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Research shows that there are effective relaxation strategies that reduce patient anxiety and stress before abdominal surgery. |
Why is your mindset important before bowel surgery?
It is very common, and normal, to feel stressed or anxious before bowel surgery. When you feel anxious, your heart rate and blood pressure increase to keep you awake. You may also experience elevated temperature, nausea, sweating, increased tension and nervousness. There can be many reasons for feeling stress, such as fear of uncertainty, pain, and worrying about the surgery or survival.
I was both angry and scared when I found out that my cancer was so advanced that a portion of my bowel had to be cut out.
—— Kim P.
It is very important to find healthy ways to cope so that you don’t feel overwhelmed or turn to harmful habits that can hinder your recovery and surgery outcomes. Reducing your stress has many benefits for your health and your mood. Finding coping strategies that work for you is essential for preparing for better outcomes. Developing a positive mindset, or taking a positive attitude, can be a simple but powerful way to deal with bowel surgical stress.
I am a CPA in public practice and am a cancer survivor twice over. I find that my positive attitude has served me well, especially when considering how I would tell my children, family, friends and clients so they could be positive through my journeys to recovery.
—— Kim F.
Link between anxiety/stress and bowel surgery
Coping strategies can be effective for helping you feel better overall, and can potentially reduce your hospital stay and postoperative pain. A wide variety of anxiety-reducing interventions have been used in surgical patients to improve recovery and post-surgery outcomes. Examples include muscle relaxation exercises, meditation and breathing techniques, audio-taped music, visualisation, coping skills training, and coaching.
The strongest evidence [1] [2] is for the effectiveness of music interventions. Many robust literature reviews confirm that surgical patients who listen daily to relaxing music have reduced anxiety [3] [4] [5], less pain [6] [7] or need for pain medication [8], lower use of healthcare [9], and improved quality of life [10] [11] [12].
The strongest evidence [1] [2] is for the effectiveness of music interventions. Many robust literature reviews confirm that surgical patients who listen daily to relaxing music have reduced anxiety [3] [4] [5], less pain [6] [7] or need for pain medication [8], lower use of healthcare [9], and improved quality of life [10] [11] [12].
Actions you can take to be relaxed and feel positive before bowel surgery
- Listening to slow music / relaxing sound. It is recommended to listen to music that is slow and without words for 30 minutes per day as an easy passive form of relaxation. Slow music is usually between 60 and 80 beats per minute and some examples would be recorded harps, cellos, strings and/or elements of natural sound like the ocean, waterfalls, or birds in the forest.
- Engaging in meditation, visualisation, muscle relaxation or deep breathing exercises. A simple meditation is to focus on your breathing, allowing your thoughts to float by like a cloud. Counting each breath from one to ten can help keep your focus from attaching to your thoughts. Part of your meditation can include visualising the best possible outcomes for your surgery journey, or focusing on relaxing all the muscles in your body from toes to head. Ask the front desk at St. Paul’s Hospital for the guided sessions in meditation in the Burrard building.
- Seeking support. It is very important for you to have a network of people that you can turn to and positive support from family and friends can help you to cope with your anxiety or worries. When you’re upset, talk to them so that they can help you. Looking for opportunities to meet or talk with other people who had bowel surgery can remind you that you are not alone. Participating in social activities can also help you seek support and cope with stress.
My coping mechanisms? Surrounded myself with positive family and friends, questioned my doctor & medical team, plus read lots of fun books to escape.
—— Kim P.
- Keep moving. Sometimes going for a walk or bike ride can help when you are feeling sad or anxious. We know from exercise research that when people are active, the brain releases hormones that are good for your mood. Pursuing outdoor hobbies can be a great way to be active.
- Having a positive mindset. In many situations, positive thinking can help you to achieve better outcomes. It might sound too simple, but start by thinking about and celebrating the successes you have had so far. Try to think about something that inspired you, or something that you enjoy or look forward to. Remembering the good stuff will help you get through more difficult times. Our Patient Advisory Group encourages you to:
- Getting good sleep. Good sleep is critical for health and for helping you to cope with stress. It is recommended as part of preparing for surgery. Different ages need different amounts of sleep (see recommendations), but good quality is important for everyone. Some tips for making sleep a priority can be found here.
More resources to help you find coping strategies to prepare for bowel surgery
- What can help relieve anxiety before surgery?
- Using sound technology to get the brain benefits of deep sleep.
- Deep sleep meditation music example (8 hours).
- You may find a meditation app through your smartphone; there are many on the market so find one what works for you (see 2019 and 2020 reviews).
If you would like to have active support to help you achieve your mental/emotional health goals, you can email us for more information and support
This website is for people who have planned abdominal surgery for conditions like colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Diverticular Disease, Polyps or other digestive / gastro-intestinal diseases.