5 Ways to Prepare Yourself for Surgery

How do you even know how to prepare yourself for something you’ve never done? In 2015 I was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer, a diagnosis that required me to undergo some major surgery. For my first surgery I had no idea what surgery prep, the actual surgery and recovery would look like. I was like a deer in the headlights. My second surgery was almost six months later. This surgery was still stressful but at least I had some idea of what the process would look like and what to expect. Since then I have had a total of six surgeries. It has become easier with experience, education, self-love, self-care and self-belief. I have learned through experience what is important to know and do as you prepare for surgery.

Here are five things that help me get my body and my mind ready for the big day.

Rest. I cannot say enough about how important it is to listen to your body. You don’t want to go into surgery tired and worn down, so when you get the internal cue to sit down and rest, do it. Rest doesn't always mean sleep. Rest is like a giant pause for your brain and body. Try doing things like looking at recipes you want to try before and after the procedure, watching uplifting shows or interesting documentaries, reading the book you have been waiting to enjoy, and when the time calls for it, closing your eyes and catching a few winks.

Avoid sick people. Your body needs to be a strong as possible going into surgery. Leading up to your procedure people may want to visit you to share best wishes. Give yourself permission to say yes when it feels right and no when your friends and family are sick. There is no room for a sore throat or a sniffle in your body when you are preparing yourself for surgery. The people who love you will understand if you want a phone call or a video chat instead of meeting in person. Plan your outings to avoid large crowds. Hugs and handshakes can be reserved for the healthy. Use texting or email to stay caught up with the people you can't see.

Stock up on healthy food. The time leading up to surgery is the time to boost your immune system to prepare it for healing. To do this include power house healing foods like mushrooms, cruciferous vegetables, and leafy greens. Enjoy foods like dark berries, citrus fruits, salmon, and garlic for immunity boosting. Add in probiotic based foods like kombucha, sauerkraut, Greek yogurt and miso soup to build up the good gut bacteria. Surgery and antibiotics will disrupt your gut microbiome so try to give it as much support ahead of time as possible. Include lots of healthy beverages include chaga mushroom teas, green tea, green juices, and lots of water.

Do Gentle Exercise. Physical activity isn't just for building muscles and helping yourself de-stress — it's also an important part of being healthy and supporting a healthy immune system. Physical activity promotes the movement of the immune system via white blood cells to more locations where viruses and bacteria can be identified. Exercise doesn't have to mean running or going on a long walk or hike; start small and adjust your routine as needed. Do some activity throughout your day if you can't do it all at once because some movement is better than no movement.

Stay positive. One of the most important things that helps me prepare for surgery is staying positive. Spend time on things that make you happy and with people who are supportive and uplifting. Try to avoid stress or at least keep your stress levels as low as you can. Find things that are calming and enjoyable and even distracting, if only for a short time. Read, watch movies or TV shows that are on the light side, go for walks, and focus on what you can do, not what you can’t do.

Everyone is different and handles life situations differently. Having tools and strategies to support you as you go into and recover from surgeries and treatments is important. 

Kathryn White is a Holistic Cancer Coach who supports women to turn their cancer diagnosis into a thriving story one woman at a time.