What happens to your body after multiple surgeries (can you prevent?)

#memory #chronicpain #surgeryrecovery

Surgery and anesthesia affect your whole body and mental health. Can you prevent the changes to depression, memory, body weight, bleeding, anxiety, and more?

We explore how undergoing multiple surgeries impacts not only the physical aspect of the body but also the psychological and cognitive dimensions. Our discussion touches upon surgical risks such as adhesions, blood clots, chronic pain, weight gain, and blood loss; mental health risks like depression, PTSD, and loneliness; and anesthesia risks, including tolerance and post-operative cognitive deficits.

We'll talk about pet therapy, and you may see Karma make a cameo appearance! :)

Firstly, we delve into the physical effects multiple surgeries can have. Adhesions, essentially internal scar tissue, can create painful or potentially dangerous connections between organs. Blood clots, another common risk, can break off and move through your bloodstream to your heart, lungs, or brain, leading to potentially fatal conditions. Chronic pain can result from damage to nerves during surgery, and weight gain can be linked to reduced mobility post-surgery. Additionally, blood loss is a natural part of any surgical procedure, but multiple surgeries can elevate this risk.

Next, we move to the mental health impacts of multiple surgeries. It's not uncommon for individuals to experience depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and feelings of loneliness due to the physical stress and isolation that can come with multiple surgeries. These conditions can exacerbate post-surgical recovery and quality of life, necessitating mental health care alongside physical recovery.

Anesthesia, although crucial for surgical procedures, isn't without risks. One could develop tolerance over time, meaning more anesthesia may be needed for the same effect. Also, post-operative cognitive deficits like memory loss or difficulty concentrating can occur, especially among older adults or those who've undergone multiple procedures.

But it's not all gloomy. There are strategies and preventative measures one can adopt to minimize these risks. Our video explains the critical role that a healthy lifestyle plays before surgery. Reducing substance use is key as substances like nicotine and alcohol can interfere with anesthesia and recovery. Good nutrition is also vital as it helps your body heal more efficiently. We also shed light on optimizing cardiovascular fitness, which improves the body's resilience to the stresses of surgery and aids in a quicker recovery.

Importantly, mental health should not be overlooked in surgical preparation and recovery. Treating existing conditions like depression and anxiety, increasing social connectedness to alleviate feelings of loneliness, and keeping a positive mental attitude can significantly improve the surgical experience and recovery.

We also highlight the importance of good blood glucose control before surgery, as uncontrolled blood sugar can lead to complications such as infections, delayed healing, and even higher mortality rates.

Lastly, we emphasize that you should always have an open line of communication with your doctor about your concerns. They can provide the right information and guidance that will help you to make an informed decision and be at peace with your surgical journey.

This video/speech/channel DOES NOT CONSTITUTE MEDICAL ADVICE. Patients with medical concerns should contact their physician. If your concern is an emergency, immediately call 911. This information is not a recommendation for ANY THERAPY. Some substances referenced in this content may be illegal, and this content is not a recommendation for, or endorsement of, their use in any way.

[heidi]

The empathy and care you have for people is unheard of! The world needs more Dr’s/anesthesiologist like you.🥹🫶🏼

[blueeyedchippewa]

Medical PTSD is absolutely real, and absolutely terrible. I suffer greatly from this. I live in constant chronic pain, and have been shuffled around the medical system my entire life. I dread every doctor appointment now, and specialists even worse. I wouldn't wish this on my worse enemy. I appreciate this doc addressing it! 🥰 (I live in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and as a Tribal member, even with private insurance, our options for healthcare are very limited here)

[mikei.]

I've suffered a major accident 3 years ago. Trauma 3 distal tibia fibula feacture. 18 surgeries. My life turned upside down. Former professional athlete, military service for many years.
The hardest was to get back from opioids. Extremely hard, but possible. Flushed out the pills on my own. Water, water, water. Mental self imposed discipline. Family support.
Thank you Doc for all of your youtube postings.

[darlenepietzak]

I am 68 and have had 20 surgeries in 20 years. I had 3 surgeries in 2021 for breast cancer. I had 7 abdominal surgeries and I was told by the surgeons about how bad the adhesions are in my abdomen. I have never had issues with anesthesia. Honestly it's probably the best sleep I've ever had! I am so glad I found your vlog. Thank you for so much information.

[marycassidy]

So glad you mentioned mental health. Three back surgeries. 13 weeks living alone on large property but not allowed to get in a car. And I am a people person! Very challenging for sure

[KathyMpamugo]

Thanks Doc ❤ To let others know, I’ve had 2 ectopics, a hysterectomy and found out I had Uterus Cancer. The cancer was only stage 1B, however, I had 20 sessions of Radiation Therapy in 2000 when I was in my 40s. Due to my scar tissue, adhesions, I have bowel blockages and Incontinence. I live with both….I’m alive ..now 65 😊

[infectdiseaseepidemiology]

As a pain research professor at a major medical school and school of public health, I remember how surprised I was when I initially discovered that on average (depends on the site, nature of surgery, etc), there is about a 10% chance of developing a chronic pain syndrome in the area corresponding to the incision site. This really should be part of the informed consent process, but none of the surgeons in either private or academic practice said that they ever mentioned this. In fact, most were ignorant of this fact, since they viewed their role as being over once the patient has the surgical followup visit.

[blackswan]

I'm in therapy to process the trauma from my last surgery. It was so severe that I thought I woke up dead.

[La_Roo]

Hi Doc, currently in ICU following third major surgery in a year. God Bless You for all that you are doing to make this world a better place! Thank you 🙏 💤💕

[michelespier]

I was triggered from being a former cancer patient. I never want to go to another medical facility of any kind and hate medications too.

[celesteinman]

Loneliness is aweful. Hard to care about yourself if you feel like no one else cares about you or even needs you. I think this is one great reason to have a pet for instance your very existence sometimes is who they need for survival. A kind of symbiotic relationship. Sometimes that's all someone has.

[IQTech]

I have had four major surgeries since 2005. Your video has helped me see that having pets, a daily habit of chanting/meditation, and a stubborn will to get out and walk for at least an hour every morning around sunrise has helped me not just endure but thrive after surgery.

[brendatroth]

It is always wise to prepare for your surgery the same way you prepare for the birth of your child. GET EVERYTHING DONE PRIOR TO THE SURGERY. 1) Prepare yourself mentally for your up coming surgery; 2) Clean your home. 3) Buy and prepare lots of food for you to eat during recovery. 4) Set up a support system with friends and family. 5) Buy your favorite movies or buy a few books to keep you occupied during recovery. 6) Do your PT religiously. ETC. In other words . . . BE MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY PREPARED.

[patriciarodzewich-vkck]

I had Cervical Fusion on 7/5/2022 and Total Right Reverse Shoulder Replacement on 12/9/2022. Both surgeries were needed. I recovered without complications for both.
I had a lot of support from my sister and friends. I also had home physical therapy for six months for my shoulder. Having PT at home was so convenient. I didn’t have to get transportation to PT. I also do meditation daily. I am now back to work. After 41 years do direct patient care in PICU, NICU and the last 10 years in Pediatric PACU. After these surgeries I have returned to work in the non direct patient care area of Pre Anesthesia Testing. Thank you for all your surgical tips.

[annebynon]

Memory is worse after each surgery and this is going to sound weird but eyebrows thin but grow back less each time.

[miketurksma]

Why don't other anesthesiologist know these things

[MyCatsRCrazy]

I'm glad you spoke on memory loss. In 2020 in the beginning of May I got sick and ended up in the hospital I woke up 6 weeks later in ICU finding out I had six surgeries, four the first week with an ostomy. I had a perforated intestine. It appears that I was septic and all kinds of other things. I guess each of the surgeries was incredibly long like 8 to 12 hours. The scar goes from my breast bone all the way down to my pubic area.

I didn't get out of the hospital until just a few days before Christmas and by that time I had had 12 surgeries. I was quite weak for a long time because once I got out I had to continue physical therapy because I couldn't walk and there's still a lot of issues. Not including the scar tissue that now ran the whole length of that scar. But I noticed that my vocabulary was stunted and I was trying to remember words that used to just roll off my tongue.

I also found that I wasn't remembering things like I used to and I used to have an excellent memory. I just put it down to old age but then again I said it happened so quickly. Then I had to go back in in August the 20 21 because I developed a hernia which ended up with that surgery of 10 hours because they cut out all of the scar tissue and the hernia had been quite large so there was a lot of work to do and very thin Fascia left at that time. Plus they had to put in two pieces 8x11 mesh.

Then we found that A portion of the incision wasn't healing so I had to go back for more surgery which lasted, I don't know, 8 hours where he put a wound VAC on me once again, this time portable. What a nightmare that was and it was over Christmas.

It's still didn't heal after 2 months I thoughy I was gonna have to go in again but he talked about the wound clinic, but they were too expensive and now we were in the new fiscal year, I already had over 2 million dollars in expenses. The doctor mentioned that the wound care clinic sometimes uses homeopathic methods such as medihoney. I looked it up online and found some Amazon for $80 for a box of tape and bought it and within two weeks my wound was healed. That was a bit off topic but it always impresses me.

Back to my main point my memory and my vocabulary has still not recovered. It's really scary and I don't know if it's ever going to come back. Is there something I should do to help? BTW they removed more than 6 ft of small intestine in over three-quarters of my colon but they were able to put me back together and remove the ostomy!

On another note, I think I must have been a good patient, because when the nurses saw I was coming back for the hernia surgery they requested me to be on their floor which was specialized. I'll tell you after being in the hospital for seven and a half months you get to know everyone. I think the only times that I got frustrated and snapped at anyone was twice the whole time I was in the hospital. Once because while they were changing my wound vac dressing, which is very painful, the PA had decided I didn't need medication. Another time shortly after that because I was still mad at her and that same PA said that I was depressed and called a psych eval. They decided I wasn't depressed just frustrated with that PA. I told my doc about it and he put me back on the meds during my wound VAC changes. Having that white foam pulled out of a 14 incision is extremely painful.

Sorry for the long story, I get carried away and I didn't even list half of what happened during that scenario the good thing was I missed covid. Except for that they were on the floor that I was on and they had to change rooms constantly because of the specialized air in those rooms where I was oh, they would have to give the covid patients the whole wing in congregate all of the surgical patients in another wing of the same floor.

Without the wonderful nurses and nurse's aides and even all the doctors I saw I don't think I would have made it through it. One funny thing is I noticed I didn't ever see any of my doctors or nurses or nurses aides faces because of masks. That's the freakiest thing I think.

[scubabecky]

I've had 5 spine surgeries in 2 years. I just had cervical spine surgery a week ago. I have definitely suffered from depression, weight gain and memory loss. I feel like I'll never be totally over my surgeries.

[PookieK]

My now ex had a kidney transplant and his personality completely changed after the surgery. I’m not sure if it was the anesthesia or the entire experience but he was a different person when he came home. He became paranoid of the world, began buying and hiding guns, became verbally and emotional abusive as well as suspicious of me. I just could not take his change in behavior and since he refused to get help I had to leave the relationship for my own sanity. One of the hardest thing I had to do.
I myself suffer from C-PTSD from an assault in the past and M-PTSD from awareness during a surgery in my past. Changes in the body from the Medical things we endure is so real!

[burnyizland]

In the span of 2.5 years I had a C-section, 2 D&Cs, one exploratory abdominal surgery, one subtotal hysterectomy, a gall bladder removal, 2 endoscopes(both of which I vomited constantly during), 3 cortisol spinal injections, 6 months of weekly 45min long iron injections, 2 spirometries, and those are just the most obtrusive things they did me that I can remember off the top of my head. Almost 11 years of trying to get a doctor (I'm in Canada) and then everything being done one after the other... I had to come off and back onto so many medications I'd only just been stabilized on, SO MUCH bloodwork... I really wish MAID had been an option for me before I got pregnant because I want to die so bad but now I have a son to worry about and no other family to look after him. I wish any of the dozens of doctors I've asked over the years had allowed me to be sterilize("not until you've had at least one child young lady, what would your future husband think?" - that was said to me numerous times!) and I could have avoided that too. You wouldn't put a dog through the daily horror I've lived through since 2009. I went from 165 pounds and in the best health of my life to 309lbs at last weigh in; I had an I.Q. of 152 but now I regularly can't remember what I'm trying to say as I'm saying it and I have little executive function to speak of. I can't sleep more than a few hours at a time. I spent months catatonic but totally aware on one of the meds they tried me on for my seizures. I am, in short, utterly f*ed. Useless, a drain on society, and in great distress both physically and mentally. I really wish I'd - and my doctors - had thought more about the bigger picture before putting me through all this. They couldn't do NOTHING, I was barfing, bleeding and sh1tting myself constantly for years so they had to do something, but the multiple gyno surgeries could have been avoided by just taking the godforsaken thing out to begin with. I never wanted it in the first place. The adhesions due to these have made me both kinds of incontinent. I'm glad you're raising awareness about the impact of multiple surgeries, it needs to be widely known.