How to prepare for surgery (and tips to help your recovery)

Doctor Joel Ten of Medix, a global company connecting personal health mentors with patients during their health journey, shares advice on how to plan for surgery ahead of time and explains how your body can best recover.

“No matter the size of the surgery, there’s almost always going to be some degree of nervousness or anxiety involved,” Joel says. “The good news is, there are plenty of actionable steps you can take to calm your nerves.”

Prior to your surgery, you’ll receive an information pack on how to prepare. This pack contains general information about the procedure, as well as administrative documents.

“Most importantly, you’ll need to confirm your admission date in writing or over the phone,” Joel says. “If the hospital doesn’t receive your confirmation, they’ll assume you’re not turning up for your surgery.

“As you get closer to your operation date, you may also be required to attend what is known as a pre-admission clinic. This is usually meant for people with existing medical conditions, or those who are going for major surgery like a cardiac bypass or transplant. The clinic will involve some preoperative tests including blood tests, imaging and more.”

If your surgery is taking place in a public hospital, there are usually no costs involved, but there may be a significant wait time.

If you’re undergoing surgery at a private hospital, Joel suggests double-checking to see if your surgery is fully covered by your health insurance – AIA members can check here.

“Contact the treating specialist, ask for the item numbers that are going to be billed, and send it to your private health insurer to make sure it’s covered under your insurance plan,” Joel says. “You don’t want to be hit with a sudden out-of-pocket fee which will cause unnecessary financial stress.”.

“It’s a good idea to keep active before your scheduled surgery date – if your medical condition permits it", Joel explains. “Even if you have a heart condition, it’s still good to build up your stamina through gentle exercise like daily walks. If you need detailed assistance, Medix can point you in the right direction for more specific exercise programs.”

For an optimal preoperative diet, Joel prescribes cleaner meals – which include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables – and reducing the intake of processed food.

“Fruit and vegetables will provide your body with plenty of vitamins and minerals for recovery,” Joel says. “When your diet consists of a large amount of processed food, you have an increased chance for inflammation. Inflammation isn’t necessarily bad – when undergoing surgery, your body can’t heal without it – but too much is problematic.”

Joel notes that knowing important details like your recovery period can also help you plan your logistics more efficiently. “If your surgery requires you to spend two weeks in hospital recovering, you’ll need to plan ahead to sort out your work and family commitments – the more prepared you are, the less anxious you’ll be,” Joel says.

On the day of the surgery, Joel suggests creating a small checklist of essential items before you leave the house. “You’ll need to bring all your required paperwork, personal identification, your Medicare card and your private health insurance details,” Joel says.

“If you usually wear contact lenses, you’ll have to remove them and wear glasses – same goes for dentures and wigs. And finally, always allow for traffic delays – especially if it’s a morning procedure. You don’t want to be fighting with traffic and stressing over being late for your admission.”

If you’re staying overnight, Joel recommends preparing a few extra items to take with you into the hospital.

“Firstly, you’ll want to bring any medication you’re currently taking,” Joel says. “Most of the time, unless you’re using a particularly uncommon medication, the hospital will use their own supply. However, it’s best to bring your own in case of logistical issues – plus, the nurses can crosscheck your medication and dosage amount against what the doctor has written up.”

“Toiletries are also a must – toothbrushes and toothpaste are generally not provided by the hospital. The clothes you wear on the day should also be loose-fitting, especially around the area where you’ve had the operation. You can also bring a form of entertainment with you – books, laptops and tablets are popular options.”

Following your procedure, you must follow your surgeon’s instructions. While rest is important, Joel recommends asking your treating doctors if you can walk around.

“Rest is incredibly important while recovering from surgery, but you don’t want to lay in bed and do nothing,” he explains. “This may lead to constipation or deep vein thrombosis (DVT).”

Joel also suggests monitoring your bandage regularly. “You’ll want to look for any signs of infection, including redness, pus or excess bleeding,” Joel says. “If you’re unsure about the condition of your recovery site, either consult your treating specialist, general practitioner, or utilise a health mentor service like Medix.” 

Medix offers world-class Personal Health Mentor Services through a global network of doctors, specialists and medical centres. Their services are available to AIA Australia customers who hold a life or health insurance policy (subject to product and medical condition eligibility). This includes AIA customers with life insurance policies originally issued by CMLA.