Military Officer - January 2007 - (Page 44)

askthedoctor Under the Knife Preparation before surgery can speed and ease your recovery afterward. Rear Adm. Joyce Johnson, D.O., offers ideas to anticipate and minimize the disruption caused by surgery. ith most nonemergency surgeries, you might have weeks or months to prepare. Think about how surgery will affect your life — for example, after carpal tunnel surgery, expect a period of time when you can’t write with the affected hand; after cataract surgery, you should not bend over for several weeks — and plan ahead to reduce complications. Body. Cleansing your bowel the day before abdominal surgery (or even a routine screening colonoscopy) is much easier if you reduce your intake of solid foods for several days beforehand. If you anticipate using crutches after your surgery, exercise to strengthen your arms. Strengthening your legs before surgery can reduce the stress of getting in and out of a chair after back or abdominal surgery. If your dominant hand will be bandaged, practice writing and eating with the other hand. Aftercare. Talk to your doctor about additional care you might need. Home health care services such as physical therapy or nursing often can be arranged. Some people want extra help with cooking, cleaning, and laundry. If you think you will need additional comprehensive nursing care, ask about being discharged from the hospital to a rehabilitation facility. Medicare and other health insurance might pay for this. Paperwork. Before surgery might be a good time to write a will, decide on medical advanced directives, and complete organ donor paperwork. A visit with a religious leader (rabbi, priest, minister, etcetera) also might be comforting. Complete tax JANUARY 2007 W As You Prepare, Be Creative ■ Before having surgery, one 85-year-old woman taught her dog to jump onto a bench so that after she got home she could attach the dog’s leash without bending over. payments, mortgage payments, credit card bills, and other paperwork beforehand. Wardrobe. Slip-on shoes are easier than those with laces. Women should plan to wear ﬂat shoes rather than high heels. Buttons might be cumbersome if your hand is bandaged. If you have a boot or cast on your foot, tight-legged pants might not ﬁt. Drainage tubes or a urinary catheter also are easier to manage with looseﬁtting clothing. Even if you always wear contact lenses, make sure you have glasses available — if you are sleeping more, they will be more comfortable (and reduce the chance of an eye infection). Lifestyle. You might have to wait four to six weeks after surgery before driving or using public transportation. Try to take care of routine appointments (haircut, dental checkup) before surgery. Home. How long until you can climb stairs? It might help if you set up a temporary bedroom on the ﬁrst ﬂoor. If you will be on crutches or using a walker, remove throw rugs (including bathmats) and furniture to create a clear path to navigate. If you won’t be able to bend over, move items on lower shelves, such as a favorite book or breakfast cereal, to a higher shelf. Finally, make sure your garbage is taken out before leaving home for your surgery! MO — Rear Adm. Joyce Johnson, USPHS-Ret., D.O., M.A., is vice president, Health Sciences, Battelle Memorial Institute, Arlington, Va. Find more health and wellness resources at www .moaa.org/wellness. For submission information, see page 20. PHOTO: STEVE BARRETT 44 MILITARY OFFICER http://www.moaa.org/wellness http://www.moaa.org/wellness

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Military Officer - January 2007 Contents From the Editor From the Chairman Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Cover Story: Osprey Rising? Battlefields of the Great War I Resolve ... New Mission Pages of History Information Exchange Advertising Index MOAA Scholarship Donors MOAA Member Services MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps Member Books Encore

Military Officer - January 2007

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