Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster with Relaxation and Quick Start CD: A Guide of Mind-Body Techniques Paperback – May 10, 2013

I underwent a thyroid removal surgery in Sept 2015, and this book arrived the day before my surgery, so I only had about 1/2 day to use it to prepare for surgery. However, I found that even in that short amount of time, it made a huge difference. I was able to sleep well the night before surgery, and feel very calm the morning of surgery. As the medical staff prepared for surgery, I was so relaxed that they did not even give me the typical pre-anesthesia relaxant drug, so I actually ended up climbing onto the surgery table in the surgery theater myself. I asked my surgical team to repeat the affirmations that this book says are so important to have said out loud while you are under anesthesia, including that "you will wake up and be able to walk around, and you will wake up thirsty and hungry." Amazingly, the first thought I had when I woke up I wanted to get up and walk around, and that's the first thing I said to the nurse. The second was that I was thirsty. I had very little pain, and after the surgery only took 2 tylenol twice--that was it. I was a little uncomfortable because you have to sleep propped upright for several days after surgery. I stayed overnight, and amazingly using this CD I was able to fall asleep in the hospital sitting up in a chair, and slept quite soundly. I used the CD for several days, I had no need for pain medication, I was able to sleep well each night, and I healed very quickly.While not everyone may have as good an experience as I did, this book should be offered by all hospitals and surgeons to their patients--it is that good. Since then I have recommended it to my extended family, friends, and colleagues, and my 90 year old mom has shared this with several of her friends who have needed surgery. It has to be the best $30 I've ever spent, and I hope it works for everyone else facing surgery.

I used this book and accompanying CD to prepare for a 1/22/16 surgery I was nervous about. Although I have had surgeries in the past, they were not as extensive as the one that was coming up. I listened to the relaxation CD every day for the week before my surgery. As the book recommended, I asked my family and friends to send prayers and positive thoughts and energy to me a half hour before my surgery.I have to say that the CD really relaxed me, and after listening to it I was able to use some of the techniques to relax myself and take away the anxiety of the hospital stay and accompanying (sometimes invasive) procedures.I am happy to report that my surgery went very well and my recovery has been encouraging. I did not need to use very much pain medication either in the hospital or at home, and at this point (2 weeks out) I do not need any pain medication at all.Maybe it is a coincidence, but my experience with my surgery after reading this book and listening to the CD was very positive. I plan to loan it to any of my family or friends who may need surgery in the future.

I think the book is redundant and for me and although there were some good suggestions it had a lot of unnecessary parts to it. But what I was really looking forward to were the cds. What I found was that I did not like Huddleston's voice and the use of a heart beat as a background was unnerving...especially when it stopped. If you hadn't gone to sleep before the end of it...you'd think your own heart stopped. Calming music would have been a lot better. I have found better cds for the same purpose.

I bought this for my mother last year who had to go through a series of oral surgeries. She was very nervous and I heard about the guided mediations on the CD through an integrative health class I was taking. The book and CD were very helpful to my mother. A couple of months ago, I had to have surgery and I had an adverse reaction to the anesthesia which made me very sick for 3 days. I also had a great deal of anxiety as a result of the effects of the medications I was given during surgery. My husband reminded me that I had bought this for my mother, so I started listening to the CD. I can't tell you how much this helped me to relax and sleep. I have since recommended it to several friends who are experiencing anxiety and difficulty sleeping. I firmly believe if you listen to Peggy's 25 minute relaxation meditation regularly at night you will not have trouble sleeping, and you won't need medications to fall asleep and sleep soundly. It also helps to relieve your pain.

Thus book, referred by a friend, before my cardiac procedure this year, was completely helpful in my personal preparations.I shared meditations with family and friends in gatherings at my home, insisted on speaking days ahead of time with the anesthesia office, and handed the young anesthetist a five sentence list of affirmations to say when and if he could while I was under.One was this: "Your heart is so beautiful and strong, and doing so well."He accepted it generously and said, "this will be no problem because I try to say things like this anyway." So I lucked out with provider too!My daughter filmed me as I awoke and my first words (with a smile) were "I'm so happy. I love you." I had no pain nor bleeding.Always believe in the power of mind and spirit to rally for us when we are at our most vulnerable.