Feeling yourself well?

[Guest guest]

I saw a documentary on plastic surgery and reconstructing the face

after injuries. One of the doctors interviewed said that patients

who feel that they are active in their treatment will heal faster.

He gives them facial massages to give to themselves so they feel

that they are doing something - note he didn't say the massage did

any good, only that their FEELING could help them heal.

I thought that was maybe a little odd, but then I remembered

something my doc said a week after surgery. After I got home from

the hospital I started a log of everything I ate and when I ate it

(so I could make sure I was getting enough in me), when I took what

medicines (so I wouldn't forget and take the next dose too soon), my

pain level throughout the day, and my daily weight. I took it to my

first appt and asked my doc if he cared. He said yes, he did, but

when I handed the log to him he wouldn't take it. He said, " Let me

correct that - I'm glad that you are doing it because it's keeping

your mind active and it shows you're doing something, but I don't

need to see it. Keep it up. "

I know attitude gets you through this BETTER, but what do you all

think about it getting you through it FASTER?

Kris

Who, incidentally, ate in a restaurant for the first time post-op

today (day 15), mashing everything on my plate to smithereens before

I swallowed it. Another small victory!

[Guest guest]

I think GOOD FOR YOU!

I don't know about whether attitude can speed things up or slow them

down, although I do believe that the more positive you can be about

it all, the easier time you'll have. Same is true if you have

confidence in your docs, I think.

And if you're gonna moan and groan and be down -- well, you're doomed

to moan and groan and be down.

Not to say that there aren't very real troubles sometimes. There are.

But even those are more easily dealt with, I think, if you have an

approach that helps you handle them. It can be prayer, although I

don't pray. It can be acupuncture, or massage, or other forms of

therapy.

Hey... Not to say that prayer or any of the rest of it is a sugar

pill placebo, but if I can get a boost from a sugar pill placebo, I

want that, too!

And think back, or ask someone who knew you as a tiny kid. I'll bet

that wasn't the first time you've ever smashed everything on the

plate to smithereens!

Cammie

> I saw a documentary on plastic surgery and reconstructing the face

> after injuries. One of the doctors interviewed said that patients

> who feel that they are active in their treatment will heal faster.

> He gives them facial massages to give to themselves so they feel

> that they are doing something - note he didn't say the massage did

> any good, only that their FEELING could help them heal.

>

> I thought that was maybe a little odd, but then I remembered

> something my doc said a week after surgery. After I got home from

> the hospital I started a log of everything I ate and when I ate it

> (so I could make sure I was getting enough in me), when I took what

> medicines (so I wouldn't forget and take the next dose too soon),

my

> pain level throughout the day, and my daily weight. I took it to

my

> first appt and asked my doc if he cared. He said yes, he did, but

> when I handed the log to him he wouldn't take it. He said, " Let me

> correct that - I'm glad that you are doing it because it's keeping

> your mind active and it shows you're doing something, but I don't

> need to see it. Keep it up. "

>

> I know attitude gets you through this BETTER, but what do you all

> think about it getting you through it FASTER?

>

> Kris

> Who, incidentally, ate in a restaurant for the first time post-op

> today (day 15), mashing everything on my plate to smithereens

before

> I swallowed it. Another small victory!