Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster: A Guide of Mind-Body Techniques

Whenever it says "surgery" just substitute "chemotherapy" and you're good to go! And as it turns out, I had to have a minor surgery to install a port for chemo, so it worked for that, too. My pre-surgery blood pressure was way lower than it is during normal visits.I've got 7 more rounds of chemo to go, but the first one I sailed through like a champ with minimal side effects (and my doc is good at managing chemo side effects, even so, he says I did much better than most of his other patients). I know each round is supposed to be tougher, so I'm glad it started on such a positive note.An example of my attitude after reading this book: whenever I looked at the chemo bag hanging from my IV pole, I would think, "This medicine is going to help me get better. I am so thankful they have this medicine!" Occasionally I would touch the bag and tell it, "You're doing a good job for me, and please remember to spare my healthy cells if you can."Maybe you will consider it hooey, but isn't that attitude much better than statements I heard other chemo patients say, "Here comes the poison!" "It's going to make me so sick!" "I wish I didn't have to take it!" "I hate chemo!"The mind is so powerful that it can affect how you respond to treatment. So even if I am given a terminal diagnosis (and here's a headline: "All life will end at some time or another") I hope I can live it relaxed and open and positive than scared, tense, and frightened.I still have bad days about having to do all this, but that's normal. This book was very helpful.I also used her meditation.

I used this book for my 5th surgery and I've never felt better after surgery and healed quicker!!! This book can change the lives of so many! I wish all hospitals and doctors knew about this and had it implemented. It really works!!!

This is a well documented, evidence based, simple, 5 step process to calm pre-surgery jitters and create far more successful surgical outcomes. The approach uses a combination of affirmations, guideded imagery, self-hypnosis and intention setting to experience less pain and heal faster from surgery and other procedures. It really works. I have the used the technique myself and have facilitated many clients through it to co-create 100% successful surgeries and fast post-surgical healing.The meditation CD is a must have tool - it is a high quality production and Huddleston's voice is soothing and calming. The techniques are adapted from ancient wisdom and New Thought teachings - nothing new really - yet the way the author synthesizes them is. Huddleston invites readers to heal deeply and completely by exploring the mind-body connection behind the health condition. Case studies help readers understand how sub-conscious beliefs or unexpressed emotions influence physical illness.I would have given this 5 stars but much of the instruction on advance communications with one's anesthesiologist,or physician is outdated. Hospitals, anesthesiologists, physicians and surgeons do cooperate with patients to put these empowering techniques into practice - it just doesn't happen in the timing and sequence detailed in the book.

I bought this book a few weeks before surgery, upon someone's strong recommendation. I also bought Peggy's relaxation tape too.It helped me to realize I really needed to take care of myself before surgery; I had been working so much at my job I wasn't getting enough sleep. The book inspired me to:-Do my best to deal with my stress (I meditated, I delegated part of my job to my boss for a few weeks so I could get sleep before the surgery),-Get acupunture the day of the surgery (went in feeling calm)-Fire the anesthesiologist before surgery because he wasn't able to recommend the right drugs for my situation.-Let more people know about my surgery so I had support-Visualize a good outcome for the surgeryAs a result, I went into surgery relatively healthy, much calmer than I would have, and ended up with an anesthesiologist whom I trusted, so I went into surgery with a positive attitude.As a result the surgery went really well; my doctor was amazed at how little pain meds I used, I had much less effect from the anesthesia than I anticipated. I recommend the book.

A friend lent me his copy along with the CD and then I bought my own copy. I was having major surgery and was pretty stressed out, and this really, really helped. Reading the book gives you tips on how to prepare. My favorite was asking your anesthesiologist to tell you throughout the surgery while you are asleep that you are doing well, when you wake up you will be comfortable and you will heal well. The book claims using these techniques will help you have far less than pain post-op. It certainly worked for me. The staff said I was doing really well, and my pain was minimal. It would also help you to buy the CD that goes with the book. It's a relaxation CD, telling you to visualize being relaxed, let the stress flow out through your fingertips, picture yourself in your ideal place of relaxation and how good you feel. You picture yourself in several good scenarios, like recovering after you wake up from surgery, and when you are fully recovered and doing something you love. This would also be appropriate for someone undergoing chemotherapy or just about any other medical treatments or procedures. I thought it was well worth the money and would lend my copy to any relatives or friends in a similar situation.

Delivery on time. Useful book with exercises that help to calm down the mind and understand that a lot is in our power to do to heal. Recommend it! The only reason why I did not rate it higher is because s lot if references are made to her CD which I did not buy.

I bought this book (this time) for my sister; I've previously gifted it to three other people and used it twice myself. If you are having surgery, I highly recommend that you use this book (and CD/mp3, which is sold separately). I fondly look back on my major surgery in 2006 as my "spa weekend," and I'm only half joking. I was told I'd need 6-8 weeks of recovery (six-inch vertical abdominal incision) and I was back at work in 10 days, and on a plane to Uganda at the 8-week mark. I just used it again in 2016 to help with sinus surgery. Same rapid-healing, no-pain experience. Huddleston's tools are powerful beyond measure.

Excellent read. I'd give this book fives stars. Extremely informative. A must if yr going in for surgery. I'd also consider buying the cd.

I used this book and meditation tape (you have to get that on her site) recently when I had deep fears about a major operation. After, I came out exactly as the book described was possible. Less pain meds, quicker healing, left the hospital a day early. I can't recommend this book and meditation sequence enough.

This is an amazing book that helped me go into surgery much calmer and more prepared, and, as advertised, to recover much faster than my doctors expected. It marshals recent scientific evidence on mind-body interactions which shows that your state of mind really does affect your body, and evidence on the importance of social support to healing. It just takes a few days preparation to make a big difference in your outcome. I have bought multiple copies of this book, and the CD, for friends and family who faced surgery and I highly recommend it to anyone.