How can your family assist you prepare for your minimally invasive surgery?

Families are there for you and should be there for you through thick and thin. Unfortunately, surgeries are more on the thick side. However, whether you are having a laparoscopy diagnostic (a procedure to examine a woman’s reproductive organs), laparoscopic bariatric surgery (a surgery to aid you in weight loss) or a lap appendectomy procedure (a surgery to remove your appendix) it is crucial that your family take certain steps to help you prepare for surgery and these are:

1. Help you quit smoking and drinking

Alcohol leads to problems like liver cirrhosis (a type of chronic liver damage that leads to liver failure), internal bleeding and anesthesia-related problems. Smoking could very well lead to infections and could also lead to a longer time for your incisions to heal. It is very bad for your health and you will have a very hard time quitting. Therefore, it is crucial that you get your family involved. They will be able to motivate you to quit when you feel like you absolutely need one. This is much more valuable than you think.

2. Donate blood for you if required

Taking blood from people in your family is likely to minimize the chances of tissue rejection. However, most surgeries including a laparoscopy diagnostic, laparoscopic bariatric surgery or a lap appendectomy procedure do not require a blood transfusion.

3. Help you stack your fridge with the foods you need post-surgery

Cooking for you will be one of the most important things they can do for you afterwards as you will not be able to cook. However, it is crucial that they help give you the support you need before the surgery as well by stocking up your fridge so that you do not worry about food after the surgery.

4. Giving you mental support

This may be undervalued at times and you may expect only this of them, but without your family, you would not be able to get through any operation. Seeing them again when you have completed the surgery and it has been a success will give you a lot more motivation as compared to just going home and having no one there for you.

5. Helping you physically

Sometimes you may be too weak to walk around physically. At these times, it is crucial that your family helps you go to the toilet, go to the dining table and anywhere else you need to go to do something, which is important to you and you have to walk.

6. Remind you to take your medicines and not eat food

This is absolutely crucial and a great benefit of having a family. They will remind you to take your pre-surgery medicines and make sure that you are on track for a good surgery. If they were not there, you may find it hard to keep track of all you need to do pre and post-surgery on your own.

7. Help you exercise and manage your weight

If you exercise, it will be much easier for you to work out as you will have someone to exercise with and this will also help you manage your weight.

Finally, do consult your doctor about what else needs to be done before your minimally invasive surgery and if there is anything your family can do, ask them because they love you.