Optimizing Your Surgical Outcome
Nutrients are a very important variable in your recovery from the trauma of surgery. There are some supplements you may want to consider taking before and after surgery to hasten your recovery and optimize your outcome. You should always check with your physician before taking any supplements to ensure there are not any contraindications with medications you are taking.
Before surgery, you want to be as healthy as possible so your body is prepared for the surgical assault on your bodily tissues. There are nutritional supplements you can take prior to surgery to help your body be at its best the day of surgery. A word of caution: Make sure the supplements you are taking are of high quality to maximize bioavailability. Some of the less expensive brands are made with binders that block absorption in your body, which means the money you spend on them is wasted. Some of the better brands include Life Extension, Jarrow, Soloray, Natrol, Nature Made, Enzymatic Therapy, and Source Naturals.
Dr. Neal Blitz, a NYC aesthetic and reconstructive foot and ankle surgeon, maintains that the process of post-surgical healing involves the rebuilding of collagen, the main component in skin, tendon, muscle, ligaments, cartilage, blood vessels, bone, etc. He states, “collagen is stronger than steel wire, and improperly formed collagen is associated with healing disturbances.”
Healing from surgery requires the body to reconstruct and restore tissue at the cellular level. This process occurs in three overlapping phases, the majority of which occurs within the first few weeks after surgery.
Phase 1: Inflammatory phase (up to 5 days): The body’s first response to the surgical assault is to form a localized blood clot to stop bleeding. Neutrophils, infection fighting cells, and macrophages, debris cleaning cells, rush to the traumatized area to begin the healing process.
Phase 2: Proliferative phase (2 days - 3 weeks): Collagen-forming cells called fibroblasts begin rebuilding tissue.
Phase 3: Remodeling phase (3 weeks - years): The body converts and replaces the collagen that was formed during the proliferative phase into a stronger collagen to support the structure and function of the tissue for the long term.
The following are recommendations for pre- and post-surgery supplementation:
Stop drinking alcohol at least 2 weeks prior to surgery to allow your liver to be in the healthiest state before it has to metabolize the anesthesia and pain medications you may have to take after surgery. According to Mayo Clinic, it is best to avoid alcohol after surgery if you are taking pain medications and/or antibiotics. Alcohol could slow your healing process and delay your recovery from surgery. While it will not reduce the effectiveness of the antibiotics, it may increase reactions to certain antibiotics (Flagyl, Tindamax, Bactrim, and Septra), which include headache, flushing, nausea, vomiting, and rapid heart rate.
Two weeks before surgery and two weeks after surgery take Milk Thistle, an herb that protects and repairs your liver (especially important for those who consume a lot of alcohol). I recommend a timed-release formula made by Soloray, which allows for once a day dosing. Anesthesia and other medications used during and after surgery can be taxing on the liver, so it is wise to support it pre and post operatively.
Begin taking a high-quality probiotic supplement two weeks prior to surgery and continue using it for a minimum of a month after surgery. I highly recommend a Microbiome Labs MegaMucosa, which is a spore-based probiotic that will survive the hydrochloric acid in the GI tract. It is expensive but far superior to anything you can purchase in a local store. I recommend investing the money on this probiotic for at least the month or two after surgery, because it will replenish the essential good bacteria killed by antibiotics taken during or after surgery. This may help prevent candida overgrowth and protect the lining of the small intestine which can be damaged from antibiotic use.
Take a high quality multivitamin mineral supplement 2 to 4 weeks prior to surgery. I believe Pure Encapsulations PureResponse Multivitamin is the best choice after surgery because it boost immune function. Read the label and make sure it does not contain Ginseng, Ginger, Ginko Biloba, St John’s Wort, Dong Quai, or Ephedra, which may be present in vitamins formulated for people over age 50. These herbs thin the blood and should not be taken for 2 weeks prior to surgery, as they can cause bleeding or prevent the blood from clotting appropriately.
Take 1000 mg Pure Encapsulations Liposomal Vitamin C liquid daily for two weeks prior to surgery and increase to 1000 mg three times a day for 2 weeks after surgery. The liposomal formula is highly absorbable, and studies have shown that vitamin C significantly speeds healing time and helps prevent surgical shock. Vitamin C is necessary for the production of collagen and important for immune support.
Take 100 - 200 mg Pure Encapsulations SR CoQ10 with PQQ daily for two weeks prior to surgery, as surgical trauma causes an increase in free radicals, which disrupt and damage cellular function. It plays a crucial role in energy production and oxygen utilization (especially in heart muscle cells). PQQ combats mitochondrial dysfunction, helps to protect cells from oxidative damage, and supports energy metabolism. CoQ10 is fat soluble, so take it with a meal that contains some dietary fat.
Take Pure Encapsulations Ultra B Complex w/PQQ to provide immune support for cellular metabolism, and tissue repair post surgically.
Take 10,000 IU Pure Encapsulations Vitamin A to support the immune system and build collagen strength to support the repair of bones that may have been cut in orthopedic surgeries.
Vitamin D3 is important for immune support as well as for bone health. It is recommended that you take 2000 mg for 2 weeks prior to surgery and 5000 mg for 3 weeks post surgically. Pure Encapsulations Vitamin D3 comes in both strengths.
Zinc is critical for wound healing, tissue regeneration and repair, and the trauma of surgery can decrease the level of zinc in your system. It is also a key element in immune support. Take 30-50 mg of zinc picolinate two weeks before and two weeks after surgery.
The amino acids, L-glutamine and L-arginine, are two key amino acids for wound repair and immune function. Pure Encapsulations has separate formulations for both of these amino acids.
To promote healing post surgically:
Starting 3 days post-surgery, take Source Naturals Timed release 500 mg of vitamin B6 a day for a week. This nutrient will help to reduce post-surgical fluid retention. Post-surgical swelling usually takes two to four weeks to diminish, but by taking Vitamin B6, you may experience substantial reduction within 24 to 48 hours.
Take Enzyme Science Myomend proteolytic enzymes on an empty stomach (at least 60 minutes before eating) for two weeks after surgery. This enzyme supplement decreases inflammation and pain after surgery, helps to prevent blood clots, and supports digestion. Additionally, these enzymes help to remove protein debris that forms at trauma sites.
To reduce inflammation, take 2000-3,000 mg of Euromedica Euromega-3, which is a high-quality, toxin-free, 3rd-party tested, fish oil per day for at least four weeks after surgery. You can then go to a maintenance dosage of 1,000 mg per day, but if you struggle with depression, it is best to remain on the higher dose on an ongoing basis because Omega 3 fatty acids are the precursors to the production of serotonin (the neurotransmitter that boosts mood). If fish oil is already part of your daily routine, be sure to stop taking it five-seven days before surgery, since it can promote blood thinning and increase bleeding during surgery. I recommend you consult with your physician prior to beginning this supplement post surgically.
The homeopathic remedy Arnica 30C helps to reduce pain and inflammation. Dissolve one pellet under the tongue four or five times a day for up to two weeks after surgery. Arnica gel is also available and will aid in minimizing bruising and swelling when applied to the skin. Many plastic surgeons recommend the use of Arnica to their patients to minimize down-time after surgery. While this is a very effective herb for surgical recovery, don’t overdo it, as overuse could cause irritation of your mucous membranes.
Healing from surgery is serious business and not something to be taken lightly. While it is not always possible in emergent situations, it is in your best interest to prepare in advance and have everything on hand you will need to take post-surgically. Your speedy recovery depends on your advance preparation. Feel free to contact me to purchase any of these supplements. You may phone me at 239-260-1978.
Post Surgery Supplement schedule:
Multivitamin 1 tab 2 x daily
Triple Magnesium 1 tab 1 x daily
Vitamin B complex 100 mg timed-release 1 x daily
CoQ10 200 mg qd
Vit C 1000 mg tid x 2 weeks
Zinc Picolinate 30 – 50 mg qd x 2 weeks
Milk Thistle 1 timed-release capsule qd
Probiotic 2 caps 2 x daily
Vit B-6 250 mg 2 x daily starting 3rd day post surgery
Fish Oil 1000 mg 3 x daily x 2 weeks
Bromelain 3 x daily on empty stomach x 2 weeks
Arnica 30C 5 x daily x 2 weeks
Amino Acids 4 caps 4 x daily x 2 weeks
Glutamine 100-3000 3 x daily
Arginine 500 – 1000 3 x daily
Taurine 500 3 x daily
Yeast Cleanse 2 capsules 3 x daily for 30 days
These high quality supplements can be purchased by going to:
kaerwell.com/go/synergyhealthsolutions
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In good health,
Valerie Folsom-Martin, MSW, LCSW, CIMHP, CCTP, FDN-P, CHHC
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