If you have a reconstructive surgery planned in the future, your medical team will inform you about what you can expect afterward and how to handle the recovery period. The more you know, the easier the entire process can be for you. To help with this, you will want to check out the following helpful tips:
1. Don't Spend a Lot of Time Outdoors
You do not want to get really hot and sweaty and have that sweat roll down onto your bandages. This can cause them to become dirty quicker than normal. After all, while you will need to change your bandages as directed by the doctor, you do not want to do so more than necessary, as it could cause agitation of the surgical site. It is best to stay indoors and in a relaxed position during the initial stages of your reconstructive surgery healing period.
2. Stock Up on Much-Needed Pain Relief
There is a good chance that you are not going to be able to venture into the stores during the first couple of weeks after your reconstructive surgery. Therefore, you will want to already have things such as heating or cooling pads for comfort, and over-the-counter pain relief on hand at home. While it is likely that your doctor will send you home with a script for pain medication, those will only last for so long and you might need additional relief. Once you are finished with that prescription, you might still be in some pain. Since it is going to be a lot less than what you will experience initially after the surgery, it should be able to be maintained with over the counter pain relief medication. Confirm this decision with your doctor before moving forward.
3. Avoid Heavy Lifting and House Cleaning
Before your surgery, reach out to friends and family to see who can help you with the kids or housework while you are recovering. You want to avoid heavy lifting, so carrying your toddlers around will not be a good idea until the doctor sees you at your follow-up appointment. Hiring a maid service to come in once or twice a week for light cleaning is another option.
Make sure that you are discussing more things you need to be aware of and prepared for with your doctor before the surgery taking place. They can provide some additional information about reconstructive surgery.
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