Written By Alan Good
As healthy as you are, keeping up with your exercise regimen of walking, strength training and, perhaps, yoga, there still may be a time in your life when you require surgery. You may say, “Why exercise? Why get fit, if I still may need to undergo an operation?”
We don’t know what is going on within our bodies. For that reason, I recommend early detection by taking screening, blood work and other tests. Now, I am not advocating you become over stressed and anxious and watch every new lump and spot that arises or worry about every pain that occurs. Only, be aware.
But if that day arrives, your specialist tells you they need to operate to fix the problem, I want you to be ready. I’ve had surgery for cancer in 2016—and just heard I will be back in this April to remove a kidney. The best way to deal with this news, I have found, is to begin preparing yourself and others.
Sit and make a list of “to do” items for your partner, adult child or a close friend. It may contain paying bills, caring for pets and plants, and seeing you get to and from the hospital. Staying any length in a hospital can be trying, as good as the care staff may be. Perhaps arranging for people to visit you on certain days will provide you with events to look forward to.
For yourself specifically, don’t stop what you are doing. Don’t give up! If you walk, keep walking. If you workout, keep at it. Stay the course. This will keep your mind occupied in a positive direction and help your body overcome the stress of surgery and provide quicker recovery. After the news and some time to reflect, I went back to walking, biking and strength training exercises.
Yes, recovering in bed for weeks may sound like a picnic but it’s stressful. You have a life that is suddenly on hold. Your particular world has stopped—or at least slowed down. You see all the things needed to be done and the waste of time laying around. Suck it up!
By that I mean, endure it. Accept what is. You’ll be better for it. And enjoy the attention. Nothing wrong with others caring for you for a short period. Know that it won’t last. Soon, you will return to your life and wonder what the hoopla was all about.
Besides exercise, relieve stress by breathing and focusing on your breath. Feel and hear the air going in and out. Take deep breathes and hold for 6-8 seconds before slowly releasing.
And be gentle with yourself. Asking yourself why this happened is unhealthy. Next time: facing “what is” over anxiousness.
