like preparing for an athletic competition? It is in a way, your body will be running a race to heal your incision site(s) and whatever else they maybe doing. Find the best doctor for the procedure, he will more than likely dictate what hospital, but if you have a choice then do your own investigation. Review ALL your medications and supplements with them, there maybe some you have to quit taking especially if you take blood thinners or medications for diabetes. They may have you wash with a special soap to help reduce the chance of infection. You will be talking at somepoint with the anesthesiology team, makesure they are aware of any allergies and any reactions to anesthesia. Unless you are having a major surgery like Heart surgery, anesthesia is the most critical element for your survival and recovery.
The night before surgery you should drink plenty of water and eat a good meal. After midnight, nothing else to eat and only a few sips of water to take your morning medications. Eating and or drinking after midnight can potentially cause undigested foods to travel back up your throat into your lungs, during surgery, which can kill you. Get a good nights sleep, and be sure to pray and meditate, it will help with the anxiety.
The morning of surgery, get up with plenty of time so you don’t feel rushed. Make sure you take your medications unless they told you to hold them. When you get dressed for surgery, wear something comfortable and little to no makeup. If they are keeping you overnight take a small bag, that you packed the day before. Have a conversation with whoever is taking you of who to contact, and what your wishes are if something should go wrong. You are not encouraging or even manifesting bad things, in fact you are keeping them away by being prepared. If you have never had surgery or a major procedure done, be ready for a lot of hurry up and wait. A flurry of things will happen when you first get there and then you will have to wait until they wheel you back. Remember that the surgery time is NOT set in stone, it is a projected time, an estimate. There are a lot of factors that can make it either later or occasionally earlier, none of the wonderful people caring for you truly have any impact on when things happen, it is a lot like a beautiful symphony, the performance cannot begin until all the musicians are in place and the time is right. The calmer and more understanding you are if things are delayed, the quicker they will get moving. Before the surgery listen to the aftercare instructions, they are given to you to help you heal as quickly as possible. I hope that this has helped at least one person, I know it has helped me. Here is a great webpage to reference. https://madeforthismoment.asahq.org/preparing-for-surgery/prep/preparing-for-surgery-checklist/ Have a great day