Going under the knife . . . now that’s a graphic synonym for surgery. It reflects how most of us feel about having any kind of surgical procedure done.
Whether it’s a routine knee repair that the doctor has done a thousand times or open heart surgery, just about everyone gets wheeled into the operating room with the same kinds of feelings—a sense of helpless submission to the well-trained mind and hands of an individual whose physical intervention we hope will bring relief and healing, a prayerful sense of hope, and a tinge of fear. Okay, sometimes it’s more than a tinge.
And everybody comes out of the operating room with the same challenge—recovery.
While we submit to surgery for the best of reasons—repairing something that’s not quite right—our bodies don’t necessarily get that. From the body’s point of view, it has been assaulted—cut open, exposed, with parts removed or rearranged. Think about the experience of surgery from the point of view of the body’s cells. They perceive assault, danger, wounds, and the need to make repairs, clean up, and defend against infection.
After surgery, the body is—all at the same time—stressed out, working to make recovery happen, and on red alert: What’s happening? What’s next? Is the danger over? No wonder we’re typically exhausted after an operation. No wonder recovery often requires more energy and takes more time than we think it’s going to.
When you experience surgery, you’re submitting, putting your trust in the skills of another human being. There’s no way of getting around that. But once you’ve selected a surgeon, made the decision to go ahead with the surgery, and set the time and date, is there anything else you can do other than be passive and wait?
Yes, of course there is. Aside from getting a second opinion about whether the surgery is, in fact, really necessary, getting all of your questions answered down to the tiniest detail, and knowing what to expect, you can pay serious attention to what you put in your mouth.
“Nutrition is keenly important before and after surgery. The body needs nutrients to repair itself after surgery,” says Sandra McLanahan, MD, executive director of the Integral Health Center in Buckingham, Virginia, and coauthor of Surgery and Its Alternatives.
If your surgery is elective, you can prepare nutritionally for several weeks ahead of time by adopting a diet that will maximize your body’s readiness, says Dr. McLanahan. And, of course, you can continue the dietary strategies after the surgery. There are also a number of nutritional supplements you can take, both before and afterwards, she says.
It needs to be noted that every individual is different, as is every surgery. Your doctor will let you know whether there are any dietary strategies that you must follow to meet your particular needs. And do make sure that you discuss any supplements you wish to take with your doctor. This is a necessary precaution, as many nutritional supplements interact with medications.
In terms of diet, make sure that you eat extra protein, says Dr. McLanahan. Your body will need the protein to repair tissues. Good protein sources include lean meats and poultry, dairy products, fish, eggs, and soy. You can also get proteins from grains and vegetables.
Your daily diet, says Dr. McLanahan, should allso include the following:
Whole, fresh fruit: 5 to 7 servings
Fresh vegetables: 5 to 7 servings
Beans, peas, and legumes: 2 to 3 servings
Plenty of raw nuts and seeds
One good way to get your recommended amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables is to eat at least two salads a day, says Dr. McClanahan.
It’s a good idea to take a daily multivitamin to make doubly sure that you’re getting all of the nutrients that you need, says Dr. McLanahan. In addition, she says, there are a number of nutrients that you can take in the form of individual supplements.
You should discontinue all the supplements 3 days before the surgery itself and then wait until 3 days after the surgery before resuming the supplements, says Dr. McLanahan. Some supplements, such as vitamin E, can contribute to excess bleeding, she explains, while others may interact with medications used during or after surgery.
You don’t need to alter your diet immediately before and after the surgery, however, unless your surgeon advises this, says Dr. McLanahan.
If your surgery is not elective, you can, of course, begin using the dietary strategies described in this chapter as soon as possible after the surgery and begin taking the supplements 3 days afterwards, says Dr. McLanahan.
A great way to get a number of antioxidant nutrients is with a beverage made from plant greens, says Dr. McLanahan. Antioxidants are substances that mop up free radicals, naturally occurring molecules that damage tissues. While your body manufactures destructive free radicals on an ongoing basis simply as a by-product of metabolizing your food, they are created in greatly enhanced numbers immediately following surgery as your body repairs itself.
You can either make your own green drink or purchase a green beverage supplement at a natural foods store and follow the directions on the package. For Dr. McLanahan’s own green beverage recipe, see Dr. McLanahan’s Super Green Drink above.
If you have a juicer, take advantage of it by making your own antioxidant-rich beverages every day, recommends Sandra
McLanahan, MD, executive director of the Integral Health Center in Buckingham, Virginia, and coauthor of Surgery and Its Alternatives. There are lots of books with juicing recipes to choose from. Here is Dr. McLanahan’s own simple method of preparing juices that will help get your body ready for surgery.
Using your juicer, make juices from any or all of the following:
Beets
Broccoli
Carrots
Celery
Green peppers
Parsley
Sprouts
Wheat grass
Zucchini
How much of each? Just keep juicing until you fill your glass. You can also add a little ginger or garlic, if you prefer. And you can make the beverage even more potent by adding a tablespoon of green foods supplement, available at natural foods stores.
“When the body is under stress, it uses up extra B vitamins,” says Dr. McLanahan. To make sure that you have an adequate supply of all the Bs on board, she recommends taking a B-50 complex. Follow the directions on the package.
The minerals calcium and magnesium, which work in tandem, allow muscles to relax, to contract appropriately, and to repair themselves, says Dr. McLanahan. Magnesium, in addition, helps prevent heart arrhythmias, she says, adding that it’s common for people to be deficient in this important nutrient. She suggests taking 1,000 milligrams of calcium and 500 milligrams of magnesium.
In one study done in 2003 at Duke University Medical Center, researchers actually found that magnesium may be a clue to survival following surgery. In the study, they looked at 957 people undergoing cardiac bypass surgery. After each surgery, the researchers tested the patients’ blood levels of magnesium every day for 8 days. At the end of the study, they found a two-fold increase in mortality in people who had lower blood levels of magnesium. In other words, those who had higher blood levels of magnesium immediately following surgery were more likely to survive. The researchers called for further study of the possibility of using magnesium therapy as a part of coronary bypass surgery.
The results of this study do not necessarily mean that taking magnesium supplements before such surgery will offer you a measure of protection. However, they sure do hint that that might be the case. If you are facing coronary bypass surgery, you might want to ask your doctor about whether taking a magnesium supplement would be appropriate for you.
Vitamin C is absolutely critical to tissue repair, says Dr. McLanahan. She suggests taking 2,000 milligrams a day.
Surgery and Its Alternatives: How to Make the Right Choices for Your Health by Sandra McLanahan, MD, and David McLanahan, MD
Make sure you discuss any supplements you wish to take with your doctor well before your surgery. Nutritional supplements may conceivably interact with medications that you’ll be required to take.
Unless your surgeon says otherwise, discontinue all supplements 3 days before your surgery and resume taking them 3 days after the surgery.
Consider taking a multivitamin to make sure that all of your nutritional bases are covered.
Antioxidants |
Use a green foods supplement. Follow the package directions. |
B vitamins |
Take a B-50 complex. Follow the package directions. |
Calcium |
1,000 milligrams |
Magnesium |
500 milligrams |
Vitamin C |
2,000 milligrams |