What to Expect After Eye Surgery

Going under the knife can be one of the scariest and most stressful events we will ever experience. However, by working closely with a trusted healthcare provider to plan your operation and recovery, and educating yourself about everything you can do to aid the process, you will mitigate any risks and ensure the speediest possible recovery. Here are a few things to expect after your eye surgery.

1. Caring for the Eye Immediately After Surgery

After your surgery, your eye will be red, irritated, and likely very watery. Depending on the type of surgery and your surgeon’s recovery plan, you may have an eye pad to cover the eye while it heals. During this time, your eye may be tender, painful, and sensitive to light. Keep the eye pad on until the doctor removes it.

2. Post-Operative Consultation.

In the day or two after the surgery, you will schedule a post-operative consultation to discuss the surgery and how it went, as well as your recovery plan. Your eye pad will be removed and you will be allowed to wear sunglasses instead. Your surgeon will also prescribe eye drops that will help they eye heal.

3. Your Vision

After surgery, your vision may be blurry or different than it was prior to your operation. This will take a month or more to heal, as your eye is regaining its full strength. After this time, you may need to alter your glasses prescription to compensate for any changes in your vision. If you experience loss of vision or pain, it is vital that you seek emergency medical care immediately.

For more information on what you can do following your next eye surgery to speed recovery and restore your vision to its former glory, look no further than Guadalupe Regional Medical Center to get all of your eye surgery questions answered!

5 Questions You Need to Ask Before Foot Surgery

There are many reasons why your doctor may refer you to get foot surgery. Some of these types of surgery are quite common and routine, for instance surgery to remove a bunion. However, even the smallest and simplest surgery can be complicated if the patient and doctor do not communicate clearly. Here are five questions you need to ask your surgeon before your procedure.

1. How Long Will You Be On Crutches?

It is important that you know how long you will need to be off your feet. Some bunion operations allows you to return to standing and walking within a few days, up to six to eight weeks of recovery. This usually depends on the severity of the issue being corrected.

2. Where will the Surgery Take Place?

Next, you will want to know where you need to report to for your surgery. Will it be held at a hospital or at a special surgical center? Since elective foot surgeries are typically not a life or death matter, most hospitals do not give these procedures favorable start times, in favor of treating more serious matters first. A surgical center, on the other than will have more flexibility and may offer a more pleasant experience.

3. When Can I Return to Activity and Sports?

If you enjoy high impact sports like running or tennis, it may take several weeks before you are able to return to those sports, even if your podiatrist has cleared you for normal standing and walking. It can take several months before the foot has healed enough to allow you to return to high-impact exercises.

For more questions to ask and tricks to use to make sure your surgery goes smoothly, with minimal complications, and the fastest possible recovery, go to GRMedCenter.com for a complete guide. 

5 Things You Need to Do Before Surgery

Surgery can be a stressful and overwhelming time in anyone’s life. Recovering from a surgical operation may require several days or weeks of bed rest and being away from work. Even then, complications are still possible. Here are seven things you need to do before your operation to ensure a complication-free and speedy recovery.

We will separate the different things you should seek to take care of before your procedure into how far in advance of your surgery they should be accomplished.

In the weeks before:

1. Start Exercising – Surgery requires a bit of a lifestyle modification. The start of which, occurs with getting up and getting moving for at least 30 minutes a day. Whether you walk, ride your bike, or swim does not matter as long as you are getting moving, getting the blood flowing, and taking deep breaths of air.

2. Eat Better – In addition to exercising regularly, eating right ensures that you get all the important vitamins and nutrients your body will need to repair itself.

3. Stop Smoking – Cigarette smoking and other tobacco uses are one of the single greatest things you can do to damage your recovery. Cigarette smoke causes wounds to heal slower and less completely.

Days Before:

4. Start Packing for the Hospital – Your doctor should have given you an idea of what to expect, in terms of how long you will be staying at the hospital during recovery.

5. Review Your Surgical Plan – In the days before your surgery you will want to meet with your surgeon to go over the surgical plan one last time. This is where you will ask any questions you may still have, and make sure you and your surgeon are clear about what will happen before during and after the operation.

By following these tips, you are much more likely to have a stress- and complication-free surgery, and bounce back stronger than ever! For more information click here to go to GRMedCenter.com now!