Look After Yourself!

After you’ve had surgery many things will be going through your mind. What happens now? You have a great deal to think about: your job, family, partner, friends, your life as it was and where you go from here. First you have to get used to this new situation, and that takes time. Not all women can manage this on their own. This is when the help of family and close friends is particularly important. We at Silima understand these difficulties and would like to assist you in some small way along this difficult path, by helping.

Some other small things you can do – to aid recovery after surgery

• make a firm mental resolution to conquer the disease
• express your feelings freely
• seek out the company of people you can rely on
• surround yourself with close friends and family
• talk to them about your thoughts, problems, concerns
• positive thinking aids recovery
• internalise good times and reminisce about them
• consciously look forward to the nice things in life and enjoy them
• make more time for your favourite hobbies and interests
• try to reduce factors which cause stress in your life
• do all the things you enjoy

Other General Health Advice – Eating healthily

• eat normally
• do not give up tasty foods
• consciously include essential nutrients regularly in the diet

Things to avoid:

• preserved foods
• foods with a high fat content
• crisp-fried or highly spiced food
• reheated food
• frequent alcohol consumption or smoking

Things to choose:

• a varied, high-fibre diet
• fresh produce – fruit and vegetables !
• high-protein, low-fat foods

It may be advisable for overweight women whose health is at risk to follow a weight-reducing diet. However, in such cases, it must be followed under medical supervision and should not be embarked upon without seeking your doctor’s advice. Look on conscious eating as a way of strengthening your whole immune system on your road to recovery.