Coping with your emotions
It is normal to have many different feelings after your surgery. This can include worry, sadness, relief, guilt, grief and anger. Some people describe this as being on a rollercoaster of emotions.
Some tips to help you cope include:
- Remind yourself that these emotions are normal and understandable
- Even though strong emotions can be unpleasant and uncomfortable, remind yourself that they will not harm you and will always pass in time
- Stay connected with family and friends by using video chats, messages, emails or phone calls. You may also like to play online games with your family or friends to stay connected with them. You might find it helpful to have a video call in the background as family go about their usual routines such as making dinner so you feel connected without having to talk too much
- Plan small things you can do whilst you are in hospital that do not require a lot of physical exertion or effort (e.g. reading, watching your favourite TV series, crossword puzzles)
- If you feel overwhelmed, come back to focusing on some calming relaxation. Or you can ground yourself by focusing on things you can see and hear around you
- Tell your cancer doctor, nurse, family or friends if you would like extra support.
Managing your pain
It is common to experience some pain after your surgery. The doctors will work with you to manage your pain while you are in hospital by using a range of pain medications. Good pain relief plays an important role in your recovery and healing.
However, we also know that if you feel pain, you might also feel distressed, worried or down. You may think that medications are the only way to cope with pain, but there are many things that you can do in hospital to manage your pain as well as taking your medications:
- Let your team know if you have pain
- Sit or lie in a position that does not cause as much pain. Ask your team if there are props you can use and if you can change positions regularly
- Have family or friends for short, regular visits, even when your pain is strong
- Try to do small things that you enjoy. Plan for this in advance to make sure you have what you need with you in hospital, such as music, books or puzzles
- Focus on your other sensations by noticing five things you can see, five things you can hear, five things you can smell and five other (pleasant and/or non-painful) sensations you can feel
- Notice when your thoughts about pain have become extreme and may be unhelpful (e.g. “I’ll never achieve anything with this pain”). Try to rephrase these thoughts so that they are more realistic (e.g. “I notice the pain right now, but also know I can still do some of the things that are important to me”).