Even though the prostate is notoriously difficult to remove, there are some things you can do beforehand to speed up recovery after prostate cancer surgery. Over the years, doctors have come to recommend these preparations more and more. If your doctor does not discuss these things with you, it is still important to ask about them.
For many years, meditation has been considered the arena of quacks and charlatans. Nevertheless, new studies reveal that the ability to relax plays a crucial role in speeding up recovery after prostate cancer surgery. In addition, patients that learn to focus also develop the ability to manage their pain more effectively. This is especially important in assisting with recovery after prostate cancer, as well as from the procedure itself.
Along with fears of the blood banks harboring contaminated blood, there is also an overall growing shortage of blood available for transfusion. As small and unimportant as the prostate is in the overall scheme of things, a great deal of blood may be lost during the surgery. If you have two pints of blood drawn prior to the procedure, you will effectively be donating to yourself. This will make it much easier for your body to adapt to the new blood, and thus speed up recovery after prostate cancer surgery.
As may be expected, your health condition prior to undergoing surgery will either help or hinder your recovery after prostate cancer surgery. While you may not have enough time to take up weight lifting and high impact aerobics; Pilates exercises, Tai Chi, and walking can all boost your sense of well being, as well as speed up your recovery after prostate cancer surgery. In addition, before surgery, it is also important to eat foods that will supply your body with the proteins and other nutrients that will help you heal faster. You may want to check with your doctor to learn about which foods will work best.
It may also be helpful to you to understand what side effects you will have to contend with during your recovery after prostate cancer surgery. As an example, the last thing you want to do is wind up with constipation, and not have stool softeners available. Since urinary incontinence is often a part of recovery after prostate cancer surgery, you will also want to get some undergarments and pads designed to manage this effectively. By having an open and frank discussion with your doctor about this, and other concerns, you will be able to purchase whatever supplied and medications you need before the surgery. This will help you have peace of mind, as well as reduce stress after you get home from the hospital.
Today, doctors are becoming more aware that their treatments occur at a specific point in time. This time point is not at all divorced from all that goes on beforehand. Thus, pre-surgical preparations are becoming a vital aspect of determining speed and completeness of recovery after prostate cancer surgery. If your doctor does not initiate a discussion about these things, you may want bring them up on your own.
