Preparing for Surgery When You’re Older

As we become older, surgeries become more common.  Not just because we have more ailments that need to be dealt with, but because science and medicine (as a whole) are advancing to the point that surgeries are more easily performed.  Things are easily done, and with less risk.  Surgeries that used to require the patient to be cut open dramatically are often done laparoscopically now.  Robots are used with extreme precision to reach places that human hands could not.  It is no wonder that more surgeries are occurring, then, as a result.

Sometimes, however, because surgery is becoming a bit more commonplace, we tend not to do the best job preparing for them.  People neglect the rest that they need before and after surgery simply because the surgery is not deemed as dangerous while it is occurring.  More importantly, perhaps, they neglect the sense of community that comes when there is a major event happening in their lives.  In the not so distant past, if a family member needed to have a surgery for cancer, for instance, family members would come around to support the one having surgery by visiting in the hospital afterwards, taking meals to their home, sending cards of support and well wishes.  Some people now, neglect to even tell family what is going on, have the surgery and are back to work right after surgery.  This is not a healthy way to approach the adjustments that your body or you mind must make.

Preparations for a major surgery can require extra time and energy.  You must think ahead to the recovery time-period in advance.  Clear your schedule for as long as the doctor says you should be resting.  Do not take on extra commitments during this time.  If you’re not comfortable sharing detailed information with people, simply say, “I’m having surgery during that time, so I cannot take that on.”  It is not necessary for them even to know the type of surgery that you’re having if you are uncomfortable with sharing it.  It IS necessary that you resist the temptation to put more onto your plate when you’re supposed to be removing it.   Preparations also include being sure that you have groceries fully stocked for your resting time, and at least as many meals pre-made as you will need before you are able to begin cooking again.  Be sure to have preparations made in your home, as well.  If you are going to require sleeping in a different location for a time, get everything ready in advance.  Consider which books you’ve been wanting to read, or movies you’ve been wanting to watch & get them ready before surgery so that you have things to do that do not require high activity levels & will promote resting.  If you enjoy writing letters, put your stationary by your bedside before you read with a stack of books.  You may not feel up to gathering supplies after you get home from the hospital.

Think about the clothing that would be most comfortable for you to wear on your return trip from the hospital.  Generally something with an elastic band around the waist & things that are loose fitting are your best bet.  Slip on shoes, if you have them, can also be appropriate to help you avoid bending and pulling, too much.  If you need to spend some days in the hospital, bring along a robe or nice blanket that you own.  Bring slippers.  Bring a book.  Make your recovery time something to look forward to & you’ll be more relaxed & heal better.  Plus, your nurses will feel more relaxed around you when they know you’re occupied and will only call if necessary.  People who have more time to lay awake, bored, thinking of their ailments also tend to call the nurses more often for inconsequential things!  Call when you have questions & if necessary, but be sure you have things to occupy the time without straining yourself so that the time will pass quickly for you.

When you get home, take time to relax.  When you’re done relaxing, relax some more.  There are not many times in your life that you have mandatory rest thrust upon you.   You can resist it and resent it or embrace it and enjoy it.   The choice is yours!

 

How To Help Fight Influenza With or Without A Shot

For the elderly & infirm population alike, the influenza vaccination is a hot ticket debate.  People on both sides of the issue are adamant that their way is correct & that the other side is wholly uninformed in the debate.  (I've yet to understand how anyone with a reputable search engine could be uninformed about anything nowadays, though).  The truth of the matter is, people have different opinions about it, & we're all just going to have to be okay with that.  But, whether you've decided to have a vaccination or not, the truth is that you can still catch the flu.  Since this is flu season, I thought I'd write a bit about how to increase your odds against contracting this ever mutating virus.

#1.  Wash your hands.  I know, I know, this is standard advice given everywhere.  But, some people are not aware that simply soaping up & rinsing their hands is not enough, you need to soap, use very warm water & rub vigorously for at least 15 seconds in order to kill germs on your hands.  The friction caused by scrubbing your hands is really what is doing the work, not the type of soap you use, so do not worry if you're not using anti-bacterial soap.  Many cities are against the use of anti-bacterial soap in their sewers.

#2.  Humidify!  Studies have shown that influenza virus cannot thrive in very warm (think 86) or very humid (45-50%) environments.  Buy a humidifier, hang wet clothes in the house, simmer water on the stove, or find another means to raise the humidity in your home in the winter, especially if you live in a very cold or very dry environment.

#3.  Become a recluse!  This will not work indefinitely, so try to save it for the worst part of the cold/flu season!  Plan less outings & meetings.  Be sure that you're well rested when you do have contact with the masses in places like clinics or big box stores.  Do your best to limit your contact to healthy people.  If you work in the healthcare sector, this will not be feasible, but following the other suggestions should still help to protect you.

#4.  Rest up.  Getting adequate sleep can help to boost your immunity.  Get sleep when you need it.  This season is not the time to kick it into overdrive.  Take a clue from the levels of sunlight.  If the days need more sleep, so do you!

#5.  Supplement.  Look into supplements that will boost your immunity.  Garlic, Vitamin D3, echinacea & elderberry syrup are just a few that come to mind.  Be sure you're getting probiotics in your diet or through a supplement to help you fight off any secondary bacterial infections often associated with the cold/flu season.

#6.  Hydrate.  Drink enough water so that your body can function smoothly.  Often in very cold climates, people tend to reduce their water intake because of the preference for warm drinks loaded with sugar.  Coffee, tea, hot cocoa or hot lemon are great, but be sure they're not replacing the good old fashioned water that your body needs.   Too much caffeine can also lower your immunity, so if you're overly addicted to caffeine, consider cutting back & replacing it with something else in your beverage diet.

#7.  Try diffusing some essential oils that are known for their anti-viral properties.  Just ask a friend who is really into oils, they will be happy to let you know which ones are the best & where to find the best deal!

#8.  Remember that we will never have a foolproof system against virus spread.  If all of us do our best to control the environments that we're in charge of, however, we should be able to make a dent in the amount of people that catch/transmit influenza.  So do your best, don't go out if you have flu-like symptoms, don't allow your children to go places if they're feeling ill, and above all, cover your cough!

 

 

Pneumonia In the Aging

  With cold and flu season finished up in the majority of the states across our country, this is the perfect time to talk about pneumonia in order to give some food for thought on how to be prepared for next year.  Almost all of us have experienced this less-than-fun issue after having a particularly bad bout with a cold or influenza.  You feel the pain starting in a certain lobe of your chest & it feels like you've cracked a rib.  You can cough all day and night, but it is not productive & the cough remains tight despite your best efforts.  Your muscles become sore from giving it your best effort.  So how can we do our best to combat pneumonia when it seems like it can take over in a matter of hours?

  1. Plan WAY ahead. Make sure that you have every natural remedy on hand to combat colds & flu far before you'll ever need them.  Be sure to keep essential oils to diffuse, especially oregano, which can stop the spread of viruses.  Keep raw honey, elderberry syrup, echinacea, turmeric, garlic, and anything else you come across in your research that promises to be helpful in the fight against colds & flu.  Stock up on epsom salts & make your own bath salt blends. Remember that pneumonia rarely starts as pneumonia, but almost always as a bit of a cold or flu.
  2. Keep a good stockpile of fresh fruits & vegetables that will be helpful to fight infections. Garlic is a staple item that everyone should have on hand that has antibiotic properties, as well as raw honey for those who are able to take that.  Any other dark, green, leafy vegetables & dark red & orange veggies and fruit will help your body fight off the onslaught of invaders trying to wreak havoc.
  3. Learn breathing exercises now. Go online and find sites that have demonstrations of breathing exercises to help keep your lungs in shape during pneumonia.  Trust me, when you have the actual sickness, you do not feel like surfing the internet looking for these things.  Most of them are relatively simple, but knowing what you should be doing without having to learn the simple steps can help you to put them into practice faster  & make them much more effective.
  4. Spend time outdoors in the sunshine. If you live in a place that is relatively dark in the winter, still make a daily trek outside to breathe in the fresh air.  The air out there is much less polluted than in your house (no matter how clean).  The plant life if giving fresh oxygen to you.  Take advantage of that, even if you don't have lots of energy to spare.
  5. Know when to say enough. If you find yourself with pneumonia, despite your best efforts, remember to go in to the doctor before you become so exhausted that you need to be hospitalized.  Sometimes, in spite of how prepared we are, our bodies really cannot fight off certain things that come our way.  It might be helpful to seek a doctor's advice & get some medicines to help.  If you've had compromised lungs in the past that required an inhaler or nebulizer, you already know not to mess around if things are getting stressful & tight in there. If you've not had that before, but are unable to kick a bad cough & pain, you may need a couple of helps in order to get back on top.   There is no shame in getting what you need in order to feel better.

All together, pneumonia is a pretty scary thing for those of us who are aging.  We've known people who pass away from it because they can't seem to fight against it.  Being prepared for it should always be a priority, & preparing for it far in advance will help all of us have the best chance of fighting against it!