Knowledge is power—and, as far as we’re concerned, showing surgery who’s boss all comes down to being proactive about your procedure. A major part of this? Knowing what to ask before surgery so you can better prepare for what to expect and how to reduce any associated risks. Today, then, we’re breaking down the top 4 questions you should ask your physician before your surgery day arrives. Read on…and get ready to feel empowered as ever!
- What type of anesthesia will I be getting?
When it comes to what to ask before surgery, this one is at the top of the list. Understanding what type of anesthesia you’ll be getting (local, regional, or general) is imperative for feeling empowered about your procedure—it will help you have a clear idea of what to expect, how you’ll feel afterward, and what risks you might be facing. You should also ask who will be administering the anesthesia and request to meet that person prior to your surgery date.
- What can I do to reduce my risk of complications?
This one is an all-too-often overlooked question on the list of what to ask before surgery. Patients often spend tons of time looking into complications associated with their upcoming surgery (and losing sleep as a result!)—but neglect to realize there are actually things they can do to reduce the risk of those complications occurring. While different procedures have different risks associated with them, surgical site infections can happen regardless of the type of surgery you’re having.
One simple way to reduce your risk of a surgical infection is to prepare for surgery with a carb-rich presurgery drink like ClearFast PreOp. The outdated practice of fasting from midnight uncouples the glucose-insulin relationship in your body and can render you insulin-resistant. Ultimately, when a patient is insulin-resistant after surgery, this can translate into high blood sugar. High blood sugar—coupled with a fresh surgical incision—creates the perfect “sweet environment” for developing an infection (essentially, high blood sugar and an open surgical wound invite microbial colonization). But, according to a number of international medical articles, including an article published in Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, “Preoperative carbohydrate drinks significantly improved insulin resistance.” You can learn more about how postoperative insulin resistance affects your surgery safety here.
- What can I expect during recovery?
Understanding what to expect when you wake up will help ease the nerves and fear associated with the unknown. Ask your doctor how you might feel when coming out of general anesthesia. You should also talk to her about reducing your risk of post-op nausea and vomiting (PONV). One in three patients experiences PONV when waking up from general anesthesia—but you can significantly reduce your risk of getting sick upon waking from anesthesia by preparing for surgery with ClearFast PreOp. If you’re worried about feeling sick or groggy—or simply want to take a proactive step to set yourself up for a smooth recovery (and a shorter hospital stay)—make sure you ask your doctor about incorporating ClearFast into your presurgery nutrition plan.
- What can I do to speed up my recovery?
We’ll let you in on a little secret—how you feel after surgery has everything to do with what you did leading up to surgery. When it comes to what to ask before surgery, then, make sure you talk to your doctor about proactive ways you can speed up your recovery. She might suggest things like stopping smoking, exercising more, and focusing on getting the presurgery nutrition you need to go under—and wake up from—anesthesia in the strongest state possible. CF Protein is a great option for the weeks leading up to your surgery (particularly for patients who need to build up muscle mass or put on weight prior to surgery)—while ClearFast PreOp was designed to take in the hours leading up to your surgery and is formulated with an array of ingredients specifically designed to enhance and speed up your recovery. As part of this conversation, make sure you understand how fasting before surgery can slow your recovery and ask your doctor about a carb-drink fluid fast with ClearFast in place of the outdated fasting-from-midnight practice.
—————————————
Want to learn more about how ClearFast makes for a safer procedure and smoother recovery? Read all about ClearFast and the science behind its ingredients here—or reach out to the ClearFast team at support@drinkcf.com if you have any questions at all!