Before surgery to remove the uterus, here are 7 things that must be prepared

Approaching the schedule for uterine removal surgery certainly makes every woman anxious and excited. Even before the operation to remove the uterus, your mind may still be filled with many questions, Will the operation be successful? What are the side effects that will arise? Can I recover quickly after surgery?

Calm down first. Apart from preparing physically and mentally, there are several other things that you need to prepare before the uterine removal surgery so that it can be successful. Anything?

What must be prepared before surgery to remove the uterus

Surgery to remove the uterus or hysterectomy can be done for a variety of reasons. This procedure is usually the last resort for life-threatening uterine cancer, cervical cancer, and ovarian cancer.

Other conditions such as fibroids and endometriosis that are classified as severe can also be treated with surgery to remove the uterus. The disease is not life-threatening as is the case with cancer, but the symptoms can be so painful that they must be treated with surgery.

In addition to helping with anxiety, being well prepared before surgery can speed up the recovery period. Well, here are the things you have to prepare before surgery to remove the uterus.

1. Find out as much information as possible

Before surgery to remove the uterus, do not hesitate to ask all your concerns about the operation. Whether it's the procedure, the side effects that may occur, how long it will take to recover from surgery, and so on.

According to Sarah L. Cohen, MD, MPH, a research leader in the division of minimally invasive gynecological surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital, this can help deal with the anxiety that's plaguing you. By understanding the course of the surgical procedure, you will feel more comfortable and calm before the operation to remove the uterus.

2. Lose weight, if you are obese

For those of you who are overweight or even obese, you should immediately control your weight well in advance of surgery to remove the uterus. Being overweight can increase the risk that may occur due to the anesthesia or the operation itself.

Reporting from Everyday Health, obese women are at risk of losing more blood so that the operation process takes longer. In order to overcome this, consult your doctor about the best way to lose weight before surgery to remove the uterus.

3. Stop smoking

Smoking can increase breathing problems during surgery. Not only that, patients who smoke usually recover longer than patients who do not smoke.

So, don't delay to quit smoking as soon as possible. Reducing or even quitting smoking can help minimize drug use and speed up recovery after surgery.

4. Discuss drug options with your doctor

Talk to your doctor about whether you need to change the medication that was usually taken before surgery to remove the uterus or not. Maybe, there are some drugs that must be stopped because they can hamper the operation.

Also let them know if you are taking certain vitamins or supplements. Several types of vitamins, such as vitamin C, can help maintain the immune system and speed up postoperative recovery. However, it's a good idea to consult your doctor first if you want to take certain vitamins or supplements before surgery to remove the uterus.

5. Drink lots of water

Apart from pain in the incision wound, the patient may also experience constipation. Relax, this is normal due to the effects of anesthesia, pain medication, or stress before surgery.

To prevent this, doctors usually recommend that you drink lots of water. This will help to keep the body hydrated and prevent constipation after surgery to remove the uterus.

6. Adjust your diet

Adjusting the diet is also important before surgery to remove the uterus. The day before surgery, you should avoid foods that are too heavy, including fried or fatty foods for up to 8 hours before surgery.

Choose a light meal, such as a cup of bread and tea or a salad with soup until 6-8 hours before surgery. This aims to prevent nausea and vomiting during and after surgery.

7. Calm down

Naturally, if you feel stress before surgery to remove the uterus. You may be afraid of needles, fear of excessive pain, fear of the operation not being successful, and so on.

Even if it's difficult, try to calm yourself down as much as possible. Because when you are stressed, your body releases stress hormones that can lower your immune system. As a result, the body becomes unable to manage pain and infection during surgery.

To avoid stress, make sure you get plenty of rest before surgery to remove the uterus. Take a deep breath and imagine that you will quickly recover and quickly recover from the illness that has been haunting your life. Ask your spouse, parents, family, or friends for support so that you can relax a lot.