Pre and post surgery suggestions

November 16, 2008

The following is a quote from someone in the Iodine group, with terrific suggestions. The bath ideas go along with our suggestions for detoxifying bath water. There were also ideas for emotional support before and after surgery.

This part's from Diana Lieb who, if memory serves, made her own soup beforehand and had a friend bring it, already labeled with her name and the date. I've deleted some of the material pertaining only to Diana and only to mastectomy.

> Bring your own bottled water to the hospital. Pass on the municipal water supply (too many chemicals) and pass on the ice-- only warm stuff in the belly after the cold Operating Room. >Skip the institutional food and prepare your own nutritious broth for the evening after surgery Ask someone to deliver the food to the floor you will be on and ask staff to keep it in the fridge. Label everything with name/date. The nurse washed a staff mug and warmed the chicken broth for me. Remember, nothing cold goes in the belly.

>I took Morphine for discomfort through the IV every couple of hours following surgery because of old emotional trauma involving acute and severe pain.cb note: You have to ask for pain meds these days. They'll give it to you only if you say you're hurting.

For post-surgical constipation: Heat 4 oz prune juice. Add 1 Tbs. of good quality olive oil. Drink slowly. Repeat, alternating with whole prunes and lots of roughage. Follow each dose with 8 oz warm water. Stay close to a toilet. It will work, eventually.

> The morphine didn't touch the scratchy pain of the raw throat from being intubated. Constant sips of H2O and the Slippery Elm Surgery Lozenges at least gave me the sense that I was doing something for myself with no harmful side effects. If I were to make them again, I would try Agave syrup instead of honey to make them. They were good because the ginger in them was warming.

cb note: Check with the anesthesiologist about intubation if you have any neck problems. > If you can, demand that a seasoned professional, not a resident, intubates you. I have no idea how I got two raw spots on each side of the uvula on my soft palate. I finally looked using a mirror when I got home. It healed by Saturday night but was mighty painful for 72 hours. I'm going to ask my surgeon what happened when I see her post op. All I can figure is that someone shoved the tube and missed the trachea.

>Ask for a heating pad. I needed it for low back muscle spasms. Once that subsided, it continued to warm me. I needed fewer blankets to keep me warm and weigh me down in bed. It heated with circulating warm water. Luxurious!

> When ever you have a discomfort ask the nurse for the least artificial, least invasive solution. Cut down on potential side effects whenever possible.Things you can do after surgery to clear out the side effects of anesthesia.

Thanks to Val, Kath, and Diana LiebBreathe deeply, consciously, taking in as much air as you can, to fully open up your lungs all the way down to the bottom.Kath adds that the Alexander (breathing) techniques " are wonderful " and may be read about online.

Cough in order to help your lungs clear mucus Use slippery elm throat pastilles/ lozenges if you've been intubated. You can make your own lozenges using this recipe from Susun Weed's Breast Cancer? Breast Health!

Ingredients: Slippery elm powder, ginger powder and honey. 4 parts slippery elm powder 1 part ginger root powder just enough honey to form into small balls roll balls in set aside slippery elm powder

stores well in a tin for two years Take Arnica Montana, which cuts down on bruising and swelling Drink lots of water Use Bach " Rescue Remedy " drops. Try " healing touch " , too:

You can have a friend, nurse, etc. " rake " the anesthetic off someone's body by standing next to the patient, separating her fingers and slowly raking the energy field about 6 inches over the patient beginning at the head, going all the way down to the feet and then

shaking her fingers/hands off at the end of the bed. Kath adds: I remember after my mastectomy my healing touch RN snuck into the hospital because, for some reason, someone on the hospital board did not approve of healing touch and would not allow it to be done in the hospital.

So, my RN had to sneak in and do the healing touch early in the morning after my surgery. When she " raked " her fingers over my body from head to toe she said that my energy field made her fingers feel as if they were plowing through a heavy syrup. It took her quite a few minutes to be able to rake all the gunk from my energy field.

Whether it was the placebo effect (I doubt it) or that she was actually able to clean out my energy field after the anesthetic, I don't know. All I do know is that it worked and I felt far, far better after the healing touch and, of course, the deep breathing.

In addition, there are 'detoxing baths' like these: Into a tub of warm water, dissolve one to two cups of epsom salts and one cup baking soda Soak for 20 to 30 minutes ( more than this may fatigue you.)

Can be taken 2 (two) to 3 (three) times per week (on off days use the vinegar bath.) Epsom Salts and Ginger Bath: This bath opens pores, eliminates toxins and pain. One cup epsom salts and 2 tablespoons of fresh grated ginger placed in a nylon or tea steeper then added to the bath.

Salt and Soda Bath: This bath counteracts the effects of radiation, whether from xrays, cancer treatment radiation, fallout from the atmosphere, or television radiation, as well as detoxification in general. Add one cup of baking soda and I to 2 cups of ordinary coarse salt, epsom salts, or sea salt to a tub of water.

Epsom Salts, Sea Salt, Oil Bath: This bath helps with dry skin and stress. Use I cup of epsom salts, I cup of sea salt (from a health food store) and I cup of sesame oil. Put into a warm tohot tub of water. Pat yourself dry.

Vinegar Bath: This is used when the body is too acid. This is a quick way of restoring the acid-alkaline balance. Use I cup to 2 quarts of 100% apple cider vinegar to a bathtub of warm water. This is excellent for excess uric acid in the body and especially in the joints: arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, gout and heavy metal toxicity

Before Surgery - As much as possible, condition the body with proper diet, exercise, rest, and supplements - Multivitamin 2x/day with meals (without iron if postmenopausal) - Vitamin C 1000mg 2x/day with meals. Stop one day prior to surgery

- If not on coumadin, take Vit K 10mg (5 drops) under tongue to decrease bleeding and bruising - 2 weeks prior, stop blood thinners such as Vit E, gingko biloba, fish oil, aspirin and nattokinase - IV Meganutrient one day before procedure

- Learn visualization for use before, during and after surgery - Begin Arnica (homeopathic)For surgery - Speak to anesthesiologist about providing 80% oxygen and warmth during surgery

- Lots of prayer/Reiki from friends, relatives, self. Breathe deeply - Homeopathic " Rescue Remedy " After Surgery - Homeopathic Arnica - Vitamin C 25 grams IV ASAP

- Resume pre-surgery protocol as telerated - For post-surg nausea, use ginger tea (boil and steep fresh ginger) - For pain and inflamation use Bromelain (pineapple enzyme) 1-2 caps 3x/day on empty stomach (2000-6000 mg daily)

- For wound healing, use compresses of aloe and Vit E oil, but only after skin is closed over (3-4 days) - Hyperbaric oxygen therapy 1-2x/day for 5-10 treatments to improve healing results and recovery

Finally, this one's from Lynne Farrow [AMAZON] Breaking news: Iodine before surgery lowered cell proliferation in patients We just received a report on an October 5th (2007) conference presentation:

Iodine given to breast cancer patients for two to five weeks before surgery decreased cell proliferation and increased cell death (good) in the tumors. Researchers collected tissue specimens first at diagnosis and then again at surgery for evaluation.

The iodine group was compared with a placebo group. Only the iodine-taking group showed the antiproliferative and cell death results. We are trying to track down more details, but this information is just one more building block in the case for iodine as a breast cancer therapy and preventive.

APOPTOTIC AND ANTIPROLIFERATIVE EFFECTS OF IODINE SUPPLEMENTS ON HUMAN BREAST CANCER TUMORS