Five Stages of Post-Op Recovery
One would think there were just two phases of surgery — pre-surgery and post surgery. We are most apprehensive before the surgery and tend to think very little about post surgery. I mean, if you have survived the surgery, surely anything beyond that will be a breeze! However, having seen my dad go through surgery and having gone through one myself, I have come to believe that recovering from surgery is almost as difficult as going through surgery in the first place. Like grief, I believe there are 5 stages of post-op recovery.
Stage 1 Happiness
The first stage, ironically, is happiness. The surgery is over and you are alive! The surgery went as expected and whatever the problem was, has been resolved. You are in some physical pain and probably on a lot of medication, but none of that really gets to you — you are just glad to be back home. This is the time when you have family members doing everything they can to make you comfortable, friends calling, and, if allowed, visitors pouring in. Between rest and friendly interactions, you are fully occupied.
This stage can last between a few days to a few weeks, depending upon the severity of the surgery.
Stage 2: Restlessness
Okay, so you are done with the initial round of medication The physical pain has mostly subsided. You are mentally fairly alert, yet you are not allowed to and sometimes, not able to, do a lot of the activities you used to do. You are still feeling some side effects of the surgery. Your body is still tired and needs rest to avoid any complications. While you would like to get back to your regular diet, you are still being given “healthy” foods to help you regain your strength. You are alert and well, restless.
Stage 3: Frustration
The third stage is frustration, sometimes leading to anger. This is the point when the rest of the world (read family and friends) get on with their life and are back into their routine. Friends stop calling and people stop visiting, simply because they don’t want to intrude. You want to get back to your regular routine, but you are not able to. Depending on the severity of your surgery, you may still need rest, you may not have regained your stamina, and frankly, you are a bit wary of getting back to your usual routine, like exercise. Your back is sore from sitting or lying down too much and the rest of your muscles are sore from not using them. Nobody understands your pain. Everybody expects you to be up and about, or, if you are not there yet, at least be happy that you are able to do your own work. What they don’t get is that your lifestyle is not back to where it was, and that is frustrating. You miss the interactions at work, in the community, on the golf course. You tend to take out your frustration on your family, which is rather unfair as they have been the ones nursing you back to health. This is where your mental strength really comes handy. Recognizing your emotions and talking about them will help a great deal. It is crucial to get the emotional support you need to overcome this stage. Use this time to talk to old friends, catch up on your reading, write blogs, whatever makes you feel that time is well spent. Recovery is just round the corner.
A note to people whose friends have undergone surgery — this is the time when the patient needs you the most. Familiar interactions will instill confidence in the patient that life will come back to normal in the not-so-distant future.
Stage 4: Recovery
The fourth stage is recovery — limping back into your routine. You have regained much of your stamina, and you are (tentatively) adding activities to your routine. You feel good with each new activity added and you gain confidence. You see the light at the end of the tunnel and you are in a hurry to reach it.
The gap between Stage 3 and 4 is the widest and could take a long time to cross. Much depends upon your mental strength and emotional support during this time in giving you that extra boost of confidence to cross the chasm.
Stage 5 — Post Recovery
The last stage is post recovery — several months after the surgery. This is when you look back and think — well, that was not too bad! And then you write this blog!
Having received feedback from family and friends, I feel compelled to make changes to this section.
Post recovery, it would seem, is not just about looking back with a sense of relief. Depending upon the type of surgery you underwent, it could be life altering. Post surgery, you may experience a change in perspective. You may find yourself questioning the purpose of your existence — and that could lead to many positive and negative emotions. In my personal experience of close family, I have seen the tremendous impact of a positive outlook, and I truly believe that the quality of your life is dependent on your attitude
Have you ever experienced, either personally or through somebody close to you, the impact of attitude on post-recovery quality of life? Would love to hear your views.
