It is quite normal to be anxious and nervous prior to any kind of surgery- including spinal surgery. The patient can follow certain tips to reassure themselves about the surgery and help surgeon and medical team feel confident about doing the procedure.
Some of the tips are:
Arranging Finances
One must prepare for the surgery by arranging finances before surgery so that you are not burdened din the recovery period. Tumor on spine surgery recovery cost must be considered.
Donating Blood
Like in the case of any other surgery, the patient must expect to lose blood. Certain types of surgery like spinal fusion need the patient to have a transfusion of blood.
Patients who have rare types of blood must definitely consider donating their blood, for their own use during spinal surgery. Surgeons may suggest blood tests to ensure blood is healthy and suitable for banking.
A patient weighing less than 100 pounds cannot be suitable for blood banking. If their blood proves to be healthy enough for transfusion, relatives of patients can donate their blood. All the blood banking must be done at least 4 weeks before surgery.
Prevent the Flu
No patient should undergo surgery while suffering from the flu. Flu or influenza is a highly contagious condition. Prior to surgery, a patient is advised not to come in contact with anyone suffering from the flu. This is because flu can be contracted and symptoms may not surface for weeks.
Caretakers of patients must also get a flu shot to lower chance of spreading infection. If the patient contracts flu before surgery, he must contact the surgeon immediately. A surgeon may advise the postponement of surgery till patients become better.
Preparation for Midnight before Surgery
For most spinal surgeries, general anesthesia is recommended. Under such anesthesia, there is a risk of vomiting which can cause lethal choking. Hence patients are strictly advised not consume any food or water from the midnight prior to the surgery.
This rule applies generally to all patients but may differ based on the health of the patient, timing of surgery and type of surgery. Consult surgeon or medical team for details.
Shave Back
Patients who have hair growing on the back may need to shave the hair before surgery. Even if the patient forgets, the hospital staff will do the work.
Stop Medication:
Make sure medical team has a list of current medication of patient. A few of these medicines may be required to be stopped in days or weeks prior to surgery to avoid complications. These include aspirin and other blood thinners.
Psychological Preparation
Information about surgery, given prior to the procedure is handled differently by patients based on their personality type. The different personality styles of coping with surgery information are divided into two: Monitors and Blunters.
Monitors are information seekers who become better with more information provided. If adequate information is not provided, this group of patients exhibits increased anxiety due to not being in control.
Blunters are information avoiders or distracters. When stressed, this group of patients may feel overwhelmed if a lot of information about surgery is provided. In case, of such patients, increased amounts of information cause more pre-operative anxiety and bad outcomes. For such patients, some amount of distraction or denial will work well.
These are some tips to prepare for a spinal surgery. Spinal surgery cost like spine tumor surgery cost is relatively inexpensive.
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Thank you for your tip about donating blood so when we’ll be needing blood for the surgery were able to get one especially if we have a rare blood type. I got a scheduled spine surgery in three months and this information is really helpful. Cheers!
That’s really interesting that you suggest donating your blood before your surgery so that you can use your own if you lose too much of it. You’d also want to make sure that you understand exactly what will happen during your spine surgery. It’d be a good idea to find a spine surgeon who’ll be able to help you understand all of your options both before, during, and after the surgery.
I’m glad that you talked about not taking aspirin before getting surgery. I have been needing to go in for spine surgery this year. It would be smart to not take aspirin so my blood doesn’t thin too much.