| Surgery is at worst a harrowing experience and at | | | | everyone needs a little help around the home. If |
| best a real drag. Any type of surgery that requires | | | | working inside is your forte, offer to do some |
| more than a day or two of recovery can put a | | | | laundry, perform spring cleaning, or organize a room |
| serious kink in the surgery patient's lifestyle. | | | | or two. If working outside is your thing, offer to do |
| Anybody who has undergone surgery knows how a | | | | some gardening or to clean up the yard. Hint: be sure |
| person usually feels during the first few days after | | | | to ask their permission before getting to work: you |
| returning from the hospital. First off, they are a bit | | | | don't want to step on any toes by being more |
| disoriented given that they are thrown off of their | | | | helpful than is welcome! |
| regular routine. They may also be feeling a bit | | | | 3. Dinner In: |
| drowsy, dizzy or just plain "out of it," given the | | | | Another great surgery recovery gift idea is that of a |
| effects of the general anesthesia and any other pain | | | | warm, delicious meal. The last thing a recovery |
| medications. The person will also likely also be | | | | surgery patient wants to do is to cook. And, eating |
| experiencing at least some pain or discomfort at the | | | | TV dinners and delivered pizza gets old pretty quickly. |
| site of the surgery. | | | | Since a home-cooked meal is always welcome, why |
| Meanwhile, for more serious types of surgery such | | | | not make a large meal like a pan of lasagna? They |
| as heart surgery, back surgery, and hip surgery, the | | | | can always freeze the leftovers and have them again |
| disorientation, discomfort and inconvenience might | | | | in a few days. |
| last for weeks or even months. During this time, the | | | | 4. Trip To The Movies: |
| patient can feel bored and even a bit lonely as they | | | | Doctors recommend that most recovery surgery |
| nurse their body and spirit toward recovery. | | | | patients get up and about as often as they can. In |
| If there is someone in your life whom you would like | | | | fact, staying in bed or sitting on the couch for too |
| to cheer up after surgery, here are 5 ideas for gift | | | | long after surgery can actually hinder proper |
| ideas after surgery: | | | | recovery for many types of surgery, since exercise |
| 1. Daily Massages: | | | | is usually a part of recovery. A great gift idea is to |
| Therapeutic and personal massage salons are popping | | | | buy some movie passes or even to offer to pick up |
| up all over the country these days. You can find | | | | and accompany him or her for a night at the movies. |
| really good ones in malls, strip malls and standalone | | | | 5. Gift Basket: |
| buildings in most small and midsize towns and most | | | | One of the easiest ways to show you care is with a |
| cities. In addition, there are many licensed, reputable | | | | gift basket. Gift baskets come in a variety of styles, |
| massage professionals who make house calls. | | | | themes and sizes to please just about anybody. Do |
| In terms of gift ideas after surgery, the gift of a | | | | you think that gift baskets are just for female |
| massage cannot be beat. Of course, the masseuse | | | | surgery patients? Think again: gift baskets can be |
| masseur will want to avoid directly massaging the site | | | | very masculine-themed, featuring sports and outdoor |
| of the surgery itself, but in general, a full-body | | | | activity themes. They can also appeal to the movie |
| massage can raise the spirits and speed along | | | | lover (DVDs), avid reader (books and magazines) and |
| recovery. | | | | even to the connoisseur of fine wines and cheeses. |
| 2. Help Around The House: | | | | Get-well-soon gifts (or gifts of your time) are a great |
| Short on money but still want to give a meaningful | | | | way to show someone who is in recovery after |
| gift to the surgery patient you care about? Almost | | | | surgery that you care. |