After your loved one has just undergone surgery, it is important to know what you can do to help them through the healing process. Here are eight things that will make life a little easier for both of you:
Follow Doctor’s Orders
First and foremost, be sure to follow the doctor’s orders. If they tell you to keep your loved one on bed rest, make sure that you do so. Give them plenty of rest. This is especially important in the early days after surgery because it’s crucial for their healing process. Make sure they take all of their medications as prescribed by their doctor, and remind them when it’s time for their next dose.
Stay Hydrated
Encourage them to drink plenty of fluids in order to stay hydrated. This will help flush out any toxins from the surgery.
Eat Healthy
Keep an eye on their diet. They may need to eat softer foods for a while, and they should avoid caffeine and alcohol. You can also offer them light foods that are easy to digest, such as broth or Jell-O. If your loved one is allowed to eat solid foods, bring them something they love to eat. Help them eat healthy foods that will promote healing. Avoid greasy or fatty foods, and make sure they’re getting plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Moral Support
Provide moral support and encouragement throughout the recovery process. Stay positive and upbeat. Your loved one will feel better if they know that you’re supporting them. It can be not easy recovering from surgery, so let your loved ones know that you’re there for them.
Take The Load Off
Help keep their environment clean and organized. This will make it easier for your loved ones to get around once they’re released from the hospital. Assist with any necessary tasks or chores around the house like laundry, grocery shopping, and cleaning that may be difficult for your loved one.
Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
Monitoring
Keep track of any symptoms or side effects that your loved one experiences, and report them to the doctor immediately. Check-in on them regularly, even if they’re feeling better. Make sure they’re healing properly and aren’t experiencing any pain or other complications. However, if you do find that something has gone wrong during the surgery that caused extreme pain to your loved one, make sure that you immediately get in touch with a medical malpractice attorney.
Get Moving
Encourage them to get up and move around as soon as possible. Even if they’re not feeling up to it, getting out of bed will help speed up their recovery process.
Don’t Forget About Yourself
Finally, take some time for yourself and relax. You’ll need it! Make sure you get enough rest and eat properly, so you don’t get sick yourself.
By following these tips, you can help make your family member’s recovery process a little bit easier. If you have any questions or concerns about post-operative care, please don’t hesitate to speak with a medical professional. They will be able to provide you with more specific information tailored to your loved one’s individual situation.