BEFORE SURGERY

Foods rich in an amino acid called L-arginine stimulate the thymus gland, which stores infection-fighting T-cells. Eat plenty of peanuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, cashews, brazil nuts, tuna and chicken.

The Bach Rescue Remedy helps to overcome fear and shock. Fill a bottle with water and add several drops of the remedy. Sip regularly.

Some supplements including herbs can alter bleeding time. While eating garlic, soy, or flax seeds is fine, taking these in supplement form can interfere with blood clotting (particularly if you’re taking anti-coagulants such as aspirin). Tell your doctor if you take supplements of ginseng, St John’s Wort, Echinacea, valerian, garlic, ginger, gingko, genistein, fish oil, omega 3, soy protein or flax seed oil. It is recommended you stop all supplements at least a week before surgery.

AFTER SURGERY

Following surgery, take Arnica 200 to help reduce bruising and swelling (one morning and one evening for 5 days). Tip these from the container under the tongue and don’t eat or drink anything ½ hour before and after taking. Another homeopathic remedy that is useful after surgery is hypericum which aids pain relief and heals nerve damage.

An onslaught of prescription drugs will take its toll on your liver. Support it by taking the herb milk thistle.

Maqui berry will help boost your immune system and increase your energy.

Using Bio Oil or rosehip on a scar can help speed up the healing process. To minimize scarring, apply to the wound once it has healed and massage gently into the affected area.

Drink 2 litres of water a day to flush toxins out of your body. Drinking Aloe Vera juice will help your stomach’s reactions to prescription drugs.

Managing pain after thoracotomy surgery

The objective of postoperative care after thoracotomy is to enable patients to resume the normal activities of daily living, to prevent postoperative complications, reduce the length of hospital stay and increase patient satisfaction. However, pain can hinder these objectives and may result in sputum retention, deep-vein thrombosis, increased stress response and poor wound healing. It may also lead to chronic pain.

In order to prevent chest infection after surgery, patients are encouraged to be actively involved in early mobilisation and chest physiotherapy. Unfortunately, deep breathing exercises and secretion clearance require the chest wall to be in constant and often forceful motion. Since it cannot be immobilised to aid the management of postoperative pain, this aspect of care can present significant challenges to health professionals.

Pain assessment, which should include using a validated pain score tool, and obtaining a description of the pain and its site, as well as what makes it worse or better, is an important aspect of pain management. Pain scores should be documented, acted upon, re-evaluated and measured when the patient is at rest and, more importantly, during activity. During the pre-operative assessment, nurses should record any previous pain experience of the patient and/or current analgesia, as these factors may influence postoperative management. Any existing pain issues or anxieties should be highlighted and, reported to the acute pain service before surgery.