Time to Heal.
Coping with any kind of surgery once home is the first step to healing. If your surgery was complicated, you will be needing extra care and rest. For myself, I had a very complicated surgery, and it mentally and emotionally traumatized me because it was very unexpected and I was assured the surgery was going to be straight forward. In this situation, you can be left feeling very alone, as no one will understand the hidden trauma you’re going through. It’s not like it’s common knowledge for this to happen as the effects of trauma is invisible. Knowing what I know now, I want to share what I can to help anyone that may be experiencing something similar. I feel firstly, being kind and patient with yourself is important. Your body will be going through some deep internal healing, and this needs plenty of rest and time to heal on its own for you to have a complete recovery. You will be wanting to reduce any kind of strain, calming inflammation, and giving your body what it needs to repair, which is rest. In the hospital you have a nurse to keep an eye on everything, someone to bring you your meals and a cup of tea, and your Surgeon to talk to and answer any questions.
Your on your own now, and this is when you will be wanting someone dedicated to helping you at home, especially for the first few weeks. Here are some meal ideas:
- Keep them low-fat and simple.
- Eat smaller portions more often.
- Focus on: Lean Protein – chicken, fish, eggs.
Soft Foods – soups, oats, yogurt.
Cooked Vegetables – easier to digest than raw.
Infact, think about the menu you had in hospital, you could use that as a guide.
Helpful Tips: Drink warm fluids – herbal tea, broth.
Gradually add fiber – oats, banana, rice.
Try to limit: Fried or greasy food
Heavy dairy
Spicy or very rich meals.
Keep in mind: If it feels heavy in your stomach, your body isn’t ready for it.
Gentle Movement (Very Important)
When your just home from hospital and still even feeling pain, it may feel rst is best – but gentle movement actually speeds recovery.
By this I mean:
- Short, slow walks daily, even around the house.
- Gradually increase distance as you feel stronger.
- Light stretching, nothing that strains your abdomen.
Try to avoid:
- Lifting anything heavy.
- Core exercises.
- Sudden twisting movements.
The Walking Actually Helps:
- Circulation.
- Digestion.
- Prevents stiffness and clots.
Exercises after Surgery.
- Move your arms and legs while lying down to wake up muscles.
- Sit up on the side of the bed for a few minutes each day.
- Do deep breathing exercises to keep your lungs strong and clear.
- Prevent blood clots with light ankle pumps and compression gear.
- Ankle pumps: Move feet up and down for leg circulation.
- Knee Hugs: Gently pull one knee toward your chest at a time.
- Glute Squeezes: Tighten buttocks muscles, hold for 5 seconds, then release.
- Side neck tilts: Slowly tilt your ear toward your shoulder to relieve tension.
- Shoulder rolls: Roll shoulders backward in a smooth, circular motion.
Sitting and Standing:
- Move to a sturdy chair that you’re comfortable with. Stand and do deep breathes.
- Sitting on the chair – stand up and sit back down x 5/10.
- Wear resistance bands to build upper body core strength.
- Straighten your back while sitting on the chair.
Walking:
- Start by walking around the house, up the hallway and back. Do it once, then next time twice etc.
- Take it a step further, walk around the house outside, even up and down the driveway. Do it once, then next time twice etc.
- Remember to strive slowly to protect your joints and heart.
Safety Tips:
- Move slowly and stop immediately if you feel sharp pain.
- Breathe deeply and steadily through every single movement.
- Avoid holding your breath while straining.
I found the bed exercises very helpful after my surgery and then proceeded to walking up to the corner of my street (5 mins) then back. After a couple of days, I turned the corner to proceed halfway up the next street, (10 mins) and went from there.
I think it’s about going at your pace and learning to feel what your body is trying to tell you. The main thing is to just get that body moving when you can, slowly but surely. It’s been four months now since my surgery and I have pretty much healed and my recovery has been well, except for some mental misconceptions on my part, (more on that below). I’m awaiting my last consultation with surgeon/doctor next month and then I will be referred back to my own GP.
Prioritize deep rest.
Your body actually heals the most when your resting. Support your sleep habits by:
- Aim for good sleep + daytime rest.
- Use pillows to support your abdomen when lying down.
- Don’t push through fatigue – that can slow down healing.
- Feeling unusually tired is completely normal after a difficult surgery.
Suport your incision healing.
Even though your cuts are small, they still need special care:
- Keep wounds clean and dry.
- Watch for:
- Redness speading.
- Increasing pain.
- Discharge or sell.
- Always wear loose clothing whilst in recovery to avoid irritations.
Hydration & Gut Support.
- Try to keep up your water intake daily.
- Herbal teas can help: peppermint, ginger for digestion.
- If your bloated, that’s common – your system is adjusting.
- Probiotics is helpful for some.
- You may experience gas after your surgery, as your stomach needs to release the gas that was put in for the surgery.
Gentle Reminder.
Listening to your body is key. Because your surgery was complicated, your recovery may be a bit slower than average.
First few weeks:
- Mild abdominal discomfort.
- Shoulder tip pain -(from gas used in surgery).
- Low appetite.
- Ups and downs in energy.
- Ups and downs in mood.
Slow yourself down if you notice:
- Sharp or worsening pain.
- Nausea after eating fatty food.
- Exhaustion after small efforts.
When you should contact your doctor:
- Fever.
- Yellow of skin/eyes.
- Severe abdominal pain.
- Persistent vomiting.
- Worsening swelling or redness at wounds.
Going through surgery of any kind is not only going to affect you physically but it can affect your mental state of mind. You must try to be patient and kind to yourself as you are going through recovery. Informing your surgeon or talking to your own doctor is best for you going forward, as lingering mental thoughts can hinder your recovery. Having no stress in your life is a must, your body heals faster as well. Express your feelings to someone close to you or write in a journal. Quite often if your surgery is traumatic as mine was, it can shock your mental state of mind. By talking to someone, you can share the concerns and be comforted. Being an independent person and living on my own, I got concerned about my housework being kept up to date and lawns etc. It took my son to remind me to be patient and grateful everything turned out well. Having been told this, I had a good think about things and know now, the most important is exactly what my son said, and also helping myself to be able to heal better.