Frequent use of hand sanitizer, as well as proper handwashing technique, can ward off germs.
There are also services available that provide nurse aids who can help with household tasks, for a fee.
Comfortable Clothes
There is a reason that you see people wandering around hospitals in pajamasthey are comfortable.
franckreporter / Getty Images
No one wants a waistband that rubs against a fresh and sensitive incision.
Look for loose soft, easy-to-pull-on clothes in soft, breathable fabrics that dont scratch or itch.
Avoid snaps, ties, zippers, and buttons to allow for maximum comfort while resting in bed.
If you are planning to takeover-the-counter pain medicationrather than a prescription, have that on hand as well.
You don’t want to be scrambling for that information if you think you are having a complication.
Movies, Music, and Books
Let’s face it, recovering from surgery can be boring.
There is a tremendous amount of sitting and lying down, resting quietly, and avoiding pain.
Is there a movie you’ve been wanting to see or a show you’ve been waiting to binge-watch?
A book that you bought that you just never found time to read?
Water
Keeping hydrated in the days immediately after surgery is particularly important.
Summary
Taking it easy after surgery is more important than you might realize.
To heal as quickly as possible, consider pre-planning for your post-operative physical and mental comfort.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hand Sanitizer Guidelines.
2015;17(6):e23632.
doi:10.5812/ircmj.23632
MedlinePlus.Surgical wound care - open.
