How to prepare for & recuperate from an operation

When you walk through the door of a hospital for an operation, a lot will be going through your mind. Whether it is you or a loved one who is having the operation, I want to help you prepare for this both physically and emotionally as I totally understand how daunting the prospect of a surgical procedure can be, no matter how minor it is.

With surgery, your body not only endures the physical trauma of being operated on, but it’s also exposed to various medications, probably including anaesthetic, painkillers and antibiotics, which can all put a further burden on your body. While some people bounce back quickly, for others, recovery may seem long and challenging.

It’s really important to support your immune system before the operation, as this will help with recovery and lower the risk of infection. After routine surgeries, some people end up dealing with infections for weeks or even months. The stress leading up to the operation can also be tough, especially for young children, so I’ve got some ideas to help you with this below.

At least with long waiting lists you do have the chance to get your body fit for the surgery, and it is a great opportunity to start adopting healthy habits to prepare you for the operation and help with post-operative recovery. Prioritising adequate rest and sleep is important both pre and post operation, along with incorporating gentle exercises like walking, yoga, and stretching into your routine.

Whether you, a family member, or someone else you care for is facing surgery, this blog shares vital dietary information to help you choose the right pre-and post-surgery foods and pick out some supplements which can help if you feel you need more of a lift than diet alone can provide. Making informed and healthy food choices can become your prescription of choice, which can only help to empower you and support your healing journey, enabling you to regain strength, energy, and vitality post-surgery.

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Emotional tips for children awaiting surgery

If it’s your child having the operation, you have all my sympathies. I have been through this myself and it is pretty horrible even with a very routine operation. Their worry will probably be heightened as many aspects of the process will be unfamiliar and frightening for a little person. Parents and children often absorb and reflect this stress between each other. So it’s just as important to take the time to look after yourself, so you can be as strong as possible for your child.

Reassuring cuddles are always the first choice and very natural. But my advice would be to be careful not to validate or amplify the negative feelings. Instead focus on the positive of how much happier they will be once it is all over.

Some children respond well to hearing about the hospital process itself beforehand, and one way to reduce a child’s anxiety is to explain this in age-appropriate language, telling them about the people they will meet and the things they will see. Reassuring them that the doctors and nurses want to help them to get better, might make them feel a little more secure. And bringing a comforting item from home like a teddy or blanket can also provide a sense of familiarity and comfort.

As well as this kind or reassurance, parents know that distraction is one of their best tools. So read a favourite book or put on a little soothing music, which can help distract your child and alleviate their anxiety. You can take the edge off an overactive mind full of worries with Epsom salt baths, chamomile tea (chamomile ice lollies for little ones) as well as lemon balm and passionflower teas with a dash of honey to sweeten.

Emotional tips for adults

As an adult whether it is a routine operation, or you are planning to give birth to your baby via an elective caesarean section, you can do the same thing by distracting yourself. Keep yourself active and busy so as not to obsess about it and adopt mindfulness and meditation techniques if needed. Plan for how you will feel when it’s over.

How do anaesthetics and other medications affect you?

The liver plays a vital role in metabolising and excreting toxins from the body, including painkillers and anaesthetics through a pathway called the cytochrome P450 pathway. The P450 can be imagined as the rubbish collection team who collect the waste and help to escort it safely from the body via the liver.

As we get older our P450 pathways slows up, it can also be more sluggish if we have exposed it to excess levels of chemicals such as pesticides, cosmetics, fragrances, food additives, industrial chemicals and environmental pollutants. Tobacco and alcohol use can also affect this pathway as well as blackened/burnt food such as from barbeques. Our inherited genetic SNPs can affect how efficient our P450 pathway is and our genetic blueprint can be one of the factors why some people process drugs and caffeine more quickly or more slowly than others. This precious P450 pathway is why we need to be cautious with taking medications like ibuprofen and paracetamol too frequently as we want to prevent too much strain on the liver, which could potentially be harmful.

Our body is clever at creating our own vital master antioxidant called glutathione which protects us from inflammation, neurological damage, autoimmunity and cancer. There is some evidence that anaesthetic and pain killers can lead to a glutathione depletion within the body at a time when the glutathione is most needed. Therefore, it would be prudent to also help to support the glutathione pathways in the body, if you are undergoing any kind of surgery that warrants anaesthesia and a cocktail of other medications.

Thankfully most of the dietary and food supplement interventions that support the P450 pathway in the liver also help with the natural production of glutathione. So eating well in the run up to an operation and a during recuperation is a double win!

Pre and post operative foods to enjoy

Here is a list of foods which help support both the P450 liver and the glutathione pathways in the body. Focusing in on these will help the systems in your body to be optimised and help focus on recuperation and recovery from the surgery. During this time, try to prepare and cook from scratch as much as possible (thus avoiding too many ultra-processed foods); and also reduce your intake of tobacco and alcohol as well as environmental toxins from household and personal care products.

Cruciferous Vegetables
Green veggies such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and kale as well as cauliflower contain sulforaphane which helps to support both the P450 and glutathione pathways. These vegetables are rich in B vitamins, antioxidants and sulphur-containing compounds which support liver detoxification. Pile them onto your plate every day!

Alliums
Garlic, onion, chives and leeks are from the allium family and again contain sulphur compounds which enhance the liver’s P450 pathway and can also help the body to create more glutathione. These are delicious added to meals such as stir-fries, stews and traybakes.

Green Tea
This tea which comes from China and Japan contains high levels of antioxidants and catechins, which help to support liver health and detoxification. It contains some caffeine and 1-2 cups a day is sufficient. Another option is Rooibos green tea, which is caffeine-free.

Leafy Greens
From spinach to baby chard to rocket (arugula), leafy greens are hero foods packed with folate to help kick start the glutathione pathway. These foods also help to keep the liver cleansed due to their chlorophyll content. Also try pea shoots, lambs’ lettuce and a mix of dark lettuce leaves.

Citrus Fruits
Lemons, limes, grapefruit, oranges and pineapple are all rich in vitamin C which is another liver lover and also wonderful for the immune system and skin repair. Consider starting your day with a large cup of warm water with a big squeeze of lemon or try drinking the juice of half a lime in a large glass of filtered water later on in the day. Grapefruit is contraindicated with some medications, so always check if you plan to eat this regularly.

Turmeric
This beautiful deep yellow spice contains curcumin, which has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which support both liver function and glutathione production. Add turmeric to curries, lattes and soups, or take it as a food supplement.

Berries
Berries, whether fresh or frozen, are packed with liver-friendly antioxidants and they are great for the immune system. They protect cells from damage and support detoxification. Try blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, goji berries and blackberries. Pomegranate seeds are great too. Sprinkle these on granola or whizz them up in a smoothie.

Fibre
Fibre not only helps to bind and eliminate toxins through the digestive system, it also promotes regular bowel movements. Constipation from the medications can be one of the worst experiences of having an operation and so this may need to be a high priority for you. Fibre-rich foods include flax seeds, chia seeds, hulled hemp seeds, kiwi fruit, dates, prunes and figs.

Hydration

Important as the right food is, enough water is very important too. The body is quite good at telling you when you need water from just getting thirsty, but you should make sure your urine is no darker than a pale straw colour, and drink more if it is. Most people need to drink at least 2 litres of water a day (6-8 glasses). You can top up with herbal teas and bone broths as well as coconut water and electrolytes if you feel you need more of a boost.

Other glutathione-rich foods which are also liver-friendly include asparagus and beetroot as well as liver and other forms of offal.

Supplements to consider

If you are keen to help support your immune system and liver function and also help to encourage optimal glutathione production, then here are some heroes to consider taking in the build up to your operation and for at least 6 weeks after the operation.

B Vitamins
Folate and vitamin B12, along with vitamin B2 are the key B vitamins needed to kick start a process in the body called methylation which helps us to make glutathione. If you are prone to have low blood folate levels (it comes from green veg, eggs and pulses) and vitamin B12 (which comes from meat, eggs and fish) then you may need to top up prior to the operation and for several weeks afterwards.

Milk Thistle
This contains silymarin, which supports liver regeneration and detoxification and comes in capsules, tinctures and tea. This is a particularly beneficial herb if you know you have fatty liver disease or raised liver enzymes.

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)
NAC is the precursor to glutathione which means that it is easy to transform into glutathione when taken as a supplement. It is also very supportive for the immune system and can be taken when pregnant and breastfeeding.

Collagen Powder
Emerging research is finding that collagen powder, whether supplemented in the diet or applied to the surgical site at the time of the operation can help with wound healing and prevent infection. There is lots of natural collagen in bone broths and home-made meat stocks. You can also add bovine or marine collagen powder to tea, smoothies, soups, ice cream and porridges to help bolster up collagen stores.

Probiotics
If you have needed to take antibiotics, orally or intravenously then these may have affected your gut microbiome and you may benefit from consuming some cultured and fermented foods such as live yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi, or top up with a live bacteria supplement.

The only food supplements that you need to avoid in the run up to the operation and for a period afterwards in high potency forms are garlic, ginkgo biloba, ginseng and vitamin E, as these have the potential to increase the risk of bleeding. However always check with your doctor or surgeon to see if you need to stop any other specific supplements due to the medications involved.

Round up

In the run up to surgery and whilst recuperating from the operation, you can help yourself or your loved one by nourishing your body and keeping your liver healthy by making some dietary changes. By incorporating these nutrients and dietary strategies into your recovery plan, you can go into the operating theatre in a calm state and promote a quicker and smoother recovery. If you need to put in place a more personalised health plan and need help implementing changes, then get in touch with our NatureDoc clinical team for some one-to-one support.

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