A Cut Above –Healing Quickly and Successfully After Surgery

For most people the prospect of having surgery or “going under the knife” is a terrifying prospect. Totally giving over control of your life to a comparative stranger who will make changes to your body. Cut pieces off or out, or sometimes put pieces in – or move pieces around. The idea of cutting into flesh is abhorrent, and let’s face it, scary!

There is a way of making the whole process more acceptable to mind and body, and encourage the healing process so that you can surprise the doctors and yourself with how quickly and dynamically you heal. I’ll give you some overall suggestions and then tell you my personal protocol. The process breaks down into three sections:

Pre-surgery.
Once you are over the shock of having to go into surgery, start using your self hypnosis to let your body know that surgery will be happening for healing purposes. Start visualizing the healing and the coming together of tissues, the ease of blood flow and the levels of energy returning to your body. In other words, visualize success at all levels.

My protocol: Listen to the Healing the Body CD at least twice a day for 10 days prior to surgery.Visit my superb Naturopathic Doctor, Dr. Leslie Ee for acupuncture to balance the energy in the body, Myers Injections (vitamins and minerals) and other supplements to prepare the tissue to heal, stopping these 3 days prior to surgery.

During surgery and immediate recovery: Turn yourself over to the process knowing that you have the best surgical team available (you did do your research and check them out didn’t you?) This is no time for control issues or dignity. You will be poked, prodded, looked at in the most embarrassing positions – and really, know it doesn’t matter. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about your meds and process. Treat the hospital staff gently and with respect and they will do the same for you.

My protocol:

Listen to the Healing The Body CD, as many times as you can.
Drink water. Sleep. I walked as often as I could and imagined I was taking my pole for a walk – I gave it a name too.... Percy. Gotta find a giggle somewhere! I made sure I said thank-you a lot to my body, my nurses and those I love.

After surgery, recovering at home. This is the hardest. You’re in familiar surroundings, but energy is lower than you may be used to. Your brain isn’t engaging like it should. You see things around the house, now that you’re home during the day, that really need fixing – or doing. Don’t! This is a time of recuperation and healing. Listen to healing music and healing hypnosis. Take some gentle walks around the block. Stop and chat to dogs and their walkers. Read a silly book – one that you might read at the beach. Start your vitamin regime, and take the time to really consider what you’re eating and how it make you feel.

Give yourself at least two full weeks before making any lifechanging decisions. Surgery does change your perception of life – for the better – if you allow it to. You appreciate life more, and those you share life with. Let it happen.

My protocol: Back to Dr. Ee for more acupuncture (boy does it boost my energy) and the Myers injections. Finding ways to ‘gentle-down’ my life. Starting very gentle exercises just to get the body moving. Visualising a strong healthy body, working the Healing the Body CD. Waking up each morning with a ‘thank you’ and each evening counting my blessings. Question – why didn’t I do this before – it feels so good?

As I write this, I’m just over two weeks post surgery, and although the energy isn’t where I want it, the incision is healing fast and beginning to fade, my mind is connected, and the doc says I’m way ahead of the usual healing trajectory.

It feels great to own my healing and by using hypnosis and other healing modalities my body is responding well, and I know that this will very soon just be a memory.