This may sound a little daft, or even like I am trying to sound like some guru........I'm not ;) However, from being involved in forums and my own site for a good while now, talking to people that have been members from long since before me, and meeting new ones from after I joined - there seems to be really good benefits to be had from some simple, and often ignored basics.
There are a number of simple things that really got me through my decompression surgery. Looking back, I wasn't really scared, I didn't dwell on what "might have happened", I recovered relatively quickly and found the whole thing a lot less fuss that I was told it might be.
I was also aware that I felt a lot less "pain" than most - it was more of a discomfort than anything.

The following are just those things:
1. Positive Mental Attitude
2. Breathing
3. Hydration
4. Trust
5. Energy
6. Practical Goals
7. Rest
8. Friends and Family
9. Keep Busy

1. We keep talking about PMA or a Positive Mental Attitude in the forum. It is not something that can be properly achieved by being half hearted about it. It is about having a positive goal at the end of something and being able to steer yourself towards that positive goal even through the hardest of times. You have to believe that what is happening to you is happening for a positive reason, that it will work and that nothing trivial can stand in its way, all other less trivial things can be overcome with clear and logical thought and reasoning - Always focusing on that end goal. It's about being practical and selfish I guess - I was accused whilst I was in hospital of having a "swinging brick" for a heart (As I also have for the latter years of my life) But for me it is a "self protection mode" that I sometimes retreat into. Sometimes it is absolutely necessary to find your own "self protection mode" where it’s time to get practical and logical and nothing else matters for the moment.

2. Breathing! Yes we all do it, but how many of us know how to do it properly? Do we really understand how important it is and what the benefits are?

How many of us restrict the amount of clean / fresh air that we put into our lungs? (I certainly do) Do we realise the importance of "fresh air"? Well, to help answer that: what is one of the first things that hospitals give us when we are poorly or coming round from treatment? Good old Oxygen Therapy! Well, there's got to be a hint there hasn't there?

Breathing well and getting enough clean "air" into your lungs, also promotes better quality healing - it helps surgical wounds to heal much quicker - that's the main reason why I gave up smoking a month before surgery. Ok, so I am also Asthmatic - and shouldn't be smoking anyway, so I have one of those destructive personality traits - I think we all generally have one.
Do we know how to breathe properly and how it benefits us? I was always taught that before I took my medication for my Asthma, that I should try "breathing exercises" first. Most of the time this resulted in me not needing to take medication - It had 2 benefits in that it calmed me down and it also got better quality and more volume into my lungs.
Have a think about it - You are in pain, you are in a stressful environment and you are worried about your health, your blood pressure rises, your pain increases in intensity, you become more stressed and you spiral until you need to reach for that pain killer and you take it and count the seconds until it works? Ever been there? I have........... What I started to do pre-op when I realised that I was getting no or at least little effect from my pain medication (except for nausea) was sitting down, trying to find a quiet place, and concentrate on "breathing" - this sounds a bit like meditation, and I guess that it is really, except you don't have to have total peace and quiet to do it. Who has either enough time or the resource to find that at the drop of a hat?

Don't sit down - stand up leaning against a wall, allow your lungs and diaphragm to stretch naturally and have space to expand without being put under pressure - put your arms by your side naturally or do the “Tai Chi” thing with your arms as you breathe if that feels more natural- it does to me. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth, close your eyes whilst you do this and concentrate only on your breathing. Do this slowly and control it - if you become dizzy then stop this immediately and rest - sit down at this point also!

Concentrate on breathing – as you breathe in through your nose, pull the air in gently with your ams, then “push” the air out through your mouth and use your arms to help. Repeat this about 20 times, then relax.
I am sure you will see some benefit from this as many people do. If you don’t then I suggest you try it again – this time use point 1 for help ;)

3. Drink plenty of fresh water. I drank about 2 to 3 litres of fresh water a day, it’s healthy, it’s not fattening and its relatively cheap. It helps to flush the impurities from our bodies, our bodies cannot do without it anyway, and it keeps you feeling fresh whilst lying there in bed in an air conditioned ward.
It also helps with getting you moving – think about it? The more water you need the more you need to go to the loo? You have to get up and walk there – this will get you moving again and give you motivation to do so. (Check the colour of your urine too to check if you are drinking enough, the lighter is it, the better hydrated you are.
It is said that a lot of normal headaches that we feel through our lives can be resolved by simply drinking more water on a daily basis. I know one person that recently had surgery, she was and still is a fitness fanatic and fell foul of not drinking enough water straight after her surgery. Her recovery took a slight step backwards as a result. She knew all about the importance of hydration, yet let herself fall into the trap – it is so easy to over look it.

4. Trust the Doctors and Nurses, just because you don’t agree with them, doesn’t necessarily mean that they are wrong. (Unles of course they are breaching some basic house or practice rules – then shout like mad!) If they offer you pain relief, then take it – if you aren’t getting enough then ask them for some more or for something else – they will review your situation and prescribe accordingly. Tell them the truth about how you feel, how much pain you are in and do mention if you are concerned about something, however trivial. Trust them with your care.

5. After a major Operation we all feel deflated and tired. It is important to keep up your bodies energy levels by eating “well”, your body will repair itself quicker if you eat a balanced diet. We know that hospital food leaves a lot to be desired, but it is balanced nutritionally. If you don’t like the food, then ask friends and family to bring food in for you. I ate so much fruit and yoghurt for the 5 days after my surgery that I probably exceeded 10 portions a day never mind the basic 5 that they recommend. But I found that I needed to balance it with carbs and protein too. I found that I couldn’t take rich and stronger tasting things like chocolate or coffee at first, but enjoyed sandwiches and snacky healthy stuff. It’s all energy that then gives you the ability to stretch yourself that extra 10% every time you want to do something.

6. Set yourself from day 1, little practical goals. Mine were getting out of bed before the end of day 2 to go to the loo on my own. I moved form a bottle, to the commode and then onto the “big boys toilet” through sheer determination. Get yourself fit enough to get to the shower, you will need help at first, but then gain back your independence. You feel amazing after the first shower! Then it was getting off morphine and onto pain relief that I could go home with. The next goal was going for a a short walk to the hospital shop and getting some fresh air for a few minutes.

Believe it or not, things like that straight after surgery are very tiring, and if done too early can be exhausting. Each time you do something, just try that little 10% more effort!

7. If you feel tired, then rest. If you feel like you want to sleep, then do so. Your body has been through a massive shock, it needs time to recuperate. Pull the curtains around you and get some sleep, it’s what being in hospital is all about. It’s a place where you can look after yourself without worrying about having to take the kids to school or answering the door / phone or doing the washing up. I know it’s not always as simple as that – but allow yourself the time to rest when needed. Sleep can be a massive healer and help you concentrate more on getting better when you are wide awake and alert. It is an important factor when you are recuperating.

8. Family and Friends are a great morale booster when you are stuck in hospital. They bring you back to the real world, they remind you that there is something outside to get better for. They bring you messages, they even bring you food and treats if you ask them nicely. It’s motivation. My brother and my uncle came to visit me on my third day after my surgery, they made me laugh so much that I thought I was going to burst my stitches. It gave me a real lift at the time and one which I really needed. I also had visits, on the first day after surgery that made me realize that I looked fairly poorly, or at least compared to how I think that I looked. But, hey, they ground you and make you realize that you are not superhuman and that you have to work at feeling much better.

9. After a few days in hospital you tend to get stir crazy. Just sitting there and wishing you were recovered isn’t going to make things any better. In fact it might have the opposite effect and make you push yourself too hard. Boredom is our worst enemy.

Take in a book, read a paper, listen to an MP3 Player, use the TV and email service offered by patient line. Take your knitting in or something that you can do to pass the time in your bed. Remember though, not to tire yourself out, take it easy at the same time, rest when you need to rest.

I think above all, stay positive, achieve your goals, be practical and trust in the nursing staff. I was reminded that although spelt differently, we are called “patients” for a reason – and it’s a great big hint on how to be.

Afterwards really is much of the same - eat well, rest when your body tells you to rest, don't try too much too soon, drink plenty of water and use as much pain relief as you need - what's the point in suffering pain when you don't need to?

We all repair at different rates, so why compare against someone else in detail? Take it easy, but stay focussed on recovery. Push yourself a little daily and keep yourself occupied.

3 things that I could not have done without in hospital and afterwards:

1. A decent pillow!
2. Arnica tablets - natural remedy to help alleviate bruising - I had zero bruising!
3. Ipod!